Writeswell

1. Yes, email them to accept the award. They will tell you also to inform your institution, although I don't know if you need to in the UK. 2. I am not sure. I think there is also a "send by scan" option if you look in the award-holders handbook (they link to it). So perhaps we can do that way. 3. I am unclear on this also.

No kidding. Fortunately, he confined himself to the bottom corner.

Great. My paper eating cat has just chewed a massive hole in the letter from the SSHRC!!

At Queen's -- at least in my program -- they don't give results until the summer, July I think. It is because program directors are waiting to see how many SSHRCs and other external awards they are getting; this in turn affects who they offer OGS awards to, and down the line.

I just want to say all power to those of you still waiting. This is nuts.

It was larger than a standard letter in dimensions. Not manuscript sized (8.5 x 11) but the medium sized envelope, bigger than a business letter.

So sorry to hear this...it sucks! I don't know whether you can apply again at this point, but I think it would be worth an email to the agency. It goes by the number of months you've been enrolled full time, not the length of time to graduation.

Sometimes that happens, yes. I don't know how often. Congrats on getting an award. The one you are offered is based (mostly) on the score you receive (those who score in the higher range will be offered a CGS. Those who are later in their program can't get a 3 year award, however.

Mine's cultural studies also but I chose committee 1 because the project is poetry...I really wasn't too sure, though. That is something that maybe in these interdisciplinary areas we could use a bit more help on. My program put on a good "how to write it" session for students but that wasn't really something that came up.

Yes, at least two of us got letters in Kingston today....

First, I'm sorry you did not get the award. That's such tough news to get. (Having been there, I know). As for the odds, impossible to say; I do know people who have been on the list and received awards, but I don't know their place on the list. My score was similar last year and I did not get an award but it was a different committee.

Got my letter. It's real! FWIW...my score was 17.7/20, Committee 1, research-creation project, poetry. In comparison, last year my score -- same project, same committee -- was 12.5 or maybe 12.75 (can't remember, I was so upset by the whole thing) and I was waitlisted for a smaller award. When I say "same project" I really mean it. I did not change the project description. Changes to the package included the following: I had some PhD grades on the transcript from my first year. But they were comparable to my MFA grades. Instead of my MFA supervisor, I asked a current prof to write a reference, along with my supervisor. (Again, both told me they wrote strong letters and I have no reason to doubt either of them). I also had a few more publications, but honestly, I don't think it was that because I had a strong publication record to begin with in my field. The only thing I can think is that my program may have rated me higher this year. They are pretty strategic, aiming to get the most money for the entire "team," if you will, over time. The other possibility is that this year's committee was simply more favourable to research-creation projects than last year's. Sad for those who lost out this year but unless you are in the last year to apply, don't give up hope. You can see from this experience that it varies considerably year to year.

You are right, it is crazy confusing. A few years ago there was a guy at Queen's who was waitlisted for the SSHRC (several times) and won the Vanier. http://www.queensu.ca/culturalstudies/node/43

misswan, this is so exciting! My research-creation project is also in poetry/ poetics!! And I was informed I got the CGS (though again, I don't have the letter in my hand yet). It would be great to compare notes and discuss our work if you are interested.

Yay for research-creation! It is heartening to hear of people receiving grants for this work as well as the more traditional work. (But I am glad for anyone who gets and congrats to all.)