selecttext
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Posts posted by selecttext
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got my pgs d notice today
march 20
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There is a lot of variance among US schools and their respective departments. I believe that there are schools with no funding packages for PhD students. On the top end, in the US you could be making 25-30k + full tuition waiver.
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It depends on whether or not you have better offers. That would put you in a much better/less awkward position. If not, I would think that your only option would be to ask your potential supervisor if he or she would consider providing you with a top up. If you have competing offers you could possibly ask if there is anything more that the department can do for you.
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it's an online masters program? you're good. I wouldn't worry about it.
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I am on my third Thinkpad. My fourth will be the Thinkpad ultrabook. There is no better laptop. The keyboard is vastly superior to that of any other laptop. As a constantly typing graduate student, this is one of the biggest selling points. The keyboard is also spill proof as it has canals which channel fluid out from the bottom. Thinkpads are also fairly customizable at the time of purchase, they are easy to upgrade on your own and they have an ultrabay which allows you to swap out the dvd-r for a second harddrive. They're pretty rugged and can withstand a reasonable amount of wear. I am a field ecologist and I operate equipment outdoors in the forest. These things are beasts . I also like the aesthetic better than any mac. There are innumerable reasons to get a thinkpad.
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Hey guys, I've applied to a couple of programs at Mcgill Uni. deadline was at the end of March for one of them and the end of April for the other ( both for fall semester 2013). My status is "ready for review" and it's been like that for over a month now. any idea about the amount of waiting that i should be expecting?
contact the department asap
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maybe you can schedule a period, a week or two, over the summer to visit. He will surely cover your expenses. Just be firm in your availability. Did you bother to speak with his current or former graduate students before accepting?
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How far away is it. It would be a little weird to send an unsolicited email asking the guy to fly you out. If you will happen to be in his vicinity, I would send an email thanking him for agreeing to your supervision and that you will be available around such and such date if he would like to meet. Otherwise, I would just wait until you are contacted.
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I think it shows initiative on your part to make contact, and see if he or she is open to a meeting, lab tour etc. You'd probably hash out a plan of study or at least figure out a reading list for the summer. There's no harm in establishing a relationship. Since I will be in the Toronto area anyways, I arranged for a meeting with my new supervisor so we can be acquainted and so I could meet his lab group. I will also be using that time to start looking for an apartment.
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I do not like such ranking lists. I think the rankings should be done on the basis of departments (e.g. political science, philosophy, medicine)...
I don't disagree but it is indicative of a trend at mcgill, that is probably intimately tied to the university funding situation in Quebec. My opinion is that the brand is not worth tens of thousands of dollars in comparison to a fully funded offer from a decent canadian university.
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Hi all,
Here is my situation: I'm from Argentina and had graduated from College in 2008. My degree ("Licenciatura" in Biological Sciences) is equivalent to a Master's degree in the US (4 years of General Biology plus 3 years of, in my case, Ecology). Three years ago I moved to the US where I've been working odd jobs, just to pay bills, always trying to get into 'biology' with no luck.
Last year I finally started working as a Lab Technician/Research Assistant for a non-profit studying heavy metal contamination. After 9 months with them, and due to financial constraints, my position has been eliminated, leaving me unemployed. I do have the chance to continuing with the project I started with them, but I'd need to get my own funding with absolutely no help on their side (I already applied to grants while working there, but unfortunately never got them). This situation triggered, once again, the never ending dilemma of "should I get my PhD?"
I always thought of grad school, but as soon as I finished my degree I started travelling, got married and have never been committed to any place in particular. Now, I think the time might have come, but I realized I might not have enough research experience to get accepted into a PhD program plus I come from away, which makes everything a little harder (standardized tests, references, GPA's differences, etc).
I know I want to keep doing research (that is my passion, always has been) but I'm not sure if I should just keep on trying to get a job -not easy at all-, build my resume in the US a little bit more and then apply to grad school or go all in, apply next fall and see what happens.
As you can see, I'm pretty lost and my brain is all over the place. Any advice you might have will really help me out!
Thanks in advance,
Sofi
you don't need that much research experience to get into phd programs. most important will be to make contact with potential advisors and have them agree to supervise you, and write an excellent statement of purpose which clearly demonstrates your motivations, research interests and career goals. it doesn't hurt to apply to more than one institution. trust me, it sounds as if you already have lots of experience - there are lots of phd students who can barely think on their own let alone do research. getting in isn't the problem.
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Its for an MA. Both my profs from York, who wrote my letters of recommendation, said go to McGill. Money comes and goes. And there are plenty of opportunities in my field to recoup the debt once I finish the program. As for my future goals, I really believe a specialized MA from McGill will do me better than a general MEd from York. I also don't know where you heard their reputation was declining? Still #18 in the world as of 2012.
In the recent Times higher world education ranking, mcgill slipped to 31 from 25 (it was front page news here in montreal). It is also chronically underfunded, especially with this year's massive higher education cuts in quebec, mcgill is cutting courses, and opportunities for graduate funding. considering you will only be there for 2 years, this may or may not affect you. With all due respect, your professor's reflex may be to suggest mcgill, but they chose to pursue academia professionally, where such vanity matters a whole lot more. also, they are not going to be the ones saddled with tens of thousands in debt to attend a school that may or may not enhance your life time earnings potential. you came here looking for advice, i gave it but it sounds like you've already made your decision.
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it makes no difference. everybody has equally poor job opportunities after graduation
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Was accepted to U of T's crim MA program yesterday! I didn't receive any funding though...
Would it be good idea to e-mail them back and mention that while I would like to consider their program, I have competitive offers from other schools and that might get them to agree to something?
Not sure how to go about this.
It doesn't hurt to try. They certainly won't rescind the offer.
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I am in a similar predicament. I received very minimal funding from McGill, my first choice, but was offered full funding and a stipend from York, my alma mater. McGill is a better fit overall for my reserach interests, a more specialized program nad has prestige attached to it. York is more general and already did my undergrad there. I emailed McGill with details of York's offer and they were unable to offer anything more. It was worth a shot though. University of Toronto seems less likely to do it, but it can't hurt to try.
Is this for an MA and PhD?
I'd follow the money if I were you. McGill's rep is on a steady decline. Depending on your goals, the name may mean little. Either way, I wouldn't take on debt.
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accounts payable departments at universities are often insanely slow. at some universities, it has taken as long as 8 weeks for reimbursement of expenses!!! just find out if your department has submitted the request yet. if so, it'll only be a matter of time.
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i don't fault you for being wide-eyed and optimistic, but from a practical perspective, the content of the MA is less important than the credential itself. A masters will improve your life time earnings but it won't necessarily improve your employability. This is why I suggested attending on a part-time basis, so that you develop your CV. You seem to have already made your mind up, so why ask for opinions?
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There is absolutely no point in accruing debt for the MSc. I am presently at a low ranked university for MSc and will be starting a PhD at a very well ranked university for PhD in ecology. No one questioned my credentials or ability and I got into every school that I applied to. My only complaint has been that the departmental seminars aren't very interesting. It's only an MSc. If you want an ecology job afterwards, your skill set will be far more valuable than where you studied
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Then go do the MA. Just realize that in the long term, the program and university will be of little consequence. I have a friend who studied poetry at Oxford. Trust me, no one cares.
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Go to grad school part time. The working experience will make you employable. Eventually getting your MA will help you command a better salary.
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i've never met an electrical engineering student with feelings so in a way this is refreshing but also insane.
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using two negatives in an english sentence confuses the reader.
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If you aren't happy you can change schools. There is no need to be fatalistic.
NSERC 2015-2016
in The Bank
Posted
letter date is march 18