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For MSc, CGS-M are awarded but can be converted to PGS-M if the applicant should choose to attend a non-canadian university. As the CGS-D represents a significantly greater sum of money, fewer are awarded. You can see the break down here: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NSERC-CRSNG/FundingDecisions-DecisionsFinancement/ScholarshipsAndFellowships-ConcoursDeBourses/index_eng.asp. From the breakdown, you can see that 40% of -D applicants received awards whereas 53% of -M applicants received awads in 2012 In 2010, it was 67% for -D and 75% for -M

practical applications are not necessarily geared towards industry, but i do agree with your comment in that the current funding scheme makes it almost impossible to collect long term data sets which is exactly why the shutting of the experimental lakes area is so devastating. Having said that, as post-graduates are not held to their research proposals, and the funding is a stipend rather then research funds I think that this style of research proposal is a good exercise.

NSERC likes proposals which not only advance scientific theory but has practical applications. I think, however, that it is a big mistake to emphasize the research's applications above the other sections of the proposal - they should all be given similar weight.

yeesh, use paragraphs and proper line spacing

You should absolutely make contact with the department and a POI. I suggest that you make an appointment with the graduate adviser to apprise him or her of your situation. I think that it is crazy or maybe commendable to embark on a PhD with 5 minor children but I think that the department has the right to know. It is not unheard of to go to graduate school under these circumstances and some schools are more accommodating than others.

Your proposal should be general in that a non-specialist could read it and understand the relevance of your stated problem to your field. You needn't a fully developed methodology but you certainly need clear scientific hypotheses which address your stated problem. Maybe this is why you haven't had any luck. Did your supervisor or POI give you any comments before submitting it?

from what I understand, many people miss the mark by not clearly stating specific testable scientific hypotheses and they are too vague.

you might be on the wait list for some months now. rather than squirm to UCal, start e-mailing the other schools. Ask if you could know you application status as you are already considering other offers. If you don't hear back favourably and quickly, I suggest accepting the offer from Calgary.

contact the departments...

a couple of years in a rural environment is probably good for you - and if this is for a biology or earth sciences type degree it is important to be physically close to nature.

whoever told you that has no idea what he or she is talking about. it is perfectly normal to go work with a particular professor.

"You know Vancouver is a very expensive city to live in, you should move to Toronto instead"

I hope you had someone edit your SOP...

your disappointment is one big denial

you can write a synthesis of published data as long as it is cited and your work represents a new contribution

say what

my guess is that you are an 8.3 but i might be wrong

calgary isn't a low ranked school in canada

you'll know in early april

often 4.3 = 4.0 = 90-100%, 4.0=3.7 = 85-100%, 3.7 = 3.4 = 80-85% and so on The percentages are specific to departments however

$500 for 8 applications is in fact a good deal...just sayin'.

some schools have an independent student status which permits you to take most courses but some will require permission of the professor or department

http://hamilton.kijiji.ca/ is probably the most popular source try pad mapper

lol dude you can't sell your spot

You have to identify an area of forestry that interests you and then find a supervisor that will agree to supervise you - that is your best chance given your non-science background. You may also want to consider a natural resources or environmental science department. I have one friend who had a BA in geography and an MSc in environmental sciences. He is now doing his doctorate in forestry. My cosupervisor is a forester and let me tell you, him and his colleagues always have graduate students in need of field assistants over the summer. if you really want to try your hand at living in the bush and working among clouds of flies, it wouldn't be hard to find work - and you definitely don't need any experience.