nugget

If you ended up getting into 3 schools (possibly a forth) maybe you're not giving yourself enough credit regarding the strength of your application. GPA isn't the only factor that's considered, which I'm sure you are already well aware of. Would you consider deferring for a year and applying to slightly better programs next year that you would be more excited about attending?

In my opinion: Secure your own funding from another source and you'd have a chance or try again next year.

If you have a deadline on one of your offers coming up, that would be a good excuse to follow up, remind him of your interest in the program and inquire about when offers will be sent out. Best of luck!

hahaha... You are too funny. Politeness is never a bad thing.

I think deferring for a year is something you should consider in case you aren't sure. Apply to other schools next year and try to get a better offer. If you get something better, wonderful. If not you'll have a lot of time to give it some thought. I've heard of people having a change of heart after the second application season and being more receptive to taking their deferred offer while other people get more clarity and realize that they don't like it enough to invest their time doing it. Have you also considered staying only for the master's and transferring to another school for the PhD?

Is this a Canadian school or an American one? The reason I ask is because of the April 15 deadline in the US which doesn't apply to Canadian schools. If It's an American school, though, I'd definitely contact them because the deadline to respond is tomorrow!

The 2nd offer will give you better clinical experience? I think you just answered your own question.

This might be helpful in giving you an idea of what sort of expenses are involved. http://www.case.edu/newstudents/tuition.html

I know someone who had a GPA of B+ and got on the U of T waitlist. She had a BA in psychology and worked as an addictions counsellor for a few years and believes it was her work experience that gave her application an edge. You really don't know what will happen until you apply so I'd give it your best shot and see what happens. Good luck!

If your program is anything like mine, half of it is comprised of internships. During 60% of the program, we only need to be at school once a week and the rest of the time we are at our placements. I see where you're coming from, wanting to be on your own and wanting to become more independent, but there is a high financial cost to this decision. I wonder if there is some sort of compromise that you could make.... Here are a couple of ideas that come to mind... - Could you work or volunteer overseas this upcoming summer and next summer and live at home the rest of the time? If you spend some time in a 3rd world country, for instance, I guarantee you that this experience will be eye-opening and will lead to personal growth in some sort of way. - What about living on your own for part of the time and not the entire 2 years? ie: 2nd year only or during semesters you have class only and are not on placement The good thing is that your program is only 2 years so you will be able to move out permanently after you're done school and get your first job in the field.

So it sounds like your choice is between applying now and getting LORS from these 2 profs or applying later on and asking other profs or the same ones (with the benefit that they will know you better by then). Are there any benefits or advantages to applying now versus later on? If you wait, how will this change your prospects of getting LORS? Do you plan to do research or work on projects with some of your profs? Can you take a second class next semester with the prof you mentioned prefers writing LORS for people she has taught more than once?

Can you wait an extra semester or two before applying? If so, consider this option so that you will have more profs to choose from and your LORs will be stronger and more detailed. If delaying isn't an option, are these really the only 2 profs that you can ask? Is there anyone else you might want to ask instead? Explore this option and if you can't ask anyone else and you can't delay your application, then you don't have any choice. Have them write your LORs, apply and see what happens.

Just noticed it's is a non-thesis program. Do you want to do a PhD at some point in time? This could be a problem if you don't complete a thesis so you should investigate this first. Congrats and best of luck!

I agree 100%. Not to mention, if you ever want to work in the US, McGill is well recognized and considered to be an Ivy league school by Americans. That's the cheapest "Ivy" tuition you'll ever come across.

Why not contact the school and ask? I'm sure there are stats on employment after graduation. I would also be quite surprised if you couldn't become licensed in Quebec if this is where the school is located. A visit to the website or a quick phone call to the college that you would like to join (ie: college of psychotherapists, etc) should be able to provide you with this information. Congrats!

Living in Honolulu. That would be a dream... Such lucky people.

Sounds like a great opportunity! I don't live in the US but something that occurred to me is what if this program changes or doesn't exist anymore when you want to cash in on it? Has it been around for so many years that it's not likely to be cancelled or scaled back in 20 years?

If you are lucky enough to find a place with a living room that has a door, you or a roommate could use the living room as a bedroom and it would definitely lower your rent. I've seen this done with 3 students in a 2 bedroom apartment and it seemed to be functional. It isn't ideal for inviting your friends over but not having a living room could be worth the sacrifice in exchange for extra spending money. You could even have a sofa bed or futon instead of a mattress and transform your bedroom into a living room if you have company over.

Sorry to hear that it didn't work out for you this year. While I don't know much about ceramics, is there a way that you could create your own pieces (by renting or purchasing the appropriate equipment) and selling your pieces online or at a local art event or market? I hope you will find a way to do what you love and one day earn a living from it.

As HopefulComparativist already stated, most leases start on July 1st and last 12 months. But September 1 is the second most popular lease start date, esp in neighbourhours near a university campus. You can also try to get a lease transfer from someone and use the remaining time on their lease and renew after it's over. A third option is to take on a temporary sublet (perhaps for a semester), you get to know the city better and find something more permanent after the sublet is over. There is always something available year round, even if you aren't looking to move in on July 1st. I'm sure you will find something.

If I could double up vote this comment I would. Discrete, professional but gets the point across.

Can you wait until April 15 to submit your response, in case someone turns down an offer on the last day and it goes over to you? If this doesn't happen, naturally you'd need to come up with a plan B. I don't know how it works in the US, but I'm wondering if you could let the school know that they're your first choice and have them contact you on the 15th if someone declines. If the responses need to be in by 5pm and the schools are in a different time zone or if the deadline is midnight and no one could contact you late in the evening then this plan obviously would not work. You didn't mention how much you like the program you have been accepted to.... On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate each of the 2 options? Would you be willing to put your plans on hold for one year by deferring until next year in case someone at your top choice doesn't decline?

If you want to spend a lot of time with your sister, I'd take advantage of the fact that you won't have any readings or work to do before the start of your program and go as early as possible. If you're in a thesis program, you'll always have outstanding work to do until you defend your thesis so enjoy your time off while you can.

If all are exactly equal contenders in terms of opportunities afforded to you and your career interests, which city would you prefer to live in? Does proximity to your current home matter? Where will you be the most financially comfortable (as in, which cities are more affordable to live in versus the amount of funding you got)? Where do you intend to live after you graduate and where do you want to establish connections? If all else fails, which program is most highly ranked?

Hi Daniii, I think it's a good idea to have someone look for a place for you. I'm sure you could find something in August if you waited until then, but the best places will be taken and you'd be picking from the leftovers (like places that are overpriced or not conveniently located). Will you have a car during your program? If not, I'd try to get a place off of a number 7 bus route because this bus line runs the latest and has the most frequent bus service. It's up to you whether or not you want to live in Kitchener or Waterloo. Some things to consider.... the FSW library hours are terrible so if you like to get your work done in a library it would make more sense to live near the main campus and study there. There also isn't a gym at the Kitchener campus, medical clinic or other useful departments like career services, counselling, accessible learning services, etc. but you can find all of these things at the main campus. You need to be at the Kitchener campus 3 days a week the first semester but after that you'll only need to be there once a week. But rent might be a bit cheaper in Kitchener because most students need to live in Waterloo and the demand is higher. Some things to consider... There are a lot of working class families in Kitchener and european immigrants and this city has more character (like older buildings, etc). If you're there at night, the downtown core looks kind of seedy in certain places but it's actually not dangerous. Just use common sense and you should be fine. Waterloo, on the other hand, is more modern looking and has a higher student, professor and working professional population. If you live close to a university you might find it odd to only see 18-24 year olds at first. During the first few weeks I wondered where all the families were hiding or if there were any at all. haha But it just depends what part of Waterloo you are in and how close you are to a university. Sometimes bus rides can get noisy and rowdy in Waterloo and some students can act immaturely on the bus or in restaurants, but you will get used to it. If you live walking distance of the main campus there is a Foot Patrol service made up of volunteers who will walk you home at night if you wish. They can also pick you up at home if you need to go to the main campus in the evening. This service is not available at the Kitchener campus. Best of luck on your move! I think you will enjoy the KW area. It's a great place to live. People are very friendly here and you will immediately notice a difference if you are used to living in a larger city such as Toronto. As a student you will also get a free bus pass, which is a nice bonus! If you have access to a car there are many great internship placements to choose from in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Woodstock, Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto, London, etc. If you don't have a car, be prepared to be flexible and take whatever is available. With a broad range of interests and no preconceived notions about where you would like to be placed, you will not be disappointed. Congrats and enjoy the program!