[Canadian school applicants]

It depends on a number of factors-the most important being, how badly do they want you. Some universities have discretionary funding for recruiting top students. That is one possible source of income. The other is that your POI could top you up with a bursary. It does happen but it is specific to your circumstances and where you rank among candidates. It is worth a shot. You should say something like "You are my top choice but I am considering going elsewhere because of their financial incentives. I really want to join your department/lab/etc is there anything that you can do"

 

etc

 

Agree with above. Some schools that have set unionized funding that is advertised on their website do not change their funding, it's set across the board. The only wiggle room in that case is if a supervisor has extra research dollars and takes you on as an RA. It never hurts to ask though You don't even have to tell them they are your top choice, something as simple as "While I am very interested in undertaking my research at __University__, I have received a funding offer of $X from Xschool. Are you able to match or compete with that offer?" or something along those lines. The grad committee knows that finances are a consideration for pretty much anyone applying to the program so it is not uncommon for them to receive a request for an increased funding package. Heck, sometimes even just asking for an extension on the timeline you need to respond by or otherwise delaying your acceptance to a program can gain you more money.

 

Edit: You can also ask them if there are entrance scholarships available that they would be able to nominate you for and other things like that.

 

Thanks for the insight, selecttext and Nerd_For_Life, much appreciated!

[Canadian school applicants]

Does anyone know whether Canadian schools will offer you more funding if you let them know about a better offer from another school?  I've seen some of the Americans talk about leveraging, but I don't know if it's done here.  Anyone have any insight on this?  Would be much appreciated! 

 

And to all of those who are waiting, hang in there! 

[Canadian school applicants]

Hm, that's interesting!

 

Did yours change from Preliminary review required, to review in progress by department, to recommended for assessment and then back to review in progress by department then? ...Seems strange for them to progress while using a status already noted.

 

Good luck to all, either way!

For me, it went preliminary review required, then recommended for assessment for more than a month, and finally now it's at review in progress by department.  I'm almost certain I didn't have review in progress before this, as I've been checking pretty obsessively!    It could just be that my department does things differently. 

 

Nah, not a downer - I know this whole process is long. We all have random thoughts about what it all means until we finally get that decision....until then, I'm keeping my thoughts positive!

Definitely!  These statuses are supposed to give us information, but instead they seem rather mysterious!  Positive thoughts are the way to go indeed, it keeps us sane during the long wait. 

[Canadian school applicants]

I'm hoping that recommended for assessment meaning is across the board, lol because then that means good things for me!!!!!

I don't know if it's universal for all programs, as my status has been recommended for assessment since mid-January, but this week it changed to "review in progress by department."  I'm applying for history though, so it might be different than your department. Just FYI, sorry if that's a downer!