FCP

Thank you all...I'm definitely not going to send the email now. I'm very glad I asked...
 
As you said - it may have gone better than I think...only time will tell.
 
:-)

Yep. My mom says variations of that all the time. When I told her about my first couple rejections, she was like, "Well, if I were in charge there, I would have accepted you!" Yes, Mom, and luckily you're not.

Discovering this site yesterday was one of the worst things that ever happened to me! haha
 
I guess ignorance is bliss.... (but I guess now the oncoming rejections are less painful with this slow buildup towards them)

I'm sorry-- this post made me laugh a bunch. I definitely do the same thing every time one of the schools I was thinking about shows up on the board.

Today a lot of schools informed applicants of their status. Too bad I didn't apply to any of those.

i am losing my mind! 

"f*ck my life"

I had a recent conversation with someone about how apparently useless a computer science PhD was. Their argument was Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg didn't even finish undergrad and were able to be successful...I facepalmed and walked away,

I get variations of this one all the time, such as, "Oh, then you can diagnose/analyze me," or, "So you'll be able to prove ____ is crazy?"

My favorite is: "So then you'll be able to read my mind?" To which I reply, "psychOLOGY is not the same as psychIC" or just, "Yes."

Recently annoying - psychology "jokes."  In almost every new conversation I have had lately about grad school, I've gotten one of two jokes:
 
Me: I was admitted to X Psychology program!
Them: As a patient? (har. har. har.)
 
or
 
Me: I was admitted to X Psychology program!
Them: Great, then you'll be able to fix So-And-So! (nevermind that I'm in experimental, not counseling/clinical -- that would interfere with the punchline!)
 
Newsflash: The last 15 people I talked to made that EXACT joke. You're not as funny as you think you are. 

I told an acquaintance today that I'd applied to master's programs and explained to her what I'd be studying and what I wanted to do after. Then, at the end, she says, "Oh, well, have you thought about getting an internship with some kind of company?"
 
Uh...what? What sort of internship with what sort of company? Considering that I've already booked flights to go out to interviews, it's a little late for that. Not to mention that I've been out of college for quite awhile, so most internships are generally not open to me
 
This already sort of happened to me months ago when my roommate's friend suggested that I look into public health programs instead, even though I'd just told her I'd submitted all my higher ed applications.

The waiting game does suck!!! Did you apply to the clinical psychology program? 
 
Also, did you get invited to attend? How does one go about checking out schools? I have been thinking of going down to Ottawa, but I was waiting for a possible interview. 
 
Also, any suggestions on interview in person or interview over the phone?

"Is it really that competitive? I can't imagine how that many people want to be anthropologists..."
 
and earlier in the process...
"Are you still planning on applying to PhD programs? The deadlines are coming up soon aren't they? Doesn't seem like you've done much." 

Worst #2: "Of course you will get in - it's not like you're applying to an MBA program or something! Right ? "
 
Worst #1: "Oh, you're going to be sooo rich !" ...........Have NO words for this one !!!!!

Friend: Heard back from any of "those Ph.D. programs?" (in quotes since there's usually a bit of a (perceived?) snide tone)
Me. Yes, I've received one acceptance so far.
Friend: Oh that's cool. So does that increase your chances at (local school that's highly ranked in my program)?
Me: I wouldn't think so, really.
Friend: Well I know you REALLY want to go to (local school that's highly ranked in my program). Would you be okay going to that other school instead?
Me: (tired with the conversation by now) Of course. If I wasn't interested in attending, I wouldn't have gone through the trouble of sending in the application and paying the fee.
Friend: Oh okay. Just trying to look out for you.
Me: ...

Thank you for your help. This program is my #1 choice and I really want to start making plans and letting my employers and profs know where I'm going, so the accept button is getting harder and harder to resist! However, I feel strongly that I should be able to attend the visit first, and ideally I would like to see what kind of funding other school can offer me first. From what I've read on here, three weeks to decide seems off for a February offer.

So that it be clear, I never said that people who are not funded are lazy! I don't think that's true at all. I have known many hard-working, wonderful people who did not receive funding and I know that receiving funding or not is not a reflection of a person's ability or their character. I didn't receive funding at all the schools I applied to either. But where I did receive funding, I feel that I deserve to keep it.

A lot of people who don't get the very top marks might not get them because they are busy working full-time while also being students full-time, are taking care of dependents (sometimes ill dependents), and/or are ill themselves etc. There are all kinds of things that happen in life which can negatively affect a person's ability to achieve the very top marks, and yes, I do think they should be rewarded for going through all those things and still getting marks good enough for grad school. But I am also one of those people, so I honestly feel bitter that people who made the (very wise) decision to live a well-rounded existence with equal parts hard work and play, who were blessed with good health for themselves and their family and who actually lived life the way they should be living it (enjoying it! living it!) should be rewarded funding that was originally given to me because I received too many rewards. I didn't receive them because other people are lazy, I received them because I worked abnormally, miserably hard for three years, in a life situation that just happened to be wrought with a lot of draining and difficult circumstances. It's not that I am in any way superior, it's that my particular path for the last few years wasn't an easy one and I accomplished a lot of things despite it. I received a lot of funding for being able to push through difficulties with good marks and good work experience, and I think I deserved it.



I can see why this would be very valuable for students who want to pursue doctoral studies afterwards, or who just want to reduce their workload... But if you are not one of those people, then this is not a positive thing. If we were to assume that I won the SSHRC, the higher award, not only would the TAship that I would enjoy doing be reduced, but my overall funding would be cut by almost 40%. I just don't see how it can be fair to tell someone, "We are going to reduce your work hours to 25% of what we promised and we are going to lower your overall funding to 40% of what you've been promised because we think that you've won too many accolades for your hard work so we are going to give that money to someone else." If funding was given arbitrarily or through a lottery system I would agree with the need for equal distribution, but that's not where these funding awards are coming from.



Yes, the poor get poorer, in this case..


Again, I really need to stress that I am not making a judgment about people who didn't receive funding or who need more. It would obviously be ideal if everyone could get some (or lots!) and if there were more needs-based awards provided, or if schooling was simply less expensive in the first place. But I just don't think it is equitable to allot merit-based awards and then revoke them on the premise that "we didn't know other people would also think you merited awards, so we're taking them back, sorry."

First of all congratulations on your acceptance. Second, I agree with the above post, you have done the right thing - Try email/calling the school (depending how long ago you initially contacted them). 
 
Sounds like what you are saying is that you are happy that the school accepted you, and are almost sure you will take it; however, you do not like how they have put such a quick deadline on your decision, especially since you haven't been able to see the campus. 
 
Things to think over...
What is their rank on your list of schools that you have applied to? 
Why did you originally want to work with this professor?
Do you think it is worth it to make the decision before seeing the campus?

Hi everyone,
 
I am in a confusing situation. I was accepted in to an awesome masters program, but in my acceptance letter I am instructed to make a decision about attending the school within 3 weeks of receiving the letter, which is very soon! On top of that, I was invited to grad visit day, which doesn't take place until a week after I am supposed to have made a decision. 
 
I'm 95% sure I will accept the offer - it looks like a great program with a super PI, but I don't want to make a final decision before I even meet my supervisor in person and see the facilities. I sent a polite email to the graduate coordinator asking for an extension until after the visit day, and have received no response. I tried to make it clear in my letter that I was happy about the offer, but maybe they were put-off by the request? I'm not sure what to do as my deadline to accept/decline draws closer and closer.
 
Any suggestions? Should I try emailing again? Thank you to everyone who responds!

First of all congratulations on your acceptance. Second, I agree with the above post, you have done the right thing - Try email/calling the school (depending how long ago you initially contacted them). 
 
Sounds like what you are saying is that you are happy that the school accepted you, and are almost sure you will take it; however, you do not like how they have put such a quick deadline on your decision, especially since you haven't been able to see the campus. 
 
Things to think over...
What is their rank on your list of schools that you have applied to? 
Why did you originally want to work with this professor?
Do you think it is worth it to make the decision before seeing the campus?

I'm so sorry! I thought this was the other SSHRC thread where someone asked if the results were delivered in Feb! My apologies!

I've applied to 1 university - University of Ottawa for Clinical Psychology. Deadline Dec 15. Also I am an undergraduate. 
 
I have not heard anything yet - -- 

I am 99% confident that SSHRC results, regardless of the competition level, will be announced no earlier than April!

My favorites (in no particular order) from the first 15 pages of this thread (which BTW is awesome!):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

My favorites from pages 31-50 - in no particular order. I hope everyone likes my summary of this thread.