GradSchoolLove

Really?! That is interesting, I was not told that at all. But it makes sense why there's a 99% approval rate, maybe the 1% doesn't have to do with rank, it has to actually do with SSHRC does not approve? I have no idea but that is interesting news thank you for sharing

and as long as the quota doesn't change

I've heard of the budget changing and people at the bottom of the list (because even if you made the A-list you're still ranked on that list) getting bumped off. But I don't know of a specific example - it's just one of those SSHRC stories I've heard. So, here's hoping that you're ranked high / mid and not at the bottom so you don't get bumped off. That's why being on the A-list isn't 100% because of the fact that the quota can change between your Unis recommendation and time of actually giving the awards.

I don't know if anyone replied to you yet so I'm going to It means that you've either made the Alternate OR A-list = both get sent to Ottawa and both lists get a confirmation email (I know because I've been on both lists). You have to check with your Uni which list you're on but congrats! either way you made on of them!

depending how far you are from Ottawa - last year someone in Alberta heard June 1st, while people closer heard May 28th.

Ah yes. This is common. The only school I've heard of NOT doing this is Carlton (but something tells me there's a reason for that). So you must be applying for first year at Queens? Basically this is how it works. Say you're first year at Queens you received a package of $14000 and THEN you win the SSHRC worth $17500 - basically it doesn't ADD together - you're institution will take back their $14000 and you only get the $17500. If you're funding package is worth $20000 and you win the SSHRC then you will get all $17500 from SSHRC and your school will now only give you $2500. If you are applying with your second year and (like Queens you're given 2 years of funding when you enter) you should still get your funding package for your second year but I would check. You most likely will, but it may only add up to the same total. So say you got $14000 for 2 years = $28000 if you win the SSHRC you may get the full SSHRC and then only $10500 for your second year. BUT I may be wrong, and you could possibly (hopefully) get SSHRC year one, and then your full promised amount for year 2 and possibly = more than $28000. For me for example, I was given a full funding package for my first year and I DIDN'T win the SSHRC for my first year. Now for my second year I've been recommended and am waiting - but I actually still get funding from my uni until August 2013, and I want to start SSHRC May 1 2013, so I asked if I would lose my last 4 months of scholarship from my uni and I've been told no because technically SSHRC is for me 2013 2014 year and my previous scholarship was for my 2012 2013 year and so they won't conflict so I may luck out and get 2 scholarship direct deposits this summer *HERE'S HOPING!!!*

What do you mean moves onto Ottawa - do you mean say you applied through Queens and you plan to do your MA at UofOttawa? it's based on the school you *applied through* so it doesn't matter where you go - it might have been a reason you made it to the A-list, but it won't be a reason you'd be removed from it. The only way you WON'T get a SSHRC after being on the A-list is if SSHRC changes the quota they gave to whatever school you applied through. So say you applied through Queens for your SSHRC, and you said you're doing your MA at UofOttawa - if SSHRC changes the quota for Queens - you may be bumped off (depending what your rank is on the list) if SSHRC changes the quota for Ottawa it won't affect your application through Queens - this is just a hypothetical at which universities you applied through / to - but it's the same everywhere.

I would still apply if your final 2 years is a 3.9. I don't know how much they weigh in - but the departmental letter that you get from the head of your department has to calculate the last 2 years of your gpa and write it in their letter, so that tells me they focus in on that number and not the whole 4 years

Misskira - that makes sense and I would agree. Check the website about funding, it should tell you "all students admitted will get X" and they are waiting to have a filled cohort before they start matching students with profs / research grants - they don't want to match you yet in case maybe you'd work best with 2 different profs, they want to see who else accepts an offer and then match. Do you have to accept your offer BEFORE receiving your funding letter?

I was given enough funding to pay for tuition, books, and food, but I have a line of credit specifically for my rent. I could get an extra job, but I've chosen not to to focus on my school. I've also made the a-list of the SSHRC so if I receive the award I will have back payments starting May 2013, and funding every month till April 2014 - plus internal funding I received continuing from May to August. Fully funded programs exist ... mostly everywhere. The best thing to do is to apply to at least 3 grad programs, hope to get into 2, and then send your acceptance packages to the other schools and the school with less funding will usually match / beat the funding of the other school. This happened to me, so I got to go to the school of my top choice BECAUSE I was accepted some place else and got more funding = made me more competitive.

I heard from the schools I got accepted (5 MA programs, 4=soci 1=crim) at within 4 weeks starting the second week of February last year - I didn't have to do any interviews - and this includes being accepted at University of Ottawa (MA crim program). I heard from the school I'm attending now 1 week post application due date, but I know some people didn't hear till June / July. If you hear before March / April then you're most likely a first pick - if you hear in the summer then it means they're holding on to your application in case people decline their offer / withdrawal.

I was an alternate my first SSHRC application. The chances are medium. Someone in from the A-list ie. those 4 people have to turn down the funding is from my understanding of the only way you win. Of those 4 students, 1 could not get into a program and have to decline or just no longer decide to go to grad school - I never got any email or letter in the fall about anything for my application as an alternate. But keep your hopes up, I do know someone who one as an alternate, she was notified in October of her first year in her MA.

At the MA level its about 95-99% chance of winning because the universities are given a quota, so when they send on their A-list applicants, it's to FILL that quota - no more no less. The only way you don't win at the MA level is if SSHRC changes the quota due to budget cuts - then people at the end of the A-list get bumped down to the alternate list. Yes, it is possible to get a SSHRC and not into grad school. If you've been placed on the A-list you should tell the schools you've applied to for grad school, because they too know that it's a 95-99% chance of winning.

thank you so much This is excellent news My project isn't very long so I will be done by April 2014... then when I saw that if I started September 2013 I would miss out on 4 months of funding I kind of freaked out a bit.

OH! so it's just when I accept the award that I can change it - because I'm an MA student now... and I was just reading online that if I were to contact them and change my start date it could influence my eligibility but maybe that's for students who are entering an MA program for their first year? - so just waiting till I'm awarded and THEN changing the start date is totally fine?!

I was wondering, when I submitted my application I selected a SSHRC start date of September 1 2013 - but now realized I should have selected May 1 2013 and then wait for back payments assuming I hear mid May of the results. My application has been recommended by my University, does anyone know the rules about changing your start date???

Hi MA SSHRC applicants! I've received the good news that my application was recommended to SSHRC and wanted to start a thread for people with questions and to have a safe place to be excited about possibly winning! I don't know about you, but I feel very awkward being recommended and not being able to talk about it with my cohort since I know others applied and don't want to come off as rude asking if they heard good news too. Anyway, happy SSHRC 2013!

I've heard, at the Master's level, getting a recommendation is about a 90% chance of winning with SSHRC. The way it works is your department will have given your application a number. For example, say SSHRC told UofT they have 16 spots for the A list - so every recommended applicant has a number 1 to 16. If there are issues with funding they will cut those at the end of the list - say SSHRC says, no we only now have funding for 14 students, so numbers 15 and 16 get cut. SO this is where you hope you're in the middle to upper / top of the list. I've also been told - if you are currently an undergrad applying to grad school and an SSHRC it is harder to get a SSHRC than a student (like me) who has applied for the SSHRC for their second year - ie. I'm already a MA student. My application was recommended and I've been told my chances of winning are very high.

Have you contacted your school about being recommended for the SSHRC? this is important. For some first year students in an MA, applying to SSHRC allows the department to nominate you for other funding through the Faculty of graduate studies, ie. funding outside of what they're department funding is approved for. So even if you haven't been admitted yet, fwd them either an email confirmation of your SSHRC recommendation or scan and email your letter.