biisis

Contact your school's office/center for international students and they'll be able to direct you to the right resources. (Be advised, though, that no one in my experience has been willing to "give tax advice" here. Perhaps it is a liability thing?) You will be directed to accountants or information pages written by accountants.

Funding is king!

Totally good enough. You'll be living tight, but we get by.

The second master's degree is increasingly common, particularily when moving across fields. It seems like it could be a great opportunity to learn more about the direction you'd ultimately like to go in (which is a little unclear in your message). You might also consider what benefits you anticipate getting from the PhD that you wouldn't find in this Master's program. Do you really want to do academic research? Or, if it's just a job that you're looking for, perhaps the Master's will be enough?

Difficult to say without knowing where you're looking. Some cities (like NYC, Boston) will have websites run by or heavily populated by brokers (StreetEasy comes to mind). This might be a little more secure for you, but it comes at a high price and may not necessarily deliver in terms of quality. You might also look at community listings via your school or a community bulletin board (for me here in NYC the Park Slope Food Coop and the Listing Project were two I checked out). You could also ask to post something on your departmental mailing list to see if a future colleague happens to have an opening. Honestly, however, the best move is probably to arrive in advance, find temporary accommodations, and search through craiglists, making a lot of discerning visits to potential apartments.

My impression is that fully funded MCC MAs are a scare thing to find, at least in terms of support the department will offer you. If you have (or think you have a change at) external funding, that might be a different story.

Seconding that, I think it's a good idea to email the graduate program director/coordinator directly, and early.

Hey there! I was in the same boat as you last year. Here's my findings: - It's definitely doable for fully funded programs (where they pay your tuition and give you a paycheque that covers your basic living expenses). It can still be tight, however, because: - You'll pocket the same stipend as US students, but get taxed more (fun fact: stipends are taxable here). There's not really much of a minimum income you can make as an international student before taxes switch on for you, which is another big difference from the Canadian system. Take that into account when budgeting for your prospective city. - Insurance is a big expense here (about $2,000-$3,000 per year). Your program might cover that; it might not. If you need to buy your own insurance, cheaper options might not be available to you due to the conditions of your visa (you'll be required to meet minimum standards that aren't that minimal). I miss the sweet embrace of public healthcare. - Look into the SSHRC and Fulbright for additional funding (you can apply to SSHRC next year if you've missed the deadline). The extra paycheques really help!

You might check out the CAA guide or UAC publications for a more qualitative appraisal, but I don't think there's a top 10 sort of list out there. (Well, there's MacLeans, but it doesn't get into the specifics of humanities grad programs). You may get closer to answering your question if you pose it another way: What are the top universities in Canada? and What are the top scholars in the field I'm interested, who currently work in Canada? UBC would definitely be on the list for the first question (probably also McGill, UofT, Queens). I've also heard that it is competitive, but very enriching if you get in. This may not be the case to the same degree with other 'top' programs. McGill, for example, is experiencing some significant funding difficulties, along with all the other Quebec universities. I loved my time there, but I worry about the ongoing financial pressures. As for the second (and arguably more important) question, that's up to you!

By "cutting your losses," do you just mean psychologically? I get how the potential of news, good or ill, can make your life seem terribly suspenseful. But there is always the potential that your name is on a B list and could get bumped up to an offer for admission (often in the frantic week of April 15th). So it's a question of short term (sweet relief and clarity!) vs long term (last minute offer) gains, and while the latter isn't guaranteed, it's still a relatively short period of agony compared to a decision that has the potential to steer the years to come. My advice is to put the decision, and all its complex possibilities, out of your mind as much as is possible until you've heard back from everyone. Sure, the department that's already admitted you may badger you will calls and guilty demands for a decision, but you don't owe them that, not until the last hand of poker is played.

I'd say that things are looking pretty good for you. The only caveat I can imagine would be a situation in which the program can't keep you unless they get you some manner of extra-departmental funding (as might be the case for international students in cash-strapped universities). Still, I'd say that you've got cause to be cautiously optimistic.

Thanks a million TakeruK! Very, VERY helpful and clearly outlined information! I feel way more prepared than before. The one thing I'm left wondering about is whether or not spouses (a j1 and j2) can file together? Does that double the personal exemption amount available to be claimed? We're more or less both living on my stipend/scholarship cheques...

I don't think that your gap year will affect your chances at all, and it looks like you have some nice chances at that! Why are you worried?

I am in this position too (w/SSHRC), and I'm sure that there are thousands of others out there living on a dual stipend. This is my first year, so I haven't figured out what's going to happen entirely yet. I know that I'll have to file in both countries this year anyways (I had income and paid tuition in Canada before coming down to the states, plus the US is pretty unforgiving in its protocols for J1s). The year after that, who knows? I will do whatever the tax software tells me. Anyone have any experience on the matter?

Academia suuuuuucks sometimes when it comes to accommodations. If you haven't already, one avenue to pursue might be to touch bases with the office for disabilities (your uni probably has one!). They'll be able to walk you though the accommodations they themselves can offer you, and council you on the protocols your department is obliged to follow in your case (sounds like it's bound to be more than they're currently providing). It's pretty crap that this is the case, but you need to keep advocating for yourself. Keep maintaining a dossier of all your communications and medical documents- they can have legal weight to help hold people to their promises.

1. Your first sentence is both cliche and a bit egotistical. It would be better to frame it from your perspective- what you feel and have felt, rather than you basking in the continual praise of others. 2. What do you mean by "aesthetic essence"? Plain "aesthetics" would do fine, and wouldn't fret your reader with unsubstantiated metaphysics. 3. Do you mean primeval or primal rather than "prime" in your third sentence. 4. "in becoming acquaintance with digital designing" should read "in becoming better acquainted with" 5. "newly introduced designing tools" -> "newly introduced design tools" 6. Anxiety lead me to learn more about their functionality as well as their boundless designing techniques used to divulge messages" -> what were you anxious about? Why? This makes little sense and inspires even less confidence. 7. " I found the content quite challenging, but as I progressed, I found myself building the required skill set." -> not a very inspiring statement. The required skill set (and just building? not achieving?) sounds like you did the bare minimum to get by. 7. "Thath.in offered me to make promotional posters for marketing and at You Only Read Once, I designed graphics to be published along with the articles to support them. CrazyHeads, my current employer, has given me the grounds to explore graphic designing by giving me the occasion to make posters and design logos for different clients. My experiences has assisted me in developing component time management skills, creative thought process, acute problem-solving ability and most of all creating meaning out of the end product." -> okay so firstly, surely you can spot the grammatical errors in the first sentence? Secondly, this reads like a job application. Grad applications are a little different. Thirdly, what do you mean by "creating meaning out of the end product"? That implies that the end product happened, then you created meaning out of it (what meaning? to what end?). It might be better to simply say "creating a meaningful/impactful end product" 8. "Despite having the ability to design, I have noticed that work of a designer faces some hindrance." -> hindrances should be plural. The two components of these sentences do not meaningfully relate to one another. You don't develop what these hindrances might be in the paragraph that follows, and it that even something you should focus on in a statement like this? 9. "Good designing skills alone" -> it should always be "design skills", never "designing skills" 10. "high quality work while meeting and even exceeding client's requirements" -> "high quality work that meets or even exceeds the client's requirements." 11. That whole paragraph is a little weird. It's a bland summary of the basic requirements of design. It doesn't show that you know anything in particular, or have had any productive experiences. 12. "look forward to inculcate myself with brand new ideas and study all other facets of design that I have not been able to explore in my professional competence." -> look forward to surrounding myself with brand new ideas and studying all other facets of design that I have not been able to explore so far in my professional experiences. 13. "I am positive that I will fulfill my responsibilities towards the society and the environment as a designer while eventually devolving my experiences and knowledge to better shape the future." -> Just what are these responsibilities? Are you trying to do something more than helping a capitalist company sell their junk? If so, you should write a paragraph explaining your ethical commitments and hopes for the discipline. Also, you should not say that you are "devolving" your experiences. That implies regression. Do you mean evolving? All in all, your statement is a bit generic. We get the sense that you like to do visually creative stuff, that you have a computer background, and that you want to be admitted. We don't know why you think graphic design is an important profession (or professional calling), how your computer experience will support your program of study, or why oh why you're applying for a master's program. Why not a BDes? What are you going to specialize in? Which faculty do you want to work with? Why York over other hypothetical schools? Additionally, it seems like you've got some recurring difficulties with English grammar and phrasing. As you rewrite, see if you can find an English native friend to check over your work.

Also, in practice, late letters are accepted all the time. Admission folks know that it's out of your control.

Sounds like they're inviting redundancy there. Perhaps they just want a cheat sheet to scan?

This is not what this board is for. Meet with your professor, ask your colleagues, read the literature again. Asking internet strangers to explain concepts to you is lazy.

The GRE is a standardized exam. There is no qualification process to take it, you simply register at a local office to take the test. Preparation varies from person to person. Some like to take special prep courses, others just study out of books. You're probably set for the math, given your background, but may need to spend extra time with the verbal components, since English seems to be your second language. Competitive scores vary from university to university, and aren't always public knowledge. If you think you have scored poorly, you can always take the test again.

Can't say for certain, but I think the fact that your first school offered you acceptance before receiving all their applications is a sign that they are not likely going to receive many applications at all (or at least not ones of quality). I have to assume that this reflects poorly on the program's strength. It generally isn't something that most universities do, at least in my part of the world. The silent treatment you've been getting from the second university is much more normal. They may not get back to you until long after the deadline (months will likely pass!). Hopefully your first university won't demand you accept/pass on their offer before the second one gets back to you. If this is the case, it's another sign of dubious quality (because clearly the best candidates are going to have offers from other schools with later offer schedules). Fortunately, if they try this sort of tactic, you can always ask for an extension and they'll probably give it to you. Don't let them pressure you! And best of luck!

Perhaps focusing on a particular medium in which said language is exercised could get you off to a good start? Are you looking at social media? Any particular platform/subgroup?

Sounds like you've hit an excellent landmark and deserve a little break! Could you take the day off? Celebrate with a little self care? I think your reaction is pretty normal; I've been there myself. Feedback may take a while to come back to you, so the key thing is to feel pleased for having got this far, take your mind off it, and then head back to the pile of reading/marking/research that we always have in the wings.

I think you've already begun to articulate how your disability and disciplinary interests interact in a highly beneficial way. I think that you have the makings for a powerful statement there, and the diversity bump is a distinct possibility. It makes for a great narrative, and it's sincere. As you suspect, however, I also think that it would be imperative to emphasize how your condition is well managed through medication and experience to try and preclude any preemptive judgement about your capacities. (Your GRE and recent grades should also reinforce this, right?). Sometimes you just have to trust that folks won't be abelist douchebags. If it turns out that they are, well, then perhaps studying with those folks would only invites future complications and stress (and what are they doing in medical chemistry with an attitude like that anyways?).

I also vote housing job! You can include the fellowship on your CV, even if you don't carry it to completion, and you'll be able to do better work on your studies with financial security, even if you do so at a slower rate. Time to completion isn't so grave a deal in your masters as it is in the PhD (and even then, it's usually because of funding pressures which don't seem to adhere in your circumstance!). Taking care of yourself is an essential part of grad school, particularly if you want to keep doing it.