RunnerGrad

Hello fellow Canadian applicants! I was just accepted to the second PhD program that I had applied to at Queen’s University. Now I have a tough decision to make: which program? I’ve made a list of pros and cons, but both programs are still pretty much tied. Needless to say, I need to sleep on this and think some more. But it’s a wonderful problem to have! I hope all of you waiting to hear back will have good news soon!

Is there anyone else who will be attending Queen’s University in Kingston this coming Fall? I’ve been accepted to the PhD program in Aging and Health and have accepted my offer. I’m very excited to begin my studies this fall, having been working as an allied health professional since completing my master’s in 2016. I’m currently living in Kingston, so it won’t be a huge change for me. I definitely enjoy living here!

I couldn’t be more different from my parents, but I am adopted. My parents finished high school, and that was it. I was the first person in my family to attend university and to pursue graduate studies. It means there’s a lot of things I didn’t know about, especially during my undergrad. It also means my parents really never understood me, as I’ve always been a “good student” and driven to excel academically (perhaps because I am adopted, I felt I had to “prove” myself). Compared to many of my peers (who had parents who were professionals who had degrees or advanced degrees) I’ve definitely felt at a disadvantage. There are lots of things I had to figure out myself, and some that I never really figured out until it was much too late for it to make a difference. Somehow I’ve managed to do well in my studies and I’ve been accepted to a PhD program. My family may not understand why this is important to me, or the value of my education, but others (such as my spouse) totally make up for it. My spouse is so incredibly supportive. I would not have been able to make it this far without him.

Background checks can vary enormously in time. I obtained my most recent one in 15 minutes! Previous ones, for a higher level of security clearance (when I was applying for jobs with the RCMP in Canada) took months.

For those of you worried about the lack of thesis at UofT MPH: I was just accepted to a PhD program with my MPH from UofT. I did complete an optional research practicum during my MPH, and chose research-oriented electives. Had completed an undergraduate thesis and done research via an NSERC USRA. Only two publications (neither first author), but otherwise very strong dossier (4.0/4.0 for both undergrad and MPH).

Just received an offer of admission to one of my programs of interest at Queen’s University! The formal letter from the school of graduate studies to come sometime in the next two weeks. I’m so absolutely delighted and excited!

Even at UofT MPH, where it is a course-based program, you have the option of completing a research practicum and/or a research-based independent study course. In my stream (Nutrition and Dietetics), I did a research practicum, and some of my class mates did a research-based independent study whereas one of them did both the research practicum and a research-based independent study course. I also chose my electives to have a research focus (i.e. nutritional epi, statistics for nursing research despite not being a nurse). I’ve currently been unofficially accepted to a PhD program, pending funding. So it is certainly possible to be accepted to PhD programs without completing a formal thesis. Sometimes you have extra hoops to jump through (i.e. you have to show “extensive” research experience, or you have to have so many publications, etc.) but it is certainly possible. At least in my stream (Nutrition and Dietetics) I know many individuals from past cohorts who went on to complete PhD studies in health, public health, nutrition, dietetics, or related fields, even though they lacked a thesis.

I’ve finally had some contact with my POI! We had a lovely chat, and the POI will be happy to be my PhD supervisor if there is funding available from the department (as they guarantee all PhD students minimum funding). My POI thinks I’ll be competitive for external scholarships as well, so if I’m accepted, I’ll be applying for CIHR funding and CFDR funding. I’m trying not to get too excited, because it’s not a firm acceptance, and it is contingent on funding being available, but it is progress!

I was accepted to Guelph’s MAN program, UofT’s MPH in nutrition and dietetics, and a stand-alone dietetic internship. Ultimately I chose UofT’s MPH. Anyone with questions about UofT’s program, please feel free to message me. I’ve worked in community nutrition and primary care since graduating from UofT, and it was the best choice for me at the time. I’m happy to answer questions about the MPH at UofT, or about Guelph (I have two degrees from Guelph).

Both are great universities. It really depends where your interests in public health lie, and which school offers more opportunities for you to pursue those interests, whether through practica or courses.

Personally, I think it is best to hope for the best, but plan for the worst. Applicants haven’t been rejected yet, since only the first wave of acceptances have been sent out, but, as a UofT MPH grad, I think it is best to consider yourself on a wait list right now if you haven’t received an acceptance. Putting your life on hold because you haven’t yet been accepted or rejected is not a good idea. Planning for the future, in case you are rejected, is the best approach. I’m still waiting on a decision from Queen’s re: two PhD programs. If I assumed I would be accepted, I wouldn’t be doing anything right now to improve my application or to ensure that I remain licensed as a registered dietitian. As I don’t have an answer yet, I am proceeding as if I were rejected (even though I haven’t been), and securing myself employment in my field so that I can maintain my registration. I think it’s good advice to start planning for the future, in case an acceptance doesn’t come through. If people later receive an acceptance, that’s awesome! But I think it is very important to have back-up plans. I was fortunate to receive admission to UofT’s MPH on the first day of acceptances, but I already had three other back-up plans prepared (including an acceptance to an MSc program) in case the MPH didn’t happen. I think that’s prudent planning. YMMV of course. I like to plan and to have back-up plans so that I’m not left in limbo. Others may prefer to wait and see what happens before making alternate plans.

The people I knew in Health Promotion at UofT who had to take a stats course took this one from Guelph (offered online): https://courses.opened.uoguelph.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=18978 I believe Athabasca also offers an online stats course. You can also check and see if any local universities offer a summer course in stats. You can also check out the Canadian Virtual University: http://www.cvu-uvc.ca/courses.php?page=subject&language=English If any of you have questions about UofT, feel free to ask. I graduated from the Nutrition & Dietetics stream, but took several classes with the other streams (including Intro to Public Health and CHAM I & II).

Come on Queen’s - give me an admission offer for a birthday present!

I’m in my 40s and I still don’t feel like an adult! I don’t have children, and can’t imagine having them, because it’s hard enough looking after myself and our cats sometimes (I am married). So I agree with the others that for many people you never really feel like an adult, and that’s okay!