high_hopes

I'm in the second-year of my PhD program, and starting to work on my dissertation proposal in more detail while finishing up my coursework. I am very excited about the prospect about digging in more to a question I find fascinating to really understand what is going on and hopefully write and publish some articles related to the social phenomenon I am studying!

You should be able to buy a domain name for less than $20. It doesn't have to be your full legal name -- it could be anything similar - perhaps an initial and a name, just your last name, or part of your name and the letters SOC for sociology or something. Hosting it for free on wix.com or wordpress.com or a similar server would also definitely be fine. Otherwise if you want to pay to not have any advertisements it should also be less than $5 a month. With all that said, I don't have a website. I might make one when I'm in the later years of my PhD program when I'm doing full-time research or looking for academic jobs. I don't think it makes a big difference to have one.

Nope, I didn't apply. I'm in the social sciences and still working on my PhD. Good luck, I hope you end up receiving the award!

I think you should be able to email NSERC to ask where you are on the shortlist?

If self-funding is your best option, don't feel bad about taking it. However, having a clear conversation with your advisor about long-term funding expectations is probably a good idea. You do not want to incur debt or destroy all savings you have as you pursue your PhD unless you are super-confident you will obtain a job that pays well once you are done. I'm guessing that the prospect of a good job after graduation is more likely in computer science than my discipline (sociology) so it might be a risk worth taking for you.

Yup it is the public announcement of who won. I received SSHRC last year (found out in May 2018) and the letter said I wasn't supposed to advertise that I had the funding until the public announcement was made.

I wonder if the public announcement of winners will be tomorrow. SSHRC is making some type of public announcement tomorrow:

Congratulations!

Yeah I guess the Trudeau Foundation wanted to review fewer files so they are asking the universities to be more selective...

Good luck! I'm on my second year of trying!

If you are currently waiting for results on pending applications, don't worry about re-taking the GRE just yet. See what happens with your applications and if you are not accepted to any schools, then yes, perhaps re-taking it later this year is a good idea. But try not to worry about this aspect until April or May -- right now it is out of your control.

I think the only situation where it would make sense for you to take a course is if: - you don't feel you have good LoRs at this point - you can comfortably spend the $5000 - the course has small enrollment and you will be able to build a relationship with the professor -- also the professor would need to be tenure-track - the topic of the course is closely related to what you hope to study in a PhD program - it is an upper level course that focuses in detail on specific topics where the prof would be able to write specific notes about your contributions to class and your research/writing Even if these conditions are met, it might not be necessary. I certainly wouldn't take an intro course, a course without a tenure-track instructor (as the LoR wouldn't be seen as valuable), or a course in a random area of sociology that differs from what you want to take. There are tons of sociology PhD students who don't have a background in sociology and I highly doubt admissions committee care whether these students have taken courses in sociology. What they care about more is the ability to do social research and possibly some quantitative skills which can be developed in other programs, and the ability to propose interesting sociological research. The only reason to take a course would be if you think you could get someone who will write you an amazing letter that will strengthen your application.

I don't think so: I think the emphasis is more on community-based leadership when looking at the profiles of previous winners and also what they emphasize in how they assess applications.

I think that if your statement of purpose makes clear why you want to pursue a sociology PhD and shows that you understand and are planning to engage with recent sociological research, you have a good chance of being admitted. It will also help if your letter writers can speak to why sociology is a good fit for you. If you can demonstrate your quant skills and are interested in quant research I think some departments will be quite interested in you -- sometimes they complain that students with sociology undergraduate degrees don't have adequate preparation to do cutting-edge statistical research. Also, fwiw, top departments won't really care about your political leanings.

When are they going to announce the results publicly?? Anyone have any insights?

No. And if you get a SSHRC you cannot apply for the Vanier.

I was really disappointed to not get the Vanier last year - I was ranked in the 70s. So close, but not close enough (at all). I did get a SSHRC which I am really thankful for. It also means I cannot apply for the Vanier this year, so less anxiety on that front. I have a friend who got the Vanier the second time he applied, and she says that waiting a year really improved her application a lot. Hopefully you have the same experience! (But try not to think about it until April )

Good luck, @CrazyPugLady! I think you have to wait until April now for results. However, it sounds like you have a good chance--congratulations on all you have accomplished in the last year!

When I was waiting for results, this forum was anxiety-producing. Time away from my phone and computer was the healthiest thing I could do. Once the applications are submitted, it is out of your control. I'm realizing now that there are similar experiences throughout graduate school: waiting for news on competitive fellowships, teaching assignments, reviews of journal articles, and then applying for jobs! ? So, do your best to take some deep breaths and step away from the anxiety if at all possible. Good luck!

You can always apply the following year as well! And if you get it later then the funding will last longer through the program and not overlap as much with the SSHRC or Vanier. I would love to get the Trudeau this year because it would mean I could have an additional year of funding for my degree.

The information is now on the website. It also looks like they are making a greater effort to promote bilingualism and to have selected scholars organize conferences. There also appears to be more flexibility in who your references are than last year. Good luck to everyone who is applying! Edit: It also looks like the universities are much more restricted in the number of applications they can forward--it is only 4 for Canadian universities and 3 for international universities. If I remember correctly, last year Canadian universities could forward eight applications.

I wonder if the amount and duration of the award and the number of awards they will give out will stay the same. I am not sure, but I don't think that 3rd year PhD students were eligible last year, but it looks like they are eligible now.

I still can't see any information about how it works this year? Last year it was the universities that forwarded candidates for consideration; it wasn't possible to apply directly to the Trudeau Foundation.

I am so curious what the announcement will be tomorrow!!

I suggest applying to Program B. If you get in, then go and visit and see how you feel about the two places, considering the many factors @AP has mentioned. It might be the better choice. It is hard to know for sure until you get a sense of what they would offer you if you are admitted in terms of teaching fellowships (or preferably other funding arrangements so you can spend more time on research), advisors, etc.