Matilda_Tone

I lived in a house owned by two professors last year...but they were away (and looking to make a bit of money by renting their house out for the year). That was weird enough- I don't think I could have done it if they were in the house too.

I was recently there for a conference and it didn’t seem any different than any other Canadian city in this regard. (I met many lovely, welcoming people and had a great time).

Yeah, Alberta is a Conservative stronghold- but (maybe I am naive) cities tend to be large and diverse enough to provide a safe environment for anyone. You’ll probably find a ton of economically conservative big-business capitalist types in Calgary...but that doesn’t always mean a place is socially conservative.

Having visited, I would feel comfortable moving there for school (and I am willing to bet that the university campus isn’t much different than others, politically). That said, I am not a minority and someone who is may have a different perspective on this.

Congrats to everyone!
I absolutely love Toronto. I'm paying about $850 for a tiny studio-apartment in The Annex. Great neighbourhood: pleasant, fairly quiet, within walking-distance of the U of T, several grocery-stores, several subway- and bus-stops, and lots of nifty shops on Bloor Street West.
There are lots of apartment-building overview things at viewit.ca.

Close- Maple Syrup U.

or "mocking your credentials behind closed doors", or "decision made: now waiting to build suspense"

they could at least have fun with it. the same status for months gets old

I am in a completely different field, but I will say this- when I was applying for my MA I was so sure that I would go to my school “A” over my school “B” if I got in. I ended up getting into both, and wasn’t sure if I even wanted to bother going to school “B’s” open day/wine and cheese event. I reluctantly decided to go anyway (because a free trip is a free trip!) and ended up liking it way more than I thought- in the end, I chose school B and had a great time there. It turned out to be a better fit then I thought.

So I guess my point is- it might seem like a chore, but make yourself go anyway. You never know! Maybe the website or department contact you have had so far hasn't given you a true impression of the place.

Got into the University of Toronto- which was my top choice. Feels great!

Got into the University of Toronto- which was my top choice. Feels great!

Got into the University of Toronto- which was my top choice. Feels great!

Got into the University of Toronto- which was my top choice. Feels great!

Got into the University of Toronto- which was my top choice. Feels great!

I was at my mother's on a "shower break" from the revolution, as I'd spent the night on the pavement in front of the Parliament. I saw I had a new email message, and was expecting a journalist or a friend checking in on me; it was an automated message telling me I had a new message in my InTray on the uni's server. So there were 5 stressful minutes as I opened the website, and the page refused to load. Then as soon as I saw "Conditional offer of admission" in the subject line, I jumped around in joy. Exhaustion and worry dulled my emotions, though.

My top school seems to send out their decisions around or on St.Patrick’s day...and, as an (aspiring) Irish historian, I am sure that my celebration will involve a pub, music, the wearing of green, and FAR too much alcohol.

(On the flip side, if I don’t get in, I will do the exact same thing to drown out the pain. Hurrah!)

I don’t see it as a terrible sin. I suppose asking for extras/lying about your need for said extras is dishonest (though there are far more serious forms of academic dishonesty).

I ended up being able to see both of mine, and I like to think that this doesn’t make me a bad person. A scholarship I requested letters for was discontinued, so I ended up with extras unintentionally. I tried to give one back, to a professor I know well and who I told about the scholarship change, but he insisted that I keep and read it. My other professor had gone off on sabbatical by then, and I opened his out of pure curiosity. I don’t think he would have minded anyway.

I think curiosity, rather than worry, is the main reason for opening them. I was not worried that they had said anything bad- but it is always interesting to know what people respect think about your work.

I don’t see it as a terrible sin. I suppose asking for extras/lying about your need for said extras is dishonest (though there are far more serious forms of academic dishonesty).

I ended up being able to see both of mine, and I like to think that this doesn’t make me a bad person. A scholarship I requested letters for was discontinued, so I ended up with extras unintentionally. I tried to give one back, to a professor I know well and who I told about the scholarship change, but he insisted that I keep and read it. My other professor had gone off on sabbatical by then, and I opened his out of pure curiosity. I don’t think he would have minded anyway.

I think curiosity, rather than worry, is the main reason for opening them. I was not worried that they had said anything bad- but it is always interesting to know what people respect think about your work.

I SHOULD make exercise my outlit- that would be more healthy- but for me it is my flute. If I am not working, I like to learn new tunes - and I go out once a week and play (and drink) with other people (it does not totally get my mind off of school- as I study Irish history and than take "time off" by playing Irish music...but I still love it).

As someone else has noted, people do generally know what history is- which does avoid some of the sorts of comments others seem to get.


On a more general level, I am sure we all get:

Person: What do you do?
Me: I’m a graduate student right now.
Person: Wait...so you LIKE school!?

My favourite more specific comment has been from my dear Mom, who isn’t terribly academic or interested in my area of study (Irish History).


Mom: How is your essay going?
Me: Alright. I think that I have decided to focus on Ulster this time.
Mom: Who is Ulster?

(Ulster= Northern Ireland, generally)
I nearly died laughing, which I suppose was a bit mean of me...but I couldn’t help but be amused.


The other thing one has to put up with in Irish history is EVERYONE in North America wanting to assert their Irishness.
I often have conversations like:

Person: What do you study?
Me: Irish history.
Person: Cool! My great-great-great-uncle’s cousin was Irish. And I have this awesome Celtic knotwork tattoo!

As someone else has noted, people do generally know what history is- which does avoid some of the sorts of comments others seem to get.


On a more general level, I am sure we all get:

Person: What do you do?
Me: I’m a graduate student right now.
Person: Wait...so you LIKE school!?

My favourite more specific comment has been from my dear Mom, who isn’t terribly academic or interested in my area of study (Irish History).


Mom: How is your essay going?
Me: Alright. I think that I have decided to focus on Ulster this time.
Mom: Who is Ulster?

(Ulster= Northern Ireland, generally)
I nearly died laughing, which I suppose was a bit mean of me...but I couldn’t help but be amused.


The other thing one has to put up with in Irish history is EVERYONE in North America wanting to assert their Irishness.
I often have conversations like:

Person: What do you study?
Me: Irish history.
Person: Cool! My great-great-great-uncle’s cousin was Irish. And I have this awesome Celtic knotwork tattoo!

I don’t see it as a terrible sin. I suppose asking for extras/lying about your need for said extras is dishonest (though there are far more serious forms of academic dishonesty).

I ended up being able to see both of mine, and I like to think that this doesn’t make me a bad person. A scholarship I requested letters for was discontinued, so I ended up with extras unintentionally. I tried to give one back, to a professor I know well and who I told about the scholarship change, but he insisted that I keep and read it. My other professor had gone off on sabbatical by then, and I opened his out of pure curiosity. I don’t think he would have minded anyway.

I think curiosity, rather than worry, is the main reason for opening them. I was not worried that they had said anything bad- but it is always interesting to know what people respect think about your work.