Phalène

Just wanted to add that I wasn't bumped up until Christmas eve, and I was also #1 on my waitlist (from SDF to CGS, though).

My first time applying for SSHRC was in the first year of my PhD. My supervisor did tell me that it was uncommon for first years to win SSHRCs, but I did anyway. :-) The SSHRC statistics seem to indicate that it's pretty even across the board (in terms of which years win awards). Ahaha! Some days I feel like a supah-star, other days I want to hide under a rock.

I've always found that money attracts money.

The waitlist thing was really messed up last year. I went from being #1 on the SSHRC-to-CGS waitlist, to being #30 (and thus having no chance of getting a CGS), to being offered a CGS in December. Apparently the reason people moved down on the waitlist was because they eventually combined all the lists (so, the lists from each evaluatory committee) into one big one.

One of my friends just received word that she's won a SSHRC Vanier! So happy for her!

Hai, Canuck! I would think you guys still have at least a few months of waiting to go. Last year, I heard about my SSHRC in the first week of May... and wasn't bumped to a CGS until the end of December. It is an incredibly stressful and frustrating experience, and I definitely emphasize with everyone waiting right now!

Everyone gets forwarded for OGS...

^^ actually, A and B class happens at the university level. A class goes to SSHRC, B class does not. This should NOT be confused with A level and B level awards ($35k vs $20k).

I only heard my application was sent on around this time last year. I wouldn't start worrying just yet. :-)

OH MY GOD YOU GUYS: I just got an email saying I will now be given a CGS!! Best Christmas Gift ever, although at some point I would like to be able to stop shaking!!

Congrats guys! I'm really happy for you both. I would assume that if you're currently in second year, you'd be getting $20k for 3 years. Still a little bitter about my situation, but I think I'm starting to accept that I was just in a really sh*tty subgroup, hah. Ah, well...

Bad news for me They've merged all the subgroups' waitlists and ranked them by scores, which means I am no longer number one on my waitlist (and I think this is ridiculous given that we know that some committees score harder than others!). Apparently they did receive a few extra CGSs, but not enough that it would make a difference for most people. I've been told my chances of receiving a bump up are pretty slim, given this new situation. So I'm pretty bummed. All that waiting and obsessing for nothing, heh. I wasn't able to get any info about the SDF waitlist, other than if someone hasn't heard by now, they aren't likely to be receiving it (I am not sure if these waitlists have also been merged). They are still giving out awards to people on the waiting list, but the new competition has started and that is their priority now. It could be over a month before people on the waitlist hear anything. Sorry I don't have better news, guys...

I didn't thank the committee in my application - I really didn't have the room and it might have seemed like I was trying to count my chickens before they hatched. The last line of my application went something like this: "I am confident that FancyPants University is the right place for me to continue my education and I would be delighted to join the doctoral program in Sociology in the fall." I did thank professors would agreed to speak and meet with me, though.

I called SSHRC (just couldn't wait), and they've changed how they do things slightly. The admin assistant took my name and number and someone is supposed to call me back (but given that I specified that my call was about the waitlist, they might decide to ignore me, hah). If I actually do get through to someone I'm going to ask about the waitlist protocols more generally (as opposed to enquiring about my own status, where they definitely won't tell me anything). I'm hoping to find out if things are just moving very slowly, or if they've finished giving out the alternate awards at this time. Let's see if I hear back from anyone...

Just popping in to say I've heard nothing (of course, lol). I'm surprised things have been so quiet... I thought we'd finally be getting some good news! I still think I might try calling them at the end of the month, even if only to see if I can figure out how their waitlist processing works!

No movement for me today. I'm still thinking if Ihere nothing by the end of October I'll give them a call..

Does anyone actually think we'll hear anything today? I keep flailing at my computer and yelling "What is taking you guys so LONG, omg!" (I am not necessarily getting that much work done).

The only problem is that now I can't stop refreshing my email... which makes it impossible to get any work done!

Congratulations, that's fantastic news! I'm now praying for the rest of us

One kind of interesting thing I've noticed is that SSHRC doesn't appear to be offering some of the supplementary fellowships this year (Ross, etc). Makes me wonder what is going on financially with them... I really wish we had more information (I seem to be wishing this a lot, lol). I might try contacting them one last time at the end of October, but I'm not sure it would really do anything.

I quoted the email exactly. No other information here.

Who knows with SSHRC anymore, right? *twitch* I do know that the woman I spoke to is one of two program officers tasked with administering the doctoral awards, so presumably she would know what she is talking about. I am guessing that other POs are saying the hold is still on because they don't want students emailing them... not that this plan seems to be working terribly well, lol.

got some news! "Yes, my initial hypothesis was right in that it listed candidates who were eligible to receive a CGS provided that they haven’t started their program already and that they would take it up at a Canadian university. I have looked into your status and was told that you are next in line for an award in your sub-group. There is no hold anymore on the offer of awards who are on the waiting list. We are still giving away doctoral awards to candidates on the waiting list. I would encourage you to monitor your email closely in the next few weeks. [...]" This doesn't necessarily mean I'll be bumped up, but I'm happy to know that things are moving again.

I sent an email today as well, specifically asking about the hold. We'll see if I ever get a response, lol.

I think the subcommittees are a mix - this is why they caution you not to use disciplinary jargon - because anyone could be evaluating your application. I have yet to receive my follow up email from SSHRC. I might send a note at the end of the week. (I think I've pretty much given up at this point, lol).