Ecophys

Write. It doesn't matter what it says for now. Don't worry about the flow, structure, etc. Just write. Get your thoughts down on paper and rearrange them into a thesis later. If you are writing a MS based thesis or writing in definable sections, write the sections that come easiest first and then address the more difficult sections at a later time. When you get to a section that has been giving you trouble, have a couple of drinks and try again. It might help. Exercise is a great way to break the block. In general, anything that can take you mind away from the thesis once or twice a day will help you get writing again.

It was the same for me when I went through the round of applications for the Vanier and PGS/CGS. Except I was notified of the PGS-D first. My grades were not overly high but I had publications and leadership. I thought that was it and I was happy with the PGS-D then the second letter came saying disregard the PGS offer since I got a Vanier.

From what I understand, if you get an NSERC PGS or CGS this year instead of a Vanier, you are not eligible to reapply. If you are an international student, you could always reapply as long as you haven't been in your program longer than 20 months as of May 1, 2012. Last year, I just made the cutoff for eligibility by one day. As for chances of success, If you are still publishing previous work or have already started publishing PhD work in your first year of your PhD, I don't see why your chances wouldn't go up. If you are also heavily involved in leadership activities in your new faculty, that would help as well for the next round of applications this fall.

I am not from the states but I am sure the system of fellowships is similar to how it works in Canada. I will add to this that when you get a fellowship, the stipend you normally would have received can then either be allocated to a part-time technician to help you out, extra money for your research or just general progress of the lab. Of course, some grants are more strict than others in how funds can be allocated but many are flexible in how the money can be used and if you aren't dipping from that fund, your supervisor can use that freed money to help your research along. I have a fellowship and with the money my supervisor saves by not having to pay me, he gives me the flexibility to do the research I want to do that is not limited by funding. If I want to send away $5000 in analysis to an outside lab, he doesn't really think much of it. That is a great bonus to have for your M.Sc or PhD. And I agree that the prestige of attracting external fellowships, especially highly competitive and well-known fellowships is just as beneficial as the money.

You might get to find out but if you were successful, you won't get to tell any people publicly until the media release sometime in late April or May.....that is how it worked last year. It was definitely an anxious time for me last year waiting for the results.

Last year, the NSERC PGS/CGS notifications were sent out first and were independent of the Vanier notifications. If the applicant gets both, the NSERC PGS or CGS is automatically declined if the Vanier is accepted. This is a good way to do it because some students may choose to take a PGS abroad instead of the Vanier (it would have to be a pretty sweet deal to not take the Vanier). It gives the applicant more options to choose from. If I remember correctly, the results actually came in on this day last year..........Good luck to this years applicants!

The Vanier application would not have to be submitted until fall and the weighting they put on the Vanier is different than the PGS/CGS scholarships. I am in an NSERC field but the criteria are the same. I applied for both NSERC PGS/CGS and the Vanier through separate applications this year. I found out first that I was awarded a NSERC PGS (21K per year) and didn't get a CGS (35K per year). About a week later, I found out I was awarded a Vanier CGS (50K per year). So, even though I was lower ranked in the academic based PGS/CGS competition, I was successful with the Vanier, a rounded, leadership-based scholarship. With the Vanier, academics (grades, etc.) do not matter as much as extracurricular and professional activities, contributions to your field (publications) and your ability to explain your research in laymens terms and apply it to real-world problems. So, if academics were a weaker part of your application and the other components were stronger, definitely apply to the Vanier. I would also say that if your chair wants you to apply, start now. It was a very stressful two weeks last fall trying to get everything done in time. I would say the complete application took one full week of my time to make sure it was perfect. Starting now will allow you to catch the small mistakes that are often missed when you are in a rush.

The Vanier scholarship application was separate from the PGS applications. If you did not apply separately to the Vanier scholarship, you would not be automatically considered for it like last year's applicants were. It sounds like you are only being considered for the SSHRC PGS/CGS scholarships and not the Vanier but I don't know if you applied separately to Vanier. My university notified me of being forwarded to the national vanier competition.

Generally, everyone is quite good in the office. I really don't mind if someone comes in for a chat or they talk with their supervisor. Even though we are sharing space, sometimes our office is the only place we can meet. I TA so I have students coming in to my office. There is really no other place I can meet them. It is a reality there is going to be some talking and chatting in an office shared with 5 or 6 other people. Tolerance is important in this type of office arrangement. It can't be like a library. If office mates expect that, they should go to the library. I guess I would rather they just talk at a normal level and I can put my headphones on to drown them out rather than whisper which comes across as suspicious or secretive. Maybe I am just odd...lol

No, the universities do not know the results.

I got the Vanier letter at my parents today........no more waiting

So, as I sit here writing this, another officemate is having a discussion with another person. Rather than talk at a normal level, they are whispering and it is incredibly distracting to me. I know they are just trying to be polite and not talk in the office but I would rather they just talked at a normal level. It may sound weird but whispering is more distracting than someone just having a normal conversation. What does everyone else think? I am not too bothered by it as it doesn't happen very often. I just find it a little strange and distracting.

Well, it looks like I will be waiting until at least Tuesday to find out. It is disappointing to wait almost a week longer than people out East. It would really be nice if there was an email notification process rather than snail mail. It is exciting to get it in letter form but an email is much more efficient and timely. In addition, I still have not received my NSERC PGS letter. I know the result but I would prefer to get it in writing. Other people in my department have and it has not arrived at my permanent address yet either.

Sorry, I don't know anything about the lists or how they work. I sure would like to though. I am curious to know whether people get bumped up from within university or nationally. It would be more fair to do it nationally but it is more complicated then.

The Vanier letter was combined with the NSERC letter? I was told they were going to be separate letters? I haven't received my NSERC letter yet but know my results. Were you awarded both an NSERC and Vanier or just one or the other? Was your Vanier application successful? I am so tired of waiting for the final notice on these scholarships. I confirmed my address with NSERC for the Vanier application in early Feb so they should be sending it here. Who knows though.......