linguistics_grad

Ooooh! Interesting that you mention Hochelaga. My partner is francophone and we've been gravitating towards the long commute/cheap rent/immersive French combo. How do you like it there??

Hi!! How nice of you to offer! In fact, I do have a question. I was wondering about the option to do a combined degree at McGill, which I understand entails doing a 3rd year for research. I was wondering how many students generally go that route? And how long do you have to decide? And if you do decide to do the combined degree do you apply for funding in your first or second year? Also, how's your first year going? I've already been accepted and can't wait to get started!

Hmm I just tried to create a group, but they wouldn't let me without having at least one friend to add. Who knew they were such literal enforcers of the definition of a "group"!

I got an offer from McGill as well and am definitely accepting! Except that my status hasn't changed on UApply yet. I guess it will eventually change and I'll be able to accept online? Fellow future McGill students of Sept 2017, should we create a FB group or something?!

You're my hero!! Thanks for doing that. I sent them a message through UApply earlier but haven't gotten anything back. The suspense is getting to be too much. I've been travelling since September and actually *only* applied to McGill because it was my top choice and applying more widely wasn't practical for my situation. So I am really waiting to learn my fate here. At this point I just want to *know* so I can start planning for taking those other pre-reqs and so on, if I'm not getting in this time around!

Oooh, good idea! Let us know if you get a response?

I hear you!! I feel the same, it's been a torturously long wait.

Nope! Radio Silence.

I've been checking the results, my uApply, and my email like a fiend. Nooo signs of anything from McGill yet. I feel like I've been waiting for an eternity! Their website says mid-March, so surely it should be soon? Maybe next week? Monday seems like a pretty normal time to decide a student's fate, yes? Love & luck to all!

Awesome!! Thank you.

Hi!! Has anyone heard back from McGill yet?

Hello friends!! Glad to see I'm not the only one freaking out a little waiting for a response on my application to SLP. My question for you, in advance, is this: Do you think there is any chance I'm going to get in?? This is my situation: I did an undergrad and a master's in linguistics. I was a total brain when I was in university; I got dozens of scholarships, had a 4.0 GPA, learned 3 languages, did research assistant positions, got SSHRC funding, presented a conferences... Then I did my master's at a prestigious linguistics program in Canada, wrote my thesis, did a teaching assistantship in phonetics, got a 3.88 GPA.... annnnd ultimately decided that going into academia wasn't really suited to my personality. Loved the subject matter, but it just wasn't the vibe I was looking for. I felt like I couldn't see how my long hours working on research would benefit the world in any tangible way (my area of expertise was very esoteric), and I spent so much time alone. It wasn't a social enough environment for me. So, I decided to take time off and that turned into 6 years of doing all kinds of things. Travelling, serving, government jobs.. I did several years of organic farming and sang in a band also. Taking that time off was a great "life" move that I wouldn't take back for the world. And THEN I developed a vocal disorder called muscle tension dysphonia, which made it impossible for me to sing, socialize, or do the kinds of work I was used to (mostly working in loud restaurants and talking about 15 hours a day). Long story short, it turned my life upside down, and I ended up in speech language therapy. I found my sessions to be FASCINATING and all of a sudden I felt like everything clicked into place and that I'd figured out what my long term career goals needed to be. Since that time (last summer), I've had no doubts about going back to university and training in SLP. HOWEVER! I don't have any volunteer experience. And I've been travelling since September, so I only applied for one program, McGil. I feel that I put together the strongest application I could; good references from profs that I worked for or did research with who know me quite well, my transcript is very strong, and I do have a master's degree already. I spent a month fussing over my letter and getting profs and other smart friends to edit it. But I am also very aware that I am not the average SLP applicant, in that I don't have the volunteer experience and I have been out of school for 6 years. And during this time I've had very diverse and interesting life/work/travel experiences, but those experiences aren't directly related to SLP. What do you think, comrades? I know that if I don't get in for Sept 2017 the world won't end. I'll have another year to volunteer and do more prerequisites and do all of the things you're supposed to do. But I am *so excited* about the idea of getting started! And I was such a strong student that I've always felt that the academic world would just be open to me whenever I wanted to go back to it. Do people like me get in? How hard should I be bracing myself for disappointment? Thanks for reading, and GOOD LUCK to all! :))