Writeswell

1. Yes, email them to accept the award. They will tell you also to inform your institution, although I don't know if you need to in the UK. 2. I am not sure. I think there is also a "send by scan" option if you look in the award-holders handbook (they link to it). So perhaps we can do that way. 3. I am unclear on this also.

No kidding. Fortunately, he confined himself to the bottom corner.

Great. My paper eating cat has just chewed a massive hole in the letter from the SSHRC!!

At Queen's -- at least in my program -- they don't give results until the summer, July I think. It is because program directors are waiting to see how many SSHRCs and other external awards they are getting; this in turn affects who they offer OGS awards to, and down the line.

I just want to say all power to those of you still waiting. This is nuts.

It was larger than a standard letter in dimensions. Not manuscript sized (8.5 x 11) but the medium sized envelope, bigger than a business letter.

So sorry to hear this...it sucks! I don't know whether you can apply again at this point, but I think it would be worth an email to the agency. It goes by the number of months you've been enrolled full time, not the length of time to graduation.

Sometimes that happens, yes. I don't know how often. Congrats on getting an award. The one you are offered is based (mostly) on the score you receive (those who score in the higher range will be offered a CGS. Those who are later in their program can't get a 3 year award, however.

Mine's cultural studies also but I chose committee 1 because the project is poetry...I really wasn't too sure, though. That is something that maybe in these interdisciplinary areas we could use a bit more help on. My program put on a good "how to write it" session for students but that wasn't really something that came up.

Yes, at least two of us got letters in Kingston today....

First, I'm sorry you did not get the award. That's such tough news to get. (Having been there, I know). As for the odds, impossible to say; I do know people who have been on the list and received awards, but I don't know their place on the list. My score was similar last year and I did not get an award but it was a different committee.

Got my letter. It's real! FWIW...my score was 17.7/20, Committee 1, research-creation project, poetry. In comparison, last year my score -- same project, same committee -- was 12.5 or maybe 12.75 (can't remember, I was so upset by the whole thing) and I was waitlisted for a smaller award. When I say "same project" I really mean it. I did not change the project description. Changes to the package included the following: I had some PhD grades on the transcript from my first year. But they were comparable to my MFA grades. Instead of my MFA supervisor, I asked a current prof to write a reference, along with my supervisor. (Again, both told me they wrote strong letters and I have no reason to doubt either of them). I also had a few more publications, but honestly, I don't think it was that because I had a strong publication record to begin with in my field. The only thing I can think is that my program may have rated me higher this year. They are pretty strategic, aiming to get the most money for the entire "team," if you will, over time. The other possibility is that this year's committee was simply more favourable to research-creation projects than last year's. Sad for those who lost out this year but unless you are in the last year to apply, don't give up hope. You can see from this experience that it varies considerably year to year.

You are right, it is crazy confusing. A few years ago there was a guy at Queen's who was waitlisted for the SSHRC (several times) and won the Vanier. http://www.queensu.ca/culturalstudies/node/43

misswan, this is so exciting! My research-creation project is also in poetry/ poetics!! And I was informed I got the CGS (though again, I don't have the letter in my hand yet). It would be great to compare notes and discuss our work if you are interested.

Yay for research-creation! It is heartening to hear of people receiving grants for this work as well as the more traditional work. (But I am glad for anyone who gets and congrats to all.)

You would think we'd get notice in Kingston, a mere 2 hours from Ottawa, right? But no. Arggh.

Not I. I heard from the director of my program Friday night but will not believe, cannot fully believe, until that letter is in my hands. I thought we'd get mail in Kingston today....arghh!!! Hang in there, all who are waiting. Congrats to those who've been awarded. Congrats to all, actually. Anyone who applies for this thing deserves applause. This process is nuts.

I am under the same impression (that not too many research-creation projects get funded) but I also applied under this category and did get funded this year (after being waitlisted last year). So it is possible! Good luck to all.

Nothing in Kingston. I expect tomorrow or Wednesday; even though we're close to Ottawa, mail can move slowly between the two cities.

I'm so sorry. I was in this position last year and was so disappointed. Hang in there (and also to others who have been similarly informed). I think it often happens that waitlisted people are awarded the scholarship late. It didn't happen for me, and I wouldn't count on it, that's for sure, but it's still possible. It all depends on how many people decline (usually due to better offers or having rethought the whole idea of grad school, or having decided to defer, or whatever.)

I'm betting you're right. Crossing fingers for you today.

Yes, of course you are correct and that is what I meant -- that I hope as many people here as possible learn a positive result and don't have to wait too long. But also, not having heard yet does not mean one did not get an award, or at least not necessarily. Because if your school is one that doesn't report results by email in advance of snail mail, you'll have to wait either way. Oh...and last year I was informed on the first day that people began hearing that I did not get an award. So not all early news is good news. It just depends.

Those who've heard news are mostly reporting success. But if you haven't heard anything I don't think you should assume lack of success. Whether or not anybody tells you in advance really does seem to depend on the school and even the department within the school. So some will not know for sure until the mail comes; others might get emails tomorrow or the next day from their departments. Crossing fingers for as many as possible.

FUN????

Yes....heard from the director of my department Friday night at about 6:30 pm. (In a message that somehow went to my junk mail and I only discovered by a fluke!) I am in my 2nd year of the PhD and was awarded the CGS for 3 years. Or so he "unofficially" said. I still don't believe it. Won't, until I see the actual letter. For what it is worth, last year I was waitlisted for the smaller, 2 year doctoral award. Note: this year's proposal was almost identical. The only real difference was that I had some first year PhD grades on the transcript. (I am a returning student who had been out of school for a while before my return as a PhD candidate, but my MA grades were all good, so you wouldn't think that would be super important.) Also, I had my supervisor and a current prof write recommendations, rather than my MA supervisor and my current supervisor. But again, I'm sure these letters were comparable. Meanwhile, I did nothing to the proposal itself except maybe change a comma. I had worked so hard on that #$(%* thing the first time round that neither I, nor my supervisor, could figure out a way to improve it. So in desperation, we just forwarded it again! If you weren't chosen this year, don't give up hope; it could still happen for you next year. Good luck to all who are still waiting to find out. It is a crazy system. I really feel there should be coordination and a streamlined process so people don't have to go nuts with all the waiting.