saharel

Cerulea is right. It was my case, but they still sent my application to NSERC, but they give me a really low ranking, while at my new university they nominated me for vanier. So I couldn't understand why my current university ranked me so low, that I doubted I would receive a scholarship while my new university thougth I was good enough for Vanier.... It is true in university selection they tend to favor those who will be staying and I felt it last fall See we are all speculating a lot to understand how this review process works at university level and national level...I suggest that one of us try to become a NSERC reviewer and then comes back here and starts a blog on how it really works

I found a typo in my final application....after it was sent to NSERC and I still got a CGS-D. I doubt that you get rejected automatically for an innocent typo.

I have heard about that confidentiality what ever... I didn't get the letter yet ( hope it arrives before easter long-week end) but I am curious: do they state in the letter the reason why the result has to be kept confidential? isn't weird?

Talking from my personal experience, I wouldn't go with the NEW supervisor. I have done that, and regret it so much. I litteraly falled in love with the personality/attitude of the supervisor and the project, so I thought....well nobody to tell me if she is good or not, doesn't matter, I get along with her and I love the project. Even if they are good researcher somtimes they lack management skills and don't know who to manage a team and you don't want them to learn that at your expenses. Until now I consider this as my worst decision ever. You can be lucky, and that professor can be good, or you could be unlucky. I did this mistake for my MSc, so 2years not the end of the world, but for a PhD, you don't even know if that persons has what it takes to advise you and to help you carry your project. I would consider the crazy vs the non-crazy. why do they say she is crazy? because I knew lazy students who called their supervisor crazy and demanding, but a normal hard working student, didn't find the supervisor crazy at all....so is it all the people who thinks she is crazy, or a few, and again try to find out why she is tagged crazy.

Thanks for the detailled explanation of how the mcclean actually does the ranking. When I met advisor in the past, well it is their job they should have known better apparently not (maybe you should consider career as an advisor!! you would do better then them) they explain the difference between medical and comprehensive was actually university w/medical schools and applied research vs university w/fundamental research. I appreciate your explanation, it clarifies many things. The fact is that everybody consider these rankings plus the reputation of a university when they apply even if the university doesn't have a great department in their field of interest. And we have to be realistic, if you say, oh I did my degree at concordia in montreal vs mcgill....well no matter how great your department/supervisor was, McGill still impress a lot more than concordia I believe that every university has its strenght and weakness in different field, and this is known among professionals and companies ect. Like everybody knows Toronto is a good medical school, while Waterloo, if I am correct is good in computer science or something like that and all this is despite ranking. Actually if people knew better about rankings....maybe they wouldn't consider them as important You should spread the word

Well this is not my personal opinion and I don't personally follow these rankings. I have been at mcgill...not always faithfull to its reputation. It is facts from McClean's listing thought. I am going in waterloo, but not in the department that makes its reputation. I believe you should always go where you find a research subject for which you are passionate. I gave this answer, since he expressed doubts about the opinion of people on GradCafe, so I confirm that the opinions of people on the forums are not false, since in some serious listings, they do rank well these university. In my field Toronto and McGill are really good and UWO as well. I don't know his, but reputation of a university in your field should always be considered....for better future perspectives, and Toronto+ McGill definitely have a good reputation compared to UWO, again, in my field. so what is your opinion?

McGill and UofT are top ranked as medical schools, but not for comprehensive research, they don't even make the top 10 for this category. For comprehensive research, you have simon fraser, victoria and waterloo in top 3. In both case UWO doesn't make the top 10. Still mcgill and UofT have overall great reputation, so being accepted to these university is great, you shouldn't bother about UWO rejection Since UWO is smaller then McGill and Toronto, is it possible that they were no researchers available to supervise your research there or no researcher with funds? UofT and Mcgill, also receive a lot more funding then smaller university, so maybe that is why you got accepted there with fellowship. congratulations for your mcgill offer

I am not sure for US, but just like you I understood PhD are actually 6-7years there. Why don't you consider Canada, PhD here last 4-5years. Many university are part of Health Center (affiliated with a hospital) where they carry research in the field you are interested in. The course load is usually not that important and you focus more on your research. Have a look!

I used to take a full load of course during my BSc and I was working 40-45hours on top. So I had to pull all-nighters quite often. It was easy for me, never a problem, didn't even had to sleep long hours afterwards. I could do this until I started my master. Then I was not able anymore. I blamed it on age, but also on the fact that I probably burned myself. You can stress your body like this but not forever and I believe that is why at some point you can't do it anymore. I would suggest that you listen to your body. Now I would rather sleep and study less...anyways apparently when you sleep it gives time to your brain to process and store (memorize) what you studied.

I am a mature student as well. I have started my MSc at 28, and PhD at 30. I used to be ashamed, but in the end I find that I have an advantage compare to younger student. First because I have more experience in my field, so everything is a bit easier for me. Also, when you are older, you don't have time to lose anymore, so you are more focus, you know what you want and you work more efficiently. since it is easier in the lab and the studies, it kinds of make up for the time you have to invest taking care of the familly. I love being a mature student. It is a big advantage, even for scholarships, my past experience contributed a lot in getting funding. I actually recommend people to try to be mature students

Listen, a good man, wouldn't be scared of you being too smart. A good men would encourage you to pursue studies. You have to find a way to balance both career/family goals. 23 isn't that old to find a husband. Actually, even if you are mature and everything, 21 is young to get married. If you complete your degree, you will have time to grow a bit, to know yourself better and be able to make better choices (like chosing a better husband!!). Moreover, leaving home and living by yourself will be a great experience for you. Follow your dream and you might even find a man who will support you to reach that dream. Once a teacher asked me why I was not pursuing studies...I said oh, money, I don't have any, my parents are not there anymore they can't help..... He told me that: stop putting mountains in front of you. Just go and do it.....grab your dream and today on am starting a PhD, money was never a problem, through my college, BSc or MSc degree. So this getting married/becoming a housewife thing is NOT an obstacle for you. You can do it when you get back with your degree.

I feel your pain. It is true you seem to have done some hardwork to get there. If I compare myself with you, I would say you are stronger in some area, and I am stronger in other, overall, I would consider that it evens out, normally you should get an offer. Be sure that your profile is really good, at your level it is not everybody who has achieved all this, so definitely you were a really strong candidate. I have to agree with yellow tulip, maybe you had a great list of accomplishements, but you were not able to sell yourself and to show to the reviewers how come this list of accomplishments, makes you a great applicant. The other factor could be your ranking at your university. At my university, the success rate is 50%, my university sends out 40-42 application to NSERC, but about 20 are funded, so to get the scholarship I definitely had to be ranked in the top 20. You could check your university ranking and success rate. I don’t know in which department you are, but Waterloo is one of the best university in some areas and some of the best students study there in these area, maybe applicants from waterloo were really great. Althought I am going to waterloo my NSERC was forwarded from my current university, even if our applications are similar,we can’t compare. Your research....maybe NSERC didn’t like it. I knew someone who was in an interdisciplinary field who couldn’t get funding, because all organisms told her…well it doesn’t fall into any of our categories. Or if your project was not well written/explain. You know your ability to write your project in a clear and cohesive manner shows in a way your ability to complete successfully this research I would have to say also, the reviewers. Like yellowtulip say, sometime you don’t understand their evaluation. My GPA in undergrad and grad is 4.2 and 4.3 out of 4.3, did my bsc in 3years, got scholarship for undergrads. I had a colleague in my MSc lab, 3.7out of 4.3, 6years to do BSc, no undergrad scholarship who applied to same scholarship for master. We were not evaluated by the same comitte of reviewer. For is academics evaluation which consider gpa, time and honors he got 4.5/5 and my reviewers gave me 3.5/5. We had the same supervisor, part of the evaluation was on the supervisor, I received 1.5 out of 2.5 and he got 2.5/2.5. Maybe my reviewers were more severe, and his were laid back, or pherhaps my comitee was more competitive and his less. I remember the frustration. Please don’t give up, continue your hardwork, it should pay off at some point, maybe you will get one after people refuses their offers!! If you are still elligible try again next year, try to have someone to review your application package. I always have different poeple from different to read and comment mine, not only my supervisor. Also, it is Lee in this thread who wrote…spend time on it. I don’t know how much time you spent, for my master I started to write the application in may, and for phd as well. Even when my university gave back my file in november to correct some minor mistakes, I still worked on it and made improvement. Keep up the good work, you don’t see it know, but it always pays. don't give up... .and follow that advice to get your application package from nserc

To Kyudai and yellowtulip: you shouldn't worry either way. NSERC and Vanier, are two differents things, even if Vanier is partly managed by NSERC (application process, deadlines, selection are all different). Last year, you could only apply to Vanier or NSERC and were automatically awarded a CGS if you didn't get the Vanier. This year, you had to apply to both of them, and as I mention the selection criteria are a bit different from both. Getting a PGS-D or CGS-D, won't prevent you from getting an offer from Vanier, it just garanties you that if you don't get vanier you have this. While not getting NSERC, doesn't automatically leaves you out for vanier since the later focus on leadership, while nserc gives much less importance to leadership. It is like the PIN... it as no direct link with being awarded or not a scholarship.

Letter from NSERC finally came in this morning. I am in Montreal...so people in montreal....look in your mailbox!! I got CGS-D for 3 years, and I will take this scholarship to University of Waterloo