yellowtulip

Doing a quick search on NSERC's funding results database reveals a few PDF awards in 1999-2000 that were $40k. I'm not sure if that was the standard PDF rate back then (as there seem to be a very limited number), or if that was something special, but nevertheless, it looks like it goes back at that rate at least ~10 years or so. So much for cost of living increases!!

From what I understand, unlike previous years, NSERC was only able to notify X numbers of students, regardless of whether or not they accepted (i.e. they weren't able to over-award). It just so happens that last year was also the first Banting competition, and since this competition was a separate application than the NSERC PDFs, presumably many Banting winners also won a PDF (which of course they couldn't accept both, so this presumably left many un-awarded PDFs). I wonder if this is what might have led last year's numbers to be so low. Maybe I'm totally wrong on this front, and there was coordination between the Banting & PDF awarding process, in which case, well, shucks... the numbers look low! Hopefully it isn't as low this year!! My fingers are crossed Lucky Ottawa folk? I say lucky Canadians! I'm out of country doing my PDF, so suspect I won't get a letter for quite some time! Hmm... I wish it was electronic!

Has anyone in Alberta received their CGS/PGS-D letter yet? It's starting to feel like Edmonton is the at the north pole given how slow snail-mail seems to take around here! I definitely agree - the whole online application/offline submission process is rather silly. Perhaps in the near future they'll convert to ResearchNet or something similar. p.s. For anyone awaiting their Vanier results (not sure if Vanier is going to send letters or post results on ResearchNet), but last year's CIHR DRA (basically CIHR's version of the PGS-D) results weren't posted on ResearchNet 'til April 28th. Yikes! Another waiting game! Hopefully the Vanier results arrive by the proposed March 31st deadline!!

Sorry to hear uwGradStudent. It sure sounds like you've really accomplished a lot!! I have no idea why it wouldn't be accepted, perhaps the way your application was put together didn't highlight all of this (i.e. it might have had it listed, but perhaps the reviewer didn't fully get the grasp of what roll YOU played in each of the publications). Very though to say. With regards to the grades, I know that is always my weak point. I finished undergrad with I think a 3.2 or 3.3 average (out of a possible 4.3). Throughout undergrad however my grades started off really low, and climbed at the end, so the average surely is not reflective of the ending status. On top of that, during my first year of grad studies I received 4.0 out of 4.0 (mostly all A+s with the highest mark in nearly all my courses [i took 9 courses in my first year of grad school]), and when I applied for CIHR last year, one of the reviewers gave me an academic score of 3.2/4.9 while the other gave me 2.8/4.9. The highest of all grades amongst my peers in grad school and I get a score of 2.8??? I was a bit shocked at the time... honestly who knows. I guess the reviewers probably have hundreds of applications to look at, so it is very easy for them to miss details?? Alternatively (not sure if you applied for Vanier as well), but maybe my theory above (see post 186) was correct, and if you get a Vanier, maybe they won't send you an acceptance on the NSERC (crappy news for me if that's the case). I think you can request info from NSERC however as to why your application was not accepted - maybe get down to the bottom of the mystery!

kyudai, I find it rather amusing, you're fearing that the receiving of a rejection letter from NSERC rules you out for the Vanier, while I'm fearing that the granting of an NSERC (I received a PGSD3) rules me out for a Vanier. My thought process is that the two groups presumably chat with one another, and they wouldn't accept you for both scholarships as, of course, you cannot hold both. I suppose we'll have to wait and see!! The 31st cannot come soon enough! We always seem to think the worst!! Still no physical letter - I found out about the PGSD from the university. Also (to confirm what others are saying), I have not received an NSERC PIN.