Oh I am sooooo glad I found this thread!
I am applied for a PhD in Higher Education at University of Toronto (OISE) around a month ago.
Now, all my other friends studying in Canada secured the approval of a PhD supervisors prior to applying.
In my case the best I could get is "apply and put my name in the letter of intent".
I have a good research record (10 publications between peer reviewed journals and conference papers) and a high GPA for the Masters Degree.
I am stressed because other friends got a reply within a couple of weeks (not University of Toronto though) and told me that if I was approved, I would be accepted soon.
What do you guys think? Would I be accepted even if there was no guaranteed supervisor?
Thanks!