Canuckonomist

18.6 and a CGS? Serious? That's awesome. And you're in my category. I was 17.9/30 and 1st on the waitlist in my subcommitte of cat C. There were 2 Vaniers and 34 SSHRC in my subcommittee. Crazy how that random assignment works.

Three of us? I think it's 4 or 5, maybe more (you, bad breath, Northernstar, myself and one or two others, I think). There is nothing wrong with celebrating/commiserating twice. I mean, I'm still coming out, and I have yet to get an award. 4pm at the Victory sounds great. I'll likely wear my brown corduroy 'old-man' hat, and a black blazer. I've never been to Victory, so it'll be new for me. I'll PM bad breath, and who ever is coming, with my cell number. Besides, nearing the end of the month, I'll be locked away even more, in intense comps study mode, and those of us on the waitlist won't likely hear about our results until June.

Welcome to U of T where applying for external funding is usually a crapshoot for the student. As I understand it, you lose both the tuition fellowship, and what ever extra U of T Fellowship you're getting. Most of the time that comes out to losing about $10,000. Queen's was so much better with this. Sure you'd lose the $11,000 QGA, but then you'd get a $5,000 bonus for winning SSHRC, and therefore, you only lost $6,000. Either way, you're going to lose some cash, and it'll probably be Tuition + your UTF. EDIT: Sometimes, you even lose the opportunity to TA so that in essence, you make the same amount of money as you would under the department funding package, but instead aren't working. I personally hate that method, as I love teaching. I've debated telling them I'll quit if they try taking away my TAships. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Canuck

It's definitely worth notifying, but I think I know what you're getting at, and it's not likely to get you reconsidered at MIT the way Jeeves was last year. In that sense, I don't think it has the same power as the NSF.

I don't know what more you could ask. You could ask about the Vaniers in your subgroup. They'll probably tell you how many have been offered, but they won't know who has accepted yet. other than that, you'll just have to ignore it and wait a month like I'm doing. And we thought the process was over!

Think of it this way: There are three possible ways you can get it from here: 1. There are likely 2 Vanier offers in your subcommittee. If they take them, then you only need one of, 2. The SSHRC DF people to decline. Alternatively, 3. More funding could open up. This has happened in previous years. So, take this information as you will. I hold hope for anyone in the bigger subcommittees that are in the top 5 on the waitlist. My subcommittee has 2 vaniers, and 34 other winners. The process is so random, that you could gauge your chances better by asking any small children you know to pick a number between 1 and 100. That said, there is someone here on the Forum who won a SSHRC CGS, despite being passed over for the OGS.

I think it's possible that you and I were in the same subcommittee, and you narrowly beat me by one or two spots (17.9, first on waitlist). I wish my topic was sexy.

Could we do thursday, say 4pm? A late afternoon thing might be good. Unless people have real jobs...

I hear this is the case. It's probably the only way I'll get an award. Also for drinks, evenings work! Tuesday is my birthday, but any other day is fine. Victory is also a fine choice, and quite a propos.

I've got my letter. Just hoping someone jumped on a Vanier, then I'll be in the same good mood as the rest of you. I'm already reasonably happy. Let me know when and where you're thinking. I don't have a usual hangout, just somewhere that serves Guinness.

That is terribly unfortunate. This whole process is a mystery. I wouldn't be surprised if the same application next year would net you an award.

You should (or might want to,) find out where you are on the waitlist. I'm 1st inline in my sub-committee with a 17.9/30, and with two people possibly accepting Vaniers, I might get an award out of that (and the person next in line too, which could be you!) 17.7 is a good score. Seriously. In previous years, I've been told, 17 to 18 have been good enough for awards. 17.7 might just get you one this year. I agree with frustration about where you were lacking. More specific info could help, but then again, there are 2000 applications, roughly.

It's true. Until further notice, I'm in the unsuccessful group, and so I'll agree with this. While there is some white noise in the process, from most of the grad students I know, applications have an upward trend. The more we apply, the better chances we'll have, given that we take the critical and helpful advice of others and make an effort to improve. I've been rejected many times for awards, and for schools (I went 0 for 4 in my Ph.D applications the year fresh out of my undergrad, and 3 for 11 the year following my master's). I didn't make it past the department for my SSHRC application last year, and now I am one decline away from a SSHRC DF this year. Should I fail this year, next year may be even better if I start my application in a few weeks (after comps). All these rejections already, and I'm only 23 -well, 24 on tuesday. Soldier on, fellow grads. We shall have high times before the five make an end to us all.

Absolutely. Not to be too premature, of course. I'd be a victim of the Machina Paradox should I lose this one now. Best of luck to everyone, I should head back to comps studying -after all, I need to pass them to be able to hold the award, should I actually end up winning it! Canuck

2 people in my sub-committee have been offered Vaniers. This may be time to semi-celebrate. Excuse me while I do a happy dance.

Yikes, I forgot to ask! I just sent a quick e-mail. I hate bothering her. She's such a lovely lady.

(someone in my sub-group win a Vanier! Come on, I know it's in you!)

Thanks. I really hope so. It relies on either someone winning a Vanier (come on, someone in my group must win one! Wow... I'm actually cheering on other applicants...), decline because they don't get into/choose not to pursue their program (hopefully not the former) or they find a couple more bucks under the couch. Someone win a Vanier. PLEASE. Sounds great to me. I won't exactly be dancing on tables that night, but I'm still happy to know I went from failing and the university-wide level last year, to being 1st in line for an award this year. Is a victory for the understudy on the horizon? Defeat at this point would be such a shot through the heart, don't you think? Canuck

Being a future economist, I believe in the value of data. 1. Waitlisted (1st on alternate list!), 17.9/30 2. Toronto 3. Letter received: May 7th; Letter postmarked: May 5th; Letter dated: May 3rd. 4. Subject area and/or committee: Economics 5. Applied through the university 6. Year in PhD studies when you would take up the award (so, what you’ll be in Sept/Oct. 2010): If awarded, 2nd year Ph.D 7. Taylor, Ross, or Queen's Fellowship?? N/A 8. Anything else you want to include that might be helpful: - publications: 1 second-author, small - second time applying - OGS for 1st year.

Just got a call from Michelle St. Pierre, the Program officer from my section. Apparently 36 people in my sub-committee got an award, and I am 1st on the alternate list for my sub-committee. She said to me, while smiling and laughing "Your chances of an award are VERY VERY good." I'm not holding my breath, but I'm happy.

Seems the scores needed to be higher this year. I'm sitting on a 17.9 and in the same boat. They'd need to find a boat-load of cash under someone's mattress for me to see any money.

Thanks, Mariokrat. That's a bang-up job you did there!

I don't see anyone here complaining about 'small-SSHRC'. The terms small and big low/high are really to help differentiate. We could all call it CGS or 'SSHRC Doctoral award' but small/big seems like an easy way to differentiate. Whatever you might call it, I don't think anyone is going to complain about getting money. Congrats, greygardens! Way to rock that app! Canuck

Hey all! Congrats again to everyone who got it, and condolences to those like myself who didn't. Seeing someone with a Big SSHRC and a score of 19.6/30 makes me hopeful of the waitlist (I'm not saying your score was low, just that mine was high!). My score was 17.9/30 and I was recommended not funded. They said I'm high on the waitlist, so I hope that's a good thing. I think I'll e-mail SSHRC today to ask exactly where. Does anyone know the contact at SSHRC for this kind of stuff? (E-mail). Also, when you get the letter, if small sshrc-ies wouldn't mind disclosing their score, I'd love to get a vague sense of where I am on the waitlist. There may be hope for me yet. Mariokrat, what was your score? For drinks, Torontonians, I'm up for it. PM me for my contact info, and we'll meet up! I don't feel entirely beaten yet. Canuck

'Recommended but not funded', as well. Don't know where I am on the waiting list, but it doesn't look good. Ah well. Back to comps prep! Best of luck to the rest of you!