MakeitRmakeit

There's a group on facebook called the Professor is Out where you could ask for advice anonymously. It's for people who have had negative experiences, etc. in academia. They are normally very responsive.

Are you a member of CUPE or a union that advocates for TA/RA? I know my university's collective agreement includes clauses pertaining to job security. Perhaps speak to your union first (if you have one) and they can advice you of your rights, file a grievance, etc.

Wonderful! @Fazi no, I'm now good re funding?

Well done! How did it go?

Hooray! I'm happy to hear that you are taking the plunge:) I would suggest checking your school's internal deadline too. It's normally early September and can be easily missed. Reading the instructions thoroughly and becoming familiar with the requirements and how things are framed wouldn't hurt either. I started with my common CV. I found it useful to take stock of my achievements (great and small). Also, I used this time to think carefully about my references and who would be best to speak about the relevant areas being assessed. For me, starting outward and working my way in was most useful. However, each person is different and will need to find a strategy that works for them. You will need your ResearchNet profile, so there's nothing wrong with starting there.

Hi Fazi, I cannot speak to the internal process (university or Vanier secretariat) of how scores are adjudicated. However, in preparing my application, I talked to several scholars. I found common in their advice the importance of ensuring that all the components of your application fit to form a cohesive picture of yourself based on the three main criteria: academic excellence, leadership, and research potential. Rather than focusing on which leadership activity would earn more points, I would suggest thinking about how you have demonstrated leadership (in big or small ways); how did you grow/impact others (again in big or small ways); how does that fit into the broader story of your life and work, etc. I say this because one scholar I spoke to had limited work experience and wrote about their journey as a camp counselor. They included both triumphs and failures (learning opportunities) and really created a cohesive narrative of different acts of leadership and how they have grown over time. Another had many years of work experience, but they did not just list management positions. Instead, they spoke of their evolution and resilience as a leader and how that led them to their Ph.D. journey to pursue solutions that could help resolve some of the systemic challenges they faced in their work. I think you should go for it! The application's content can be very personal, so it may be more beneficial to reach out to one of the scholars at your university. When I was preparing my application, I spoke to three current/past scholars. Only one was willing to share their documents, and I believe it was because of our mutual network and friend. Regardless, try reaching out to the winners listed on your school's website. The worst they can say is no, but many are very generous and willing to share their experiences. From my perspective, you cant know your chances without applying. One scholar told me that she knows of colleagues with numerous publications and seems very strong but did not even make it through the university selection process. Of course, the number of publications is contingent on many things, like the field you are in, so there is no golden number. I found their advice to be on point, as at the time of my application, I only had a co-authored book chapter and a single-authored manuscript undergoing peer review. Let's just say I have no complaints about where I ranked. Good luck!

Fazi, I have. Do you have specific questions? There is so much that goes into the process. What information would you find most useful?

If nominated, you will have an opportunity to do edits before the final deadline. Usually, the University committee will offer feedback on areas that you may consider improving. My take is that you should at least try. Please don't self eliminate my friends.