[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

That's amazing I was just about as excite as you are now. It took me about 3 days for the news to really sink in. It's a really weird feeling so I totally hear you. And big congrats!

Thank you so much! Yeah, I dont think it'll fully sink it until I get the money. Congrats to you also!

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

THE LETTER FINALLY CAME!

 

I was already informed by Graduate Studies from my university (Concordia) so I knew I got it but the letter makes it all official. I am only funded 40K because I have two year left. My score is 22.5/30

This is my third time applying for SSHRC. My grades were too low in undergrad to apply to OGS and/or SSHRC for my MA.

 

Stats when applied

• 2.7/4 GPA for BA
• 4.17/4.3 MA GPA
• 4.2/4.3 PhD GPA 
• 2 very strong letters — from supervisor (University Chair) and from a Canada Research Chair
• 1 peer reviewed publication forthcoming (sole author)
• 1 review in peer reviewed publication 
• 1 encyclopedia entry (1st author)
• 6 non peer reviewed publications (sole author)
• 2 peer reviewed conferences 
• 4 conferences 
• 4 invited talks
• 9 adjudicated group exhibitions
• 6 RAs & GAs
• 2 TAs
• 1 studio instructor position
• OGS for PhD (declined because went to Quebec)
• 3 year entrance fellowship for PhD at Concordia
• Concordia Merit Scholarship
• Several travel funds from Concordia and York
• Several fieldwork & research bursaries from York for my MA thesis

• Canadian Media Research Consortium Small Research Grant

not sure what else I put on for research contributions.

 

I also used the special section to explain my low undergrad GPA.

 

First time I applied for SSHRC PhD, I was forwarded by York, and got an atrocious low score of something like less than 10. 2nd time I was not even forwarded from Concordia (my PhD school).

 

I'd like to say that I completely changed my Application Statement less than 2 weeks before the deadline. I am still working within the broader category of my field, but after I finished my doctoral exam I had a crazy epiphany and decided to write something new from scratch. Some thought I was insane, but my supervisor told me to go for it. I was very lucky to have a team of people help me get my initial idea/draft into a cogent articulate application. So, sometimes having an intuition and inspiration is worth pursuing. My previous app was worked on for since the previous year, but I couldn't do that to myself when I had such an intense feeling to change it. This was also 7 days before FQRSC was due (and I received that also).

 

So, despite the amazing prize to help pay off my student loans, I am so thrilled that my intuition and energy paid off and that I should always follow my gut. *excuse the cheeziness but ho-lee I am beyond excited since I was sure I was a lost cause* 

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

I got an email from Concordia School of Graduate Studies saying I was awarded a SSHRC! I received the email less than 2 hours ago. I haven't received the official SSHRC letter though.

Good luck to all!!

I also received an email from Dolly! I will be going into my 3rd year PhD to start the award. I am at Concordia Communication Studies.

 

 I am actually quite speechless because this is my 3rd time applying for sshrc! I was unable to apply for SSHRC or OGS in my MA because of my low undergrad grades.

 

 

Now to wonder whether FQSRC will fund a 5th year 

[On a scale of one to ten, how much should I be freaking out?]

Stress till you can't stress no more, 

& if you cry, stress & stress some more...

 

A la la la la long, a la la la la long long li long long long
ooh yeah
A la la la la long, a la la la la long long li long long long
one more time
A la la la la long, a la la la la long long li long long long
sing it
A la la la la long, a la la la la long long li long long long
hey
 

(sorry couldn't help myself)   

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

Thanks for the encouraging comment. Still, last year's statistics show that my university (Simon Fraser) forwarded 55 out of 63 applications, so not much of a filter there... I tried to highlight my project's originality, relevance, and contributions to knowledge, and I have an experienced supervisor, but I'm afraid that won't suffice. Oh well, nothing to do now but wait. I could definitely use the money for fieldwork!

Wow, 55 out of 63! Concordia sends about 49 out of over 100...

 

And don't fret, honestly. I have bad undergrad grades too... I know they have been haunting me forever, but I have some faith. It's also my third time applying to SSHRC for my doctoral studies. Ouch.

[FQRSC 2013]

From their PSA:

 

 

Au total, ce sont 801 demandes au doctorat qui ont été examinées par les comités d’évaluation. Les 

demandes sont recommandées dans une proportion de 95 %. Parmi les candidats 

recommandés, 240 étudiants au doctorat reçoivent aujourd’hui une offre de la part du Fonds.

 

The odds of getting an FQRSC are much lower than getting a SSHRC then....

[FQRSC 2013]

Wrenochka: it looks like we are in the same category. What is your object of inquiry?

 

And being first on a waitlist is great news. I'm sure you will get it. 

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

Thanks so much! I'm really hoping for SSHRC, but if I don't get it, the odds seem pretty good that one of the FRQSC winners would also get SSHRC, right? That's good to know about your score, too - thanks for sharing.

Yes, but depends on the year I guess. For sure if you get superSSHRC then you accept that, but I heard that FQRSC funds you till your 5th year and since I'm entering my 3rd I'm better off taking that, that is if I get the SSHRC and have to choose...

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

The FRQSC results are now out - I just got my notification and I didn't receive an award. Out of 18 applicants in my discipline, they gave out 5 awards - and I ranked 6th. I guess this is good news? I think my SSHRC application was a lot stronger, so I'm staying hopeful. For any other FRQSC applicants out there, here's my score (please share yours if you received an award - I'd love to know more about how they grade the applications):

 

Dossier universitaire (6 pts): 5.117

Aptitude et experience en recherce (6 pts): 5.113

Qualite et interest scientifique du projet du recherche (8 pts): 7.15

TOTAL (20 pts): 17.4

 

I think my lack of publications probably lowered my research experience marks a bit. I'm happy being ranked first on the waiting list, though, and it seems like a good score - I really hope this means my SSHRC has a good chance!

Hey! Can you post this in the fqrsc thread? Would be helpful. What category where you in? I was ranked 5th out of 18 in 06B & received it.

[FQRSC 2013]

Congrats caffeinated!!! I just got my results and was offered an award as well!!!!!

So relieved!!

CONGRATS! YAY!!!!!!!

We have 10 days to accept or decline so I hope SSHRC results are out soon.

 

 

Could you post your rankings for us to know?

 

Thanks 

[FQRSC 2013]

Got a response today. I am over the moon. My first time applying for FQRSC but my third time applying for a external doctoral award. My undergrad grades were very low so I am not surprised on my score.

 I also completely changed my fqrsc/sshrc statement 7 days before the deadline because I had an epiphany concerning what I want to do.

Here are some details for you folks:

 

Was ranked 5th out of 18 in my category.

 

 

Comite : 06B Concours : B2 Groupe : 1 Bourse de : Doctorat

 

Dossier

universitaire

 4.733 / 6

 

Aptitude et experience en

recherche

(6 pts)

 

5.617 /6

 

Qualite et interet

scientifique

du projet de recherche

(8 pts)

 

7.4 / 8

 

17.75 /20

 

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

The anxiety is seriously gonna give me an ulcer. Anyone else? Sigh.

[FQRSC 2013]

I have heard of this student status being a deterrent  but I was told by my graduate department to apply for a quebec citizenship asap when I moved here so that I will be eligible for fqrsc (and other provincial stuff), or else I would only be eligible for SSHRC. My friends in other departments that are PhDs were also told this (we all moved in 2011 for the start of our PhD). Like I mentioned, I applied with proof of residence (my lease), a photo, and received a card in the mail valid 3 months after I moved to the province. No interviews, no anything else. I even received a temp card the day I applied because I needed to get some tests done. My friends did also. No red tape, hoops, etc. I know perhaps it seems difficult to conceive that there was nothing more to it than that. I know I am fully a QC resident because I even filed QC income tax last year. So many benefits!

 

I do know however that many of my friends from McGill, etc. have been living here as grad students but not QC residents.

 

Cheers.

[York/Ryerson Communication and Culture - Heard Anything Yet?]

Congratulations!!!! One of the things I've heard (from multiple reliable sources) about the Ryerson PhD is that you get a lot of attention and support

The York PhD and York in general also gives you lots of attention and support.

 

ComCult is one of the few joint programs that actually works like a joint program, unlike some other that are just that by name.

 

Congrats to all those admitted! 

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

I got my letter on May 2 last year (in Vancouver). My guess is it will be similar this year.

 

The waiting sucks and the competition these high stakes fellowships breed (within departments) is my least favourite thing about grad school.

 

Best of luck everyone.

Agreed. I faced some pretty nasty hostility because I was the only from my cohort that was forwarded by my university. It's like, bitches puhhhhlease, it's my third time trying. Chill. I'm already defeated as it is. 1st doctoral try was passed on by my host school and got a low score. 2nd time, didn't get forwarded by my university. This time ranked high by department and forwarded but who knows?

 

Sigh. My marks were too low to apply during my MA. 

[York/Ryerson Communication and Culture - Heard Anything Yet?]

Sorry to hear that, but ComCult is pretty great at recognizing the variety of skills that people have coming into such a program. I got into the MA with a 2.7GPA! I was also accepted to the PhD program but declined with a better offer from Concordia.

Not sure if you are applying for the MA or PhD though? 

 

I would also advise people apply to York vs Ryerson, because York has WAY WAY MORE MONEY than Ryerson as funding, bursaries, scholarships, chances at SSHRC in the PhD, etc...

 

Hi Guys,

 

I am out. I got reply from Ryerson today.  It is faster than I expected. Here is what they say:

 

The comcult admissions committee has met and made their decisions.  Unfortunately you will be getting a non-approval letter in coming week.  Entry to this program is very competitive.
Thanks for your interest in this program.

 

I think my low GPA killed me. But it was 10 years ago and there is not too much I could do about it except to show them that I have rich working experiences. What if I had a strong research proposal, recommendation letters and good work backgrounds, but the GPA is still stopping me from getting through the first round? 

 

I am thinking to come back again next year. But what can I do ???? How can I overcome this shortcoming?

 

I sincerely wish you guys can get in. I understand how hard the entire journey is and I give you my best wishes .

 

Thanks.

 

XXX

[FQRSC 2013]

I got a quebec health card by applying, it was super easy.

 

I come from Ontario and got one within a few months of being here. I arrived as a PhD student.

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

I think we're technically 2013-2014... because it's related to the year people will take up the award. So... no. Since Vanier and NSERC have recently come out, they may know, but it will be several months until it's entered into a spreadsheet (since people decline, change schools, etc.) 

We are 2013-2014.

 

Although cool spreadsheet to see what the chances are this year...

 

my guess is probably May we will know. Sigh. 

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

Oh my goodness I would LOVE if this year they magically got everything done really fast and we were notified in the beginning of April. Sigh.

Year of Magical Thinking.

[What is your stipend and how do you make it work?]

For my PhD at a Quebec University with low tuition (1300/semester and goes down after 2 years to nearly a couple of hundred bucks)

I got a base fellowship 12K/3 years plus TA work 3K a semester, and RA work about 3K a semester.

So about 24K a year.

I also got a non-renewable university award of 10K for my 2nd year.

 

Not great... but cost of living is super low in Montreal and I'm able to save to pay off my previous 45K+ student loans. I hate that Canadian schools offer such low base stipend. They rely on us getting external funding (and when you do get it, they take away their own money....)

 

For instance, McGill offer 17K 1st year, then 12K 2nd year and that's it for base PhDs (unless youre international) and in certain programs (like Comms) there's not a lot of TA jobs either.

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

So is this notification that SSHRC is sending to direct applicants just informing them of whether they have made it to the final round of competition? Not the official "You got funding!" or "Sorry, no funding for you" letters that normally go out in April right?

Yup. Just to inform them whether they have made it through.

 

I wonder if this delay will delay the process of final results. It's so obnoxious they do it when they know April 15 is a deadline for response to PhD programs. Sigh.

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

I heard back from U of T today about MA results. I spoke to the award officer yesterday and she said that the results should be out by today.

The results whether you received SSHRC or not already?

[Doctoral scholarship CRSH/SSHRC 2012]

I just received an email yesterday notifying me that I had been chosen to receive a reward off the wait list. I was wait listed in last year's competition and had given up hope ... I'm in my second year of a sociology doctoral program. my score was 18.6. 

 

good luck everyone! the wait list is finally starting to move!!

Whoa. So the 2012 waitlist candidates are getting it this late in the game? How is this even possible?

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

Mundane SSHRC update: Received and email this morning confirming that they received my application (forwarded by UofT)

Also received this today.

[SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship/CGS Doctoral Scholarship 2013]

Cheers MidEastGal,

I did my MA in ComCult at York and was also accepted there for a PhD but decided for Concordia's program - a great fit for me and so on.

I just heard from Concordia that my application was passed on to SSHRC. They only had 49 spots, which may seem like a lot but for such a large school, seems not enough.

Anyways, perhaps my last minute re-workings did the trick. Of course there is SSHRC to contend with now....