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titration

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Everything posted by titration

  1. I used email for my Form 1A and fax for Form 1B and both were fine.
  2. I received my PGS-D acceptance letter in Massachusetts today! I was not feeling too confident because I did a direct entry PhD program, so I probably do not have as many publications as someone who has completed a MSc. Also, my grades were not great; I had one B and two B+s in my last 2 years. I got scored 53/100 for academics when I applied for the PGS-M with the same transcript. (I got the PGS-M too. ) I guess they liked the proposal!
  3. I am in Massachusetts and hoping for a letter on Monday too!!! The US post delivers on Apr 6, 7 and 9th this year. (In the US, there is mail delivery Mon - Sat and no holidays for Easter).
  4. Yes, I requested feedback on my PGS application last year (you can email NSERC to request the feedback, whether you get the award or not). However, I did not receive any comments from the reviewers or individual scores from the reviewers, just the averaged score in each category and my ranking by the committee. I also received copies of the two reference letters (which was a weird thing to read!!). The letter I received said: "In view of the large number of applications, the selection committee members are not asked to write written appraisals of individual applications." It also said that the two reviewers were in agreement about my application, so the application was not discussed in Ottawa. I wish there had been reviewer comments (this would be more useful for me than knowing I got 53/100 for academic excellence!), but I definitely understand how much more time consuming that would be for the reviewers.
  5. Hey Yellowtulip, good luck with your application! I am currently doing my PhD in the US and have a PGS-M. They actually send you the check in the currency of whatever country you're in. I got a check in late Aug and another in late Feb from the Government of Canada, in USD (which will be sure to confuse your bank teller!). For the PGS awards, it takes a while to actually get the check since you will need to send them in documentation to officially accept the award, and then you need to send another form each time you want a check. The admin person who deals with scholarships at my university recalculated how much stipend they need to pay me by assuming that USD = CAD for my PGS-M (since that is a very good approximation right now) and told me to contact her if this isn't the case and I end up being underpaid. Feel free to message me if you have any more questions as this thread goes fast!
  6. I did a summer research program in the US in 2009 and was on J-1 status (exchange student, non-degree). Then I came back to Canada and completed my BSc. I started grad school in 2011 and got F-1 status since I wasn't bringing anyone with me. Also, it was less than 2 years between when I finished my J-1 and when I started the F-1. There was no mention of a 2-year residency requirement in Canada after the J-1, for my personal situation.
  7. Hi everyone, I am Canadian and was in the US on J-1 status in 2009 and F-1 status since 2011, so hopefully I can help. First, J-1 and F-1 students who are Canadian citizens should not have to do the interview at the consulate before entering the US. (I think the interview is required of citizens of every country *except* Canada... Canadians don't actually get a physical visa when they have J-1 or F-1 status.) You may realize this already but it took me a long time to verify this on the DHS website! However, I am not sure whether a significant other would require an interview. Also, you should not need to mail your Canadian passport in anywhere to get J-1 / F-1 status. The general steps *for Canadian citizens* applying for J-1/F-1 status are as follows: 1) university sends you forms to fill out describing your finances, when you intend to enter the US, etc. 2) university applies for the DS-2019 (for F-1 students) or I-20 form (for J-1 students) on your behalf 3) university receives the immigration form, signs it and mails to you 4) you pay SEVIS fee online (this covers the cost of processing your application). Print off the receipt.* 5) you are now free to enter the US (within a date range specified on your paperwork). Bring the DS-2019 or I-20 and SEVIS fee receipt with you. When you get to customs/passport control, fill out an I-94 form (record of arrival/departure). My school also strongly recommends bringing paperwork from the university describing their financial support for me, just in case the passport officer wants to see it. 6) passport control officer checks your paperwork, staples the I-94 into your passport and stamps your passport with J-1 or F-1 status. You may be subjected to other excitement like scans of all your fingertips! *You need to have proof of payment of the SEVIS fee, but a printout of the proof of payment page is completely fine. They also mail you a more official looking copy. I paid my SEVIS fee the day before Canada Post went on strike, so being able to use the printout was a big relief! As for the timing (related to Blurry's question): In 2009, it took less than 2.5 months between the university applying for my F-1 status and me entering the US. I'm not sure of the date I received my DS-2019. In 2011, it took 6 weeks or less between the university applying for my J-1 status, and receiving the I-20. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions. Congrats on the wedding, Blurry!
  8. whoops, you're correct. I had forgotten they separate it like that. Sorry!
  9. Thanks for letting us know, afromsk! This helps me to stop checking this thread so obsessively. I would second the comment that USRA results have no bearing on the PGS/PDF awards timing. The way I understood it when I was competing for a USRA (2008 and 2010) was that NSERC gives each university/department a fixed number of USRAs, then the department chooses how to award them. A formal application has to be sent to NSERC before the award is 100% official, but NSERC essentially just verifies that the student and project are eligible. NSERC does not have committees to rank the USRA applicants.
  10. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the MIT EAPS program had their open house for prospective students last week. If they haven't notified you of being accepted or waitlisted, my guess is that it's a rejection... but I may be wrong. Good luck everyone!
  11. titration

    MIT

    Hey everyone! I am a first year MIT international student. My lab is outside Boston so I don't have personal experience with getting housing in Boston/Cambridge, but I have lots of classmates who have experience. One thing I will say is that housing in the Boston area for Sept 1 is in very high demand. Many of my friends signed leases in July for housing in September. Landlords will often do credit checks before approving a tenant. Since international students will not have a credit history in the USA, landlords may be hesitant to rent to them. Also, one other expense for off-campus housing is that you may be required to pay a realtor/broker fee of up to one month's rent up front (the exact fee may be negotiable, but if you refuse to pay the fee completely, they will probably be able to find another prospective tenant willing to pay it). This broker fee is in addition to upfront costs of up to 3 months rent (first and last month's rent, plus security deposit). Also, I would second the suggestion to contact Linda Patton before starting your housing search as she will have lots of advice on your rights as a tenant and your options based on when you are planning on arriving in Cambridge and where you're coming from. She helped one of my friends get out of a bad lease (they accepted a house share without viewing the place first). I have some friends who got MIT grad housing and love it, and some who had roommate conflicts and can't wait to leave. Hope this helps!
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