[NSERC 2012-2013]

Do we need to send acceptance by snail mail? Their website says phone is not acceptable...how about fax, email?

I used email for my Form 1A and fax for Form 1B and both were fine.

[NSERC 2012-2013]

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!

[NSERC 2012-2013]

if my letter crossed the border today, I still have chances to get the letter by Monday?!

There is no post on monday. Post canada is closed

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).

[NSERC 2012-2013]

Everybody has the right to demand a retroaction. They will receive a letter in June that include :

1) The 2 recommandation letters

2) The note given by each reviewer on each category : (Academic, research and Communications) as well as the averaged mark

3) They will also told you if your application had been discussed in Ottawa (in February) or not !

Note : An appliucfation is discussed in Ottawa if and only if the two marks are different between both reviewer !

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.

[NSERC 2012-2013]

I did my BSc/PhD in Canada, and I am now down in the US. What I meant by getting it to all work out at a US university is that the Canadian ones are completely familiar with NSERC, and who cares if money comes in late - they'll know how to deal with the paperwork. For a US university however, as far as they know, they're supposed to be paying me out of a particular grant (and pay day isn't far around the corner). Anyway, I'm just not sure how they'll retroactively deal with the money, particularly since the US funds I get paid from the university are just that... US, whereas NSERC pays (from what I understand) the applicant directly, so that would be Canadian funds. Anyway - I'm just hoping this all gets sorted out prior to pay day cut-off. I've also heard of some PDFs running into trouble by accepting an NSERC, because some universities end up then considering them part-time (so they consequently lose their benefits). I haven't looked into this yet (since I don't even know if I got an award), but I'm sure it might take a couple days to get a clear answer on that. Anyway... hoping mail comes soon!!!

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!

[J-1 vs. F-1 Visa + Spouse]

Did you choose to go from J-1 to F-1 and/or changed programs? Or did the J-1 "expire" (I thought they were valid longer than just 2 years?)

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.

[J-1 vs. F-1 Visa + Spouse]

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.

US Immigration has a "estimated visa time calculator" here: http://travel.state..../wait_4638.html. When I put in Montreal, it says 2 days is the average wait time for an interview and 4 days for them to process it. However, it also says for a small number of applications, extra work may mean it takes up to 60 days! AND, as has happened to someone I know, you aren't allowed to inquire about the status of your application until 90 days have passed without hearing anything. Plus there is time required for the visa/passport to physically get back to you, I guess.

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!

[2012 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results]

I thought that was just the MIT/WHOI Joint Program & PAOC's open house. Not all of EAPS.

whoops, you're correct. I had forgotten they separate it like that. Sorry!

[NSERC 2012-2013]

I have some new info! I heard from a source with the inside scoop that the letters won't be coming out until the budget is released. The applicants have all been ranked, but they won't know how many awards can be given out until they get the budget information. This likely puts us at early April for letters, sorry all!

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.

[2012 Applicant Profiles and Admission Results]

If its Berkeley and MIT you're waiting for, then I guess there are quite a few people here who are waiting to hear from them.. So I guess they've not made their decisions yet.. Or they've made their decisions already and none of the people on this forum have been the ones who have been admitted or rejected.

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!

[MIT]

Hey there! Accepted MIT's offer today.

I am leaning towards off-campus housing too, but not entirely sure whether it's the best idea considering I'm an international student and might be getting there just before classes start. However, as compared to on-campus housing, it seems more economical. Any thoughts?

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!