ikatticus

I'm heading to UofT in September to start the 1 year MA and have been told that I will receive a minimum of $15,000 as a living stipend, and they will be paying my fees (as I am an international student that's about $17,000+). That is partially made up of a TAship, but I think that's fair enough really - if they're paying that much they're going to want their pound of flesh! The funding package was definitely what attracted me to them, so yay UofT!

Just my two pennies from my experiences (did undergrad and MA in UK, am now going to do another MA in Toronto) that when I did the GRE in December you can actually now do it in Manchester too. Train wise would probably be quicker to go to London still, but good to keep your options open. The MA at Toronto is normally 2 years, but having done an MA here it has shaved a year off for me. And I have been told that if I was accepted onto the PhD that my MA year at Toronto would count towards the first year of my PhD, shaving another year off. I am sure it must vary from place to place though. I didn't even realise you had to sit the GRE when I started applying as we don't need to sit them for PhD places in the UK. So learning from my mistakes, I would get a couple of revision books and start early, rather than cramming it all in 2 weeks! Posting off all my transcripts and paper materials for my applications was usually around £7 a go, so it definitely adds up if you're applying to a few places. I was also pretty shocked at how much it cost to sit the GRE. Most US places ask for a minimum of 3 references (compared to the UK, where in my experience I have had to provide 2 references max.) so start sounding people out early too. I was totally like you and didn't have a clue about how the US system worked. So I emailed every different university posing questions to them that I still had after reading the information on their website, and eventually I understood it a lot better. Definitely one of the most complicated application processes I have gone through, but once you have done one application, a lot of it is just repetitive. Apart from that, everything Batavi said

Hello! I will be doing Classics in the Fall

Thanks everyone, I guess at the minute the names you're telling me don't really mean much but I will note then down for when I get there and hopefully they will make more sense to me. On a more specific note, is anyone vegetarian and how is the array of products for veggies out there?

The way I see it is that less people do it, but this is reflected in that there are less places. I think most of the places I applied to had about 60-90 applicants for usually 3-6 places per year. That's just for the ones I applied to though.

I got into my first choice university, fully funded, with a professor I deeply respect in a city I love, and I am still doubting myself. Not that I have made the wrong choice, but I am flying half way across the world to a great university and think they must have made a mistake in accepting me because I will get there and won't be good enough.

They're all really good universities to me. I have only ever applied to UCL (not for the same subject) and really liked it but never ended up going. If they're all the same regarding your academic interests and money is no issue, then maybe base it on more superficial things like which has a better location, what has a nicer campus etc etc?

I haven't received anything in writing apart from my offer paperwork, I think my funding package is decided over Easter and then I get an official letter in May. Enrolling for classes etc seems to be all done when I get there. I guess if you're worried send them an email asking what you should expect to receive in the post and when? For me it's pretty important - I need things in writing so I can start applying for my visa.

Thanks kittie! And yes hopefully we shall meet at a conference Yeah I will be TAing, although because I am doing the MA they said it will be more marking etc than actual teaching. But I won't bite the hand that feeds, whatever they tell me to do I shall do Where in Canada did you do your MA? Glad you loved it, it sounds an intense yet great ride!

Even though I now have my response, I am still lurking on this thread rooting for you guys!! *fingers crossed* for all of you.

Hey all, I am a student from the UK who will be studying in Canada next year. I'm just looking for some general advice, such as what is a good mobile phone company to go with, is there one bank that is particularly aimed at students and is good, and are there any chain stores that are particularly good for getting all my household items that are cheap/quality? I have never been to Canada before so I don't really know where to start!

I had been rejected from all of my universities, so I decided to email my first choice to ask for some feedback in case I wished to apply again. The next morning I had just rolled out of bed, turned my computer on (completely forgot I had emailed them) and then saw they had replied. So I opened the email expecting them to tell me why I had been rejected, instead they said that I had been top of the PhD waiting list but it was never used, and did I want to do the MA instead fully funded as it would put me in a stronger position for my PhD application this time round. Errr YES!!! Rang my mum's mobile, no answer! Rang my Dad at work and told him, then once I got off the phone I wept for about 5 mins because I was so shocked after all those rejections to get somewhere!

I'm originally from the south, have lived in Manchester for the past 4 years and have been to Liverpool a fair bit. The centre is very revamped, lots of oldish pretty buildings still, really good sense of a student vibe. I guess like most cities, if you wander into a dodgy area with your ipod and wallet hanging out your back pocket it's not a very good idea. Some parts are grimey, some parts are lovely. You definitely won't be bored if you go there, lots going on. If you do decide to go, definitely speak to some students to see what areas they recommend living in. And go eat at Chaophraya at least once as it's one of my favourite restaurants!

Going to do a fully funded MA at Toronto - yay

Yay been accepted on the U of T MA, fully funded can start to get excited now...