DustSNK

Doesn't U of T have a tuition waiver? The Faculty of Arts and Science has instituted a funding guarantee that covers MA students in their one year program, and PhD students for four or five years (depending on whether the student enters directly from a BA, or completes an MA before entering the program). This multi-year PhD funding is intended to cover the period in which the student is engaged in fulfilling the major requirements of the program: course work, area research, thesis research and writing. The guarantee is equal to tuition + $15,000. The guarantee is met by a balance of three components: I) the U of T Fellowship, ii) Teaching Assistantships (TA), and iii) Research Assistanship (RA). Students are offered TA positions for 280 hours per academic year which carries a stipend of $9,831.99 for PhD students and $9,417.79 for M.A. students. Ph.D. students who do not complete their degree in the time guaranteed are eligible for TA assignments, with reduced priority. Each student is also required to apply for funding from sources outside the University of Toronto, and if successful, the U of T Fellowship component is eliminated.

I don't know, but I would assume LOTS of grads from these schools get Jobs abroad, esp McGill. I've seen also lots of U of T grads in Soc departments across Ontario. With McGill being the "Harvard" of Canada I would think they go to the USA or abroad much. At least one professor I had told me, when you apply for schools as an American to Canada, mention WHY you want to go because they are use to many leaving CAN for school in the US.

Yup seems like this might be the way to go. I'm just shocked where is no official literature stating when you can come in. Esp for int students this is important to know :/

Thanks Kyjin ^__^ I have been seeing from lots of people online that they were allowed to come in Aug. I have been calling like 5 different offices trying to find out how early I can move once the visa is approved. I'm literally 45 mins away right now where I want to live in Ontario, and my lease here ends soon. Id really like some time to get the apt, settle in, and it save me a good deal of $ paying rent there than it does where I am. After all the people I've talked to in immigration, one person finally gave me an answer that it is up to the border how early I can come in on the study visa. This doesn't help me haha! I mean if the visa starts on the day classes do, they can't expect people to come with their things on the day, I would bet 100% of people need to come early... but the "how early" or "when" you can come is not listed ANYWHERE on any site. Also no one seems to know the answer, and since the person told me it is up to the border how early you can come that is very unsettling. In theory that would mean someone from the UK comes in Aug 1st, but program starts in Sept 1st... the immigration official could say "Nope, you cant move all your things here until Aug 17th.. you will have to ship all your items back to the UK and come back on Aug 17th". Eshhh very tricky process >_<

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!! Oh York Idk if it is just me, but I have seen a LARGE number of faculty from the Ontario schools who have A LOT of York PhD grads in the department. Wounder what kind of magic they are working there.

Thanks New_to_kin. Yea since I'm American it makes this whole process tricky, and websites rnt helping me. I deff get some special privileges like the point of entry application, and can stay in CAN for 6 months as just a visitor.

Hello all. I am hoping that there is an American here (or an in the know Canadian) who can help me with a few questions. Background info: Got accepted into an Ontario uni. Currently live in NY (Buffalo) next to the USA/CAN border. Program starts in Sep., my lease (here in BUF) ends in MAY, and I would really like to move when my lease ends here. Questions: 1) When you get your study visa, can you move in before the start date on the visa? 2) For that matter, say I apply for permit and get one in April (very possible, already accepted), since I got the permit way before the fall semester when can you move? Has anyone been in the situation? 3) Since I'm on the border, I'm planning on doing the Point Of Entry application process (have read it is same day in person processing). Anyone gone through this before? 4) MY STUFF! I have 1bdr apt worth of my stuff coming with me. What on earth do I do about this? MY current plan, if I could, is to move well before the semester even starts. These are just a few questions/summary of the questions. Anyone who is kind enough to help me I will deff expand on everything. Any relevant info would really help me out. Thank you!

I 2nd that. This thread has gotten me nervous. If there is even a chance of the offer being taken away by the graduate school , why even email us until both the department and grad school accept.

Has anyone heard about tuition wavers? I have seen some talks of it on the forums before.

Remember, at least from the schools I have seen in Ontario, only your last 2 years (last 60 credits) are looked at to calculate average

Might be a bit late seeing the date of post, but NO it is never too late to go back. never. I know the euro system is more rigid than the US for example. But can you take non-degree grad courses where you are? I have a rocky history myself, and it was a great experience for me doing this and I just got into a Uni when I was rejected by all last year. You will see lots of good advice on the forums on how to write about non-acedemic experience. Hope things worked out for you.

Same boat here to the T. You need to research getting your PR in connection to having a study permit and vise versa. Not trying to scare you, but if you already have an app for PR you gotta check to see if you can apply for a study permit also. Or if you have a study permit, can you apply for PR without thinks going haywire. I don't wanna relate a situation I don't know enough about, but I know someone who was in CAN for 10 years on a work.study permit, got married, and is having trouble with the PR application because of past study permit stuff. All in all, really look into what you can/cant do. But go to Canada it's better there

I was in the same boat. But I have to tell you, GPA is the LEAST of your worries as an international applicant to Canada First, take a look at this site.... http://www.uoguelph....m?app=credguide You will notice CAN does an A+ deal, so our "A" is there A+, at least on paper Now sorry if I am gunna crush any spirits, but you NEED to know this info for your own sanity. GPA is an important factor yes, but you have to know as an international applicant you are in a special boat that is separate from citizens. Now I only applied to Sociology programs, and researched all in Ontario, so take what I say as you will. Most departments only admit 2, yes 2, international students. Think that admit number of 10-15 will help ya.... errrrrrr no you're in a special area for adcoms. Comes down to funding, from all the departments I spoke to, adcoms don't like to accept students they can't give funding for. They will do this for citizens, but not for visa students. So if you're from a state school (top 50) like I was, it is going to be hard to compete with people from the UK who had to do an undergrad thesis as part of their degree, published it, and presented it at conferences. That kind of work does not fall on our lap in the US you got to search for it. So as a visa student, from the USA, you are in a CRAZY competitive situation. Scaring done? Ok. But there's hope. I had a very crappy UG record. Went from a community college to a university, did great in my major but decided the other stuff wasn't important enough for an A. I had some bad habits, and ignorantly thought "Hey if they see I got A's in my major it'll be fine!"... IDK why I thought this, but I did pay for it. 2.7 cumulative GPA... last year got rejected across the board when applying. Only saving grace was I got a 4.0 in my last semester... but hard to ignore the rest of my history. SO after I went depressed for a week, I started to ask all the adcoms what was up, how can I improve, and that's when I started to learn all this info from schools about the situation for USA students. Anyway, to fix my past mistakes I started to take non-degree graduate courses at a local uni. I did not just take grad courses, but I took more upper lv undergrad ones as well. Why? Honestly they grade harder, and from everything I read and people I talked to, adcoms know this. So I wanted to be safe. I busted my ass, talked to my professors everyday in class, went to office hours every week, did lit reviews- research essays- read a zillion books for class, and walked out with a 3.93 for a semesters worth of courses (2 UG, 2 Grad). I learned a LOT that I didn't know before, bought books on the whole world of Grad studies, wrote a better SOP, was not modest with what I thought was good experience I had (I was so modest in my first SOP a year ago, didn't want to sound snooty)and applied again. After all that I finally got an acceptance yesterday. Now it isn't the most "prestigious" school, but they do only accept 2 international students so it is competitive for us. Plus my POI there is amazing, so is the faculty, and they have the thesis option which if you are a good student anyway, you have your chance to shine there like anyone at a top school. Also they looked at your last two years which seems to be the standard (Ive seen some only look at last year GPA). In short no your cumulative GPA will not hurt you, I have asked and was told by several departments they go through your transcripts and calculate your GPA. Anyway before this becomes a blog, good luck.. apply to Canada it is an amazing place to be, and amazing academics are there. Anyone have any questions about anything feel free to msg me.

Not quite Europe, but I moved from the US to Korea for a few years. Personally I found the extra bag fees more economical than using the post or freight. Now of course it varies from airline to airline, and I am going on knowledge from 4 years ago, but I THINK you don't have a limit on the extra cases you check in. If you got the money to pay, your good. Although I'm gunna take a stab at it, if you are from the UK I think you might be in store for some shitty fees. Also I think the limit on luggage was 32 kgs for each case?

I have a challenge for anyone who thinks they can help. I'm moving to Canada permanently, am a USA citizen, and I have heard vague comments around the interwebs that all the years I worked to maintain a good credit rating + driving record (for insurance)... will go *poof* once I become a permanent resident. I know I know, two entirely different countries, but with the special relationship we share (biggest trading partners, and ability to drive in/out of the country on native license) I would hope there is something that could be done to prevent me from being a 16 year old again with my history :/

Woundering if anyone can answer this question. So are there ever instances where a grad student would teach their own course while they are in their program? I'm going into an MA program, there is no PhD program in the department, and curious what might happen. Have read elsewhere on the boards that grad students do teach their own courses. Also, anyone know what the deal is with summer courses? Can you get to teach those in an MA?

I'm so sorry you have to go uni with your soon to be ex-husband, and you are in the same social setting...... that is total MADNESS. I can't imagine being able to focus on a PhD with such a personal situation like that happening. Take a break, maybe go to another Uni if you can. Hope things get better.

Got my first acceptance today!!!!!!!!! Proud to report, with a lil hard work, you can get over having a 2.7 uGPA!!!!!! I went back to uni and took a semester of ug and grad courses, got an 4.0 GPA there so that was factored into my 2.7 gpa. Did lots of graduate lv research, and improved as a student. I will say if things don't go your way the 1st time around, GO BACK to school and take some non-degree grad courses. Worked for me I feel.

I'm from Long Island (host of the now horrid hockey team NY islanders . When I applied last year I was still on Long Island which is 9 1/2 hours from the GTA. After getting the rejections, I knew I had to make up for past undergrad mistakes and go back to school again. A month after getting my last rejection letter, I literally found an apartment online in Buffalo (where I am now), having NEVER been here before in my life and moved. It's not bad, it only takes me 90 mins to get to the GTA and Canadian customs are always amazing. The pain in the ass is coming back into America, it's as if they punish you for ever leaving haha. Albany is fun! My best friend did his UG there and I visited all the time. There are a lot of nice things about the states, esp upsate. Cheep food,gas,housing. I like the different products you can get at say a Loblaws that you can't find in the states, but when I saw a 2 lt of pepsi was 2+$ my jaw dropped What is your major? Albany is a GREAT school I like it a lot.

BTW where is your BF from in NY?

Thanks guys ^________^ @Princess - Nah she isn't an academic, she got a BA but now has a job with an amazing company in Mississauga ON. Yes you will do anything for love! We met working in Asia years ago, and that decision who goes where had to be made. I'm really disparaged with American Sociology, and honeslty wouldnt wanna raise a family in America, so the choice was easy. But after proposing to her then getting rejection letters last year, needless to say it was really difficult. But now get to think of the future AND study in a country I have grown very fond of. Visiting every weekend for the past year, and reading works from Canadian sociologist in class... it was a major tease!

*cries* Holy iheflwefobndfoboudgbaoudboubd@%$^%$^%@$@. Got acceptance email from Brock!! Not my first choice (McMaster is), but a critical theory program with the perfect advisor with international ethnography research in my area. OMG OMG OMG. What a great day. Don't want to gloat, this is just a LOT and I mean a LOT of hard work and sacrifice to get in after being rejected last cycle across the board. Moving from NYC area to Buffalo to be closer to Canada and my fiance (who is Canadian), putting off a wedding, taking non-degree courses just to boost GPA, living in limbo with every facet of my future life in question because once I'm in Canada I'm there for good... just ahhh. Great.

Care to talk about your experience getting into a Masters program with the uGPA that you had? I hear it is more forgiving on admissions.

I was at a 2.7 for the uGPA. Had a bomb of a first cycle last year for apps, went back and took a semester to get it up to a lil over a 3.0. Too many readings of professors just dismissing below 3.0 apps scared me :/ But have heard before if you are out of school for a while and have work experience related to the program- and research agenda- you want to get into a below 3.0 will start to look like nothing more and more.

Don't forget the dill pickle chips!!!