ktel

I have done it a few times. Sometimes they edit it, sometimes they send it as-is. I usually structure it similar to other letters of references I have read about myself that were written by someone else (helpful if you have access to some). It's a positive because you can mention all the things that are great about you, that they might not necessarily know as well as you do.

I say it depends on how you usually interact with the professor. For example, my current supervisor is a very busy man, and we often communicate via e-mail as it's difficult to just drop into his office. So I asked for the LoR via e-mail. Other professors who are more easy to drop in on, I asked by going to their office.

I think that could make the wrong impression. To me it sounds like you're essentially e-mailing them and saying "Am I a good fit here?" when you should be telling them that you know you are a good fit. What you should be doing is researching your butt off to know exactly what professors interest you and fit with your research ideas so that you're coming in from a very informed position. From there I don't know who is best to e-mail, as I am not in that field. For my field it's best to e-mail profs directly.

You can get more specialized education, and your company wants to fund it, sounds like a win-win situation. Your GPA is low though, and I know some programs will have minimums. The good thing is that these degree programs are typically money-makers for the university, so their requirements are more relaxed. Your GRE scores are pretty good, which could make up for the lower marks.

I think it would all depend on how you word it. For example, when you say "it was one of the only things in school I found interesting enough to be able to focus on", it makes you sound like you're unable to focus on other things, yet I know that's not what you mean to say. It could be worked into your SOP in a meaningful way, I would just be careful how you explain how it's affected you.

A lot of the people who ask "What are my chances" questions seem like they really haven't done that much research. They slap a miniscule amount of information about themselves and maybe a list of schools down and expect us to be experts.

I have never had a problem with getting LoRs for any of my scholarships or grad school applications. When I was in high school my IB coordinator even went so far as to write a letter for me without me asking and telling me to apply for a scholarship that I did not know about. Similarly everytime I have asked a professor they have responded quickly and also written the letter within a timely matter. I always send reminders and usually give them plenty of time (if circumstances allow). I wonder if the people who are having problems simply don't have a very close relationship with their letter writer? Or are picking 'bad' letter writers? There is one prof I can think of in particular who I think is a great mentor but is known to be absent-minded, which would often lead me to consider others before asking him.

I got my first assignment back and did really well. Thank god. I need some validation as I've been feeling pretty crappy lately.

Typically non-thesis is more career oriented, while thesis is more academia oriented, not to say you couldn't go into industry with a thesis-based MS. A thesis-based MS is sometimes funded in the US (almost always funded in Canada) while a non-thesis based MS is not funded (typically) and can be quite expensive. Both degrees can prepare you for a career in industry, but for a career in academia you would need a PhD, and to get a PhD you would probably want to do the thesis-based MS. There is the chance a thesis-based MS could over-qualify you for some jobs and limit your options. Since the programs are typically only 1-2 year programs, it would be difficult to change your choice mid-way through without having to do everything all over, although for some programs it would be possible.

Disregard/ambivalence. I feel like there's nothing to support. They have no clear goals and are mostly just a spectacle. I was listening to the radio on my way to school this morning, and Dick Gregory was being interviewed. Here's an 80-year-old social activist who has lived through the civil rights movement and he basically, politely, described the movement as a bunch of spoiled white kids who desperately want to create some sort of 60s-70s type movement. He laughed at those who compare it to the civil rights movement, and cautions the group to try not to do so, because they don't know how good they really have it. http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2011/10/17/death-penalty-dick-gregory/

^ And to me the application process in the US looks super confusing. I'm at U of T for Aerospace Engineering. I applied first through the School of Graduate Studies and then through a separate online system for my department, as each department has their own specifications. I believe my department specified word counts for the things they required.

No that is not correct. The universities have their own deadlines separate from the direct deadline. For example, my department has to submit their ranked applicants to the School of Graduate Studies by this Friday, so their internal deadline was 2 weeks prior

^ The research interests part would probably be where you would write a SoP type essay

Right...that was helpful? I've noticed engineering in particular tends to partner with industry a lot, so I would think that they would therefore value the research you're doing in industry just as well as that in academia. Academia is a place for more 'out-there' research, but it's still financially driven.

^ I find your question kind of confusing. Where are you wanting to list significant accomplishments? And what kind of accomplishments do you mean?

I seem to recall them e-mailing me about the next step, which involved uploading reference letters and putting in the designated contact for transcripts. It will take them a couple weeks to sort through all the applicants anyways, because the departments have to rank you then the faculty of graduate studies will probably look through all the ones forwarded on to them.

As a volunteer, most likely. Or getting the right job.

Does anyone want to read my Statement of Interest and give me some feedback? It's for an Ontario Graduate Scholarship, and the instructions are quite vague: "This form is mandatory for all students who will be enrolled in master's level studies during the tenure of the award. You must provide a one-page statement of interest which includes your reasons for pursuing a graduate program in your chosen field. If you wish to include bibliographies or references these must be added to your statement of interest because additional pages will not be accepted. The statement must be provided on letter-size paper, typed with single spacing. Please note that the PDF fillable file available is preset for a maximum of 3950 characters. Any document that does not meet these standards will not be accepted." I have just started looking into what my thesis will be, so I'm trying best to convey the basic idea as it stands so far. If you're willing to help me out I'll send you a message (or e-mail if you prefer) with the full text. Thanks!

Interesting points made here, and I definitely see how leaving for personal reasons could be seen as unprofessional by some. However there are surely some professors out there who would be much more understanding than others. I have done two separate 4 month periods of long distance in my current relationship. Long distance is absolutely not for me and I couldn't stand knowing I would be away from my boyfriend for 5 years, with just the occasional visit. With that in mind I chose to go to grad school in the city where he works (but luckily for me it's one of the best schools in the country). Unfortunately you're a bit far in to be making abrupt changes without potential repercussions.

In the States it's typical to go directly into a PhD, you either get a PhD only or get an MA along the way but are still PhD-track. The PhD route is more often funded than the MA for this reason. In Canada the normal route is Masters first than PhD, and both are typically funded.

Yeah I received NSERC for this year so I'm basing a lot of my formatting on that. I really only have 2 RA positions for academic accomplishments, but have a lot of scholarships and awards. I've listed all my academic ones and have also included athletic ones as that's really the only place I can mention that I'm a varsity athlete, other than through LoRs.

I would ask them as soon as possible. The more notice the better. They might not want to write it right away, but they'll know to plan accordingly.

I'm not certain you can even get post-graduate funding for after an MEng, as it's typically for PhD students to do post-doctoral work. Don't quote me on that though, perhaps you might be able to find something.

There aren't a lot of women in CS and some Engineering fields, but I wouldn't mention it. I don't know if you list your gender or not on your application, which is as far as I would go with mentioning it. Your gender has no impact on your research or your ability to be successful, it is essentially irrelevant. The only times I ever bring it up is when I'm applying for certain women-only scholarships

^ Funding can also be gained through the course of a program by approaching professors for RA or TA positions.