jferreir

I feel largely the same. I can't help but feel that my ideas are completely fraudulent - that my writing is a simple recapitulation of what other thinkers have already articulated. Aside from this "impostor syndrome", I'm also deeply afraid on a personal level. I recently split with my partner of 4 years and it feels like my world has been thrown upside down. I fear that I won't have the emotional support that I'll need during this stressful time and that I'll crumble under the pressure as a result. On top of that, I'm still having trouble securing summer employment, which is only adding to the stress. Previously, my biggest fear was flunking out... now my biggest fear is that I'll end up hating what I love to study (in addition to flunking out). I have this little voice in my head that's just telling me to give up now. I don't feel like I belong. This sucks.

On a separate note, can we use SSHRC/OGS funding for non-academic expenses? Since I'm probably going to live with family, I'm giving considerable thought to laser eye surgery...

100% correct. Something else just occurred to me... why would SSHRC post the competition statistics before successful applicants have had a chance to respond? For instance, on my application I indicated that I would be attending UBC, but now I've decided upon UofT. Wouldn't that skew the data in Table 2 (provided I'm successful, of course)?

As a guy, I'm actually happy to see these lopsided numbers. There are way too many bearded men in my discipline!

You would think so, but no. I emailed SSHRC earlier this week and specifically asked when the Masters CGS results would be released. The answer they gave me was "end of next week".

In the context of an overall strong application, I don

Maybe SSHRC changed their stated quota? Who knows, this whole process is a complete goddamn mystery!

Yes, but that's not what I meant - I'll attempt to clarify. What I meant to say is this: it doesn't make sense to post the competition statistics until the competition results have been finalized. As I understand it, competition results are not finalized until official notification has been sent to the applicant pool. If SSHRC posted competition statistics before releasing competition results, then they would have it ass-backwards - in my opinion, at least. So, it really has nothing to do with the results being posted, but everything to do with the results being finalized. Given that no other competition statistics have been posted prior to the official results, I think it's reasonable to assume that this was a mistake. Does this make sense? Someone please correct me if I'm mistaken.

I assume someone at SSHRC made a goof. The excel table is not available via the normal page (i.e. competition results) and I can't imagine why they would release the stats before the actual results. Maybe it's an attempt to make amends for the ridiculously long delay?

Nope, I did not graduate from Toronto. I don't think there's any strict regulation on how much info Graduate Studies is allowed to pass on. Personally, I would think that if you're recommended as an alternate, that would be included in the notification email.

Here is a condensed version of the email I received from Graduate Studies: "The Awards Committee has reviewed all X applications and, as instructed by SSHRC, selected Y Masters and Z alternates to be forwarded directly to SSHRC for further consideration in this competition... Your application has been forwarded to the SSRHC office in Ottawa for further consideration."

Holy Christ, thank you for posting the Masters CGS competition stats! Now I have a quick question... Of those successful applicants, is it possible that some of them were recommended as "alternates"? My school has a 100% success rate (not including the alternates), and I'm debating whether or not to celebrate.

To the poster above: I would contact SSHRC and explain your situation. This is totally, utterly, f*cking ridiculous. And for everyone else, I received a slightly different ETA concerning the Masters CGS results: "The results are late this year and will be mailed at the end of next week. The Universities Graduate Studies office will also be informed before you receive your letter. Lucie R. McKenzie Program Assistant | Adjointe de programmes Fellowships and Institutional Grants Division | Division des bourses et subventions institutitionnelles Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Conseil de recherches en sciences humaines du Canada 350 Albert Street | 350, rue Albert, Ottawa, ON K1P 6G4 E | C : Lucie.McKenzie@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca T : http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca"

No offense, but these are questions you should have been asking yourself throughout the application process. Why would anyone base such an important decision on the (potentially uninformed) opinions of online strangers? At this stage, I would strongly suggest you check each departmental website for placement statistics (if you want to pursue a Ph.D.). If none are available, contact the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and request them. Concerning overall reputation, I would ask a trusted professor who works in the field - they're likely to know a lot more than we will. Finally, I would suggest contacting current graduate students from each school and asking about their experience. You will want to ask about a variety of things - funding, resources, supervisors, faculty cohesion, COL, location, etc. I don't think you have the time to do thorough research, but the above should give you a rough indication of which school/program would be the best fit. Either way, I wish you the best of luck.

If I remember correctly, the internal deadline for both OGS and SSHRC at my university was mid-October. Either way, the results are long overdue (for SSHRC).

Granted, but I'm not a doctoral applicant... so why should I be waiting on those results? In my view, it just doesn't make sense to withhold the results of the Masters competition (provided they are indeed available). Argh, my impatience is turning into annoyance - what the hell is taking them so long? I wonder if us applicants would have been granted an extension because of workload and computer problems... :roll: OK, that's enough complaining for now. On a side note - and I'm sure someone has asked this before - why are OGS and SSHRC results released after April 15th? If more time is needed to review applications, why not bump up the application deadline to an earlier date? The system is set up in such a way that we have to decide which school we would like to attend without knowing if we can actually afford it. I find this whole process so baffling! And the waiting continues...

Ha, I felt the same way! My suggestion would be to drop by their office unexpectedly (when you know they'll be in) and have a quick informal chat (10-15min). Then you can pretend like you have somewhere to be and avoid all social awkwardness! I would also follow up with one last "thank you" email, carefully articulating what you meant to say, but couldn't, given your intimidation. Either way, I'm sure they'll appreciate the effort!

Is this in reference to the Masters CGS as well? I find it strange that SSHRC would withhold competition results solely to coincide with the announcement of the Vanier winners. That is, the results of the Vanier competition have no bearing on other awards (i.e. Masters CGS). It just seems cruel to extend the waiting period without good reason...

Phew, good to know! Thanks for the help and congratulations to you also!

Nope... Like I said, all communication ceased after I emailed the DGS with my decision. Roughly, here is how it went: - I received an email stating that I had been offered admission and that details would follow. - I received a second email which broke down the funding package based on OGS, SSHRC, etc. - I replied and said that I would accept the offer. The End. I haven't received anything in the mail and SGS still shows my status as "under review".

When I applied for the CGS Masters, I was told that my application was being forwarded on the "A-list". If you were on the B-list, I'm sure the school would have told you (at least they should have). Perhaps you should follow up with graduate studies? In terms of success rate, that depends on which award you applied for. Generally speaking, applications for doctoral awards have a success rate of about 50%.

Judging by your figures, my assumption is probably incorrect. That said, I do know that SSHRC receives "alternate" candidates forwarded by universities. I come from a medium-sized university where 50+ applications were received. Of those 50+ applications, 23 were forwarded to SSHRC as recommendations, while 5 were forwarded to SSHRC as alternates.

Then why is it taking so long to release the MA results? Argh, I'm going crazy!

I haven't looked at the spreadsheet, but I assume it stands for the total amount of forwarded applicants. A-list applicants are those recommended for the award, while B-list applicants are those who are deemed "alternates" for the award.

I have a somewhat related question... I indicated in my proposal that I would be pursuing graduate studies at either UBC or UofT, while on my actual (online) application, I indicated that UBC would be the administering institution. If I'm lucky enough to secure SSHRC funding, would switching my school from UBC to UofT negatively affect my application in any way? In terms of research, both institutions are on similar footing. If it matters, this is for the CGS Masters. Thanks!