jferreir

I'm becoming neurotic thanks to SSHRC... I've been checking the mailbox so frequently, my neighbours must think I have OCD! And for some reason, I catch myself checking the mailbox even after the mail has arrived. You know, just in case the letter ended up at the wrong address and someone was kind enough to drop it off... God, what's wrong with me?

On April 15th, I received an informal email from the DGS stating that I had secured an offer of admission. I quickly replied to accept the offer, but I have had no communication since then. I'm not sure if this is a cause for concern, but the SGS website still lists my application status as "under review"... Does it usually take this long for graduate studies to approve an offer of admission? I was under the impression that once a department recommends an applicant for admission, the people at graduate studies merely sign on the dotted line. Now I'm starting to worry that my email didn't go through (a totally irrational fear). Normally, I would just email the DGS and request confirmation, but I'm not sure if my concern is even warranted (and I've already pestered him enough). Can anyone offer any insight? Thanks!

To gain admittance into a graduate program, you need to submit a completed application around early January. Each school/department has their own specific application deadlines. The 'application package' usually consist of an online application (vital information & fee payment), and a written application, which includes a statement of purpose (SOP), two or three academic letters of reference (LOR), a writing sample (15-25pp), official transcripts, GRE scores, and (if applicable) TOEFL scores. Applicants who are admitted between April and August are usually pulled from a waiting list. A waiting list is a secondary pool of applicants that a university will pull from when one successful applicant decides to decline their offer of admission (for whatever reason). While some programs admit students in the winter or summer semesters, most programs limit their incoming students to the fall semester only (i.e. September). Either way, to be considered for admission for the following academic year, you need to have submitted your completed application in early January. Applying to graduate school is no joke - you have to invest a lot of time, effort, and resources into developing a strong application. Moreover, you should also be realistic about your motivation for pursuing graduate study. Generally speaking, a graduate degree does not guarantee you financial stability in the future, nor does it necessarily improve job prospects (especially in the humanities). In fact, pursuing a graduate degree involves some serious risk (both financial and personal), and it is a decision that should not be taken lightly. I'm not passing judgment on your particular circumstance - I have no idea who you are - but you should keep all of this in mind while you plan your future path. Best of luck!

If you decide to buy a mac, you might want to check out the Buyers Guide... http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

That may be true, but I was referring to the notice of acceptance that I received in the mail. Anyway, point taken.

Alright, thanks for the confirmation! I wonder why they don't include that sentence in the OGS notice of acceptance...

Just to confirm, you cannot simultaneously hold both an OGS and a SSHRC (Masters), can you? I'm 99.9% sure that it's not possible to hold two major awards simultaneously, but the OGS notice of acceptance makes no explicit mention of that rule. The only stipulation on the award form is that I list all other awards received for the 2009/2010 period. Wouldn't it be more efficient to state that receipt of an award greater than $10,000 during the 2009/2010 academic period makes you ineligible for an OGS? Just seems like common sense to me...

That is some excellent advice. Personally, I did a few things to secure strong LORs... First, I asked if my professors were willing to write strong LORs well in advance of their due date (absolutely crucial, as noted above). Second, if they agreed, I provided a short list of 'academic highlights' that they could speak toward in their letter. For instance, I listed awards/scholarships, advanced/graduate courses, extracurricular activities, service to the discipline/department, etc. Third, I offered to provide a recent writing sample (if requested) to help jog their memory (RE: writing ability). Fourth, I offered each of them a way out. I said if they do not feel comfortable writing a LOR, I would accept their decision without further explanation. Most seemed quite impressed, which leads me to believe that if you approach this in a responsible and professional way, you will definitely leave a lasting (positive) impression!

Rather than bicker over details, everyone can use the following reference and judge accordingly... http://www.philosophicalgourmet.com/applyingto.asp

I think that's a great idea! It's not creepy, just thoughtful :wink: Personally, I would opt for the bottle of wine and a scarf... who doesn't love a ridiculously awesome scarf?

I am not an Apple "fanboy", but I wouldn't use any other computer for my academic work. Aside from being greatly intuitive, OS X is the most reliable OS I have ever used on a laptop. TimeMachine is an absolute godsend (automatic backups) and the multi-gesture trackpad does wonders for increasing productivity (switching between windows, scrolling, zooming, etc.). I've never had a system crash and the computer remains "snappy" after extended use (unlike windows and its registry from hell!). In my experience, XP would crash spontaneously and I found myself constantly formatting the hard-drive (maybe once a year). I was plagued with multiple system crashes and I actually lost a 25 page paper once (grr). I tried Ubuntu for a bit, but I had issues with the wireless card and putting the computer in sleep mode. I think Linux works best with the desktop variety (or so I've been told by IT gurus). Honestly, I know Macs have a premium, but I think the lower end MacBook is an excellent choice. With a student discount, I'm sure it'll be around $1,000 and will retain a much higher resale value than its PC counterparts. The screen size, weight, and battery life are perfectly accustomed to academic work. Also, as a word of caution, I would advise against purchasing a netbook. Have you tried to type on those things? It's nearly impossible and you always have to squint! I would suggest a 13"-14" screen (I've used 12.1, 13.3, 15.4). If you're not interested in purchasing a Mac, I would suggest an Asus... solid build, excellent specs, and great price point.

Realistically, it's difficult for an undergraduate to have a clear idea of where their research will take them. I think you're bang on with the point above; these applications really test your ability to "sell yourself", so to speak, when applying for funding. When I wrote my SSHRS/OGS applications for the MA, I not only addressed the research I was interested in, but I also made sure that research was one of the "hot topics" in the discipline. I really think that improved my overall application and I've already secured an OGS... now let's hope I have the same luck with SSHRC! And for the record, I followed the advice of my professors, so I assume this is a somewhat common practice (at the MA level, of course).

I agree with very little in the above post. First, GRE scores are often used to determine funding allocation -- not much more. It is highly unlikely that an admissions committee in philosophy would value GRE scores above the writing sample, SOP, and LORs. From a practical perspective, understanding an applicant's motivation, writing style, and research interests will provide a much greater insight into their potential for advanced philosophical research, than will their score on some standardized test. Besides, philosophy is one of the most competitive disciplines at the graduate level... excellent GRE scores are not desirable, they're expected. So, taking an additional year to improve your GRE scores in the context of a poor overall application will do very little to improve your chances of acceptance. Personally, I would suggest that one focus the majority of their effort on composing a really strong writing sample with a focused SOP. I would also caution against dismissing the value of an MA degree in philosophy so hastily. In Canada, the MA route is viewed differently than in the US. Here, I think it's viewed more as an opportunity to deepen one's understanding in the history of philosophy, while also allowing one to secure a few publications and to mature as an individual. It definitely does not narrow your opportunities. On the contrary, it improves them (provided you demonstrate competence at the graduate level, of course). That said, I do agree that one should be weary of taking on considerable debt in the process. Ultimately, the value of pursuing an MA is determined by the individual circumstances of the student. As a result, I don't think anyone should outright dismiss its value.

I was placed on the waiting list at my two top choices... thankfully, I was accepted to both. Concerning my second choice university, I was notified of my waiting list status in mid-March and I was accepted to the program around April 10th (can't remember exact dates). The DGS wasn't the friendliest person and didn't respond to my request for more information (e.g. ranked/unranked, etc.). I was accepted with funding and I think the decision may have been influenced by my research interests, which the department seems to be building on. Concerning my first choice university, I received notification that I was ranked first on the waiting list around late-March. This was an intense experience for a variety of reasons. This school guaranteed unmatched funding for all successful applicants, it was ranked 1st in the country (top 15 internationally), and they received over 350 apps for about 10 spots. After speaking with a few current students, it seems that they don't usually admit applicants off the waiting list either. Anyway, I received notification of my acceptance on April 15th! When I saw the email sitting in my inbox, I literally thought I was dreaming. The DGS was so helpful/understanding throughout it all, I was just so grateful. And here's the best part... when I emailed university #2 and politely declined their offer, I received a somewhat snarky response from the DGS followed by a casual offer for more funding. I don't have much of an ego, but that part did feel nice! I really hope things work out for applicants currently on waiting lists; I would never wish this uncertainty upon anyone!

Speaking of the budget, what happened with the uproar concerning "business-related degrees"? Was there any change on that front, or has everyone already moved on?

Why not get seemingly random gifts that appeal to their individual interests/personalities? For instance, the gifts I gave ranged from a book on composting to a mixed CD and a homemade t-shirt. They were wacky, fun, and somewhat thoughtful. Best of all, they were inexpensive!

I'll put my (virtual) money on April 24th for the MA results.

Assuming the response deadline for successful applicants is April 15th, is it common for someone ranked first on the waiting list to receive on offer of acceptance on April 15th? I understand that this varies by department/school/year, but I'm looking for some happy endings to calm my nerves...

You are an awesome person and many people love you. While I did not apply to the speech pathology program, I did apply for an MA in the humanities. I was placed on the waiting list in late-March and I received notification of my acceptance last week. I would suggest contacting the graduate coordinator of your department to inquire about your application status. From my experience, most professors are hesitant to discuss possible supervision/class enrollment until the applicant has been formally accepted. While I wish you the best of luck, I wouldn't hold out too much hope...

Thanks. I need all the luck I can get... Out of curiosity, is it common for someone to receive an offer of acceptance on April 15th?

Actually, they copied/pasted that explanation from the FAQ section of the SGS website. Generally speaking, if you want a concrete answer, you should always contact the DGS in your department. In fact, it is not uncommon for a successful applicant to hear of the decision before SGS, as departments sometime notify individuals while the offer is pending approval from graduate studies. So, while it was a nice gesture, I don't think that information will be very useful. I'm still waiting to hear back from U of T, but with the way things are shaping up, I think I'm going to be the first loser (#1 on the waiting list). EDIT: I forgot to mention that the "March to late-April" time frame is extremely misleading. Since notification dates will vary by department, I think it's reasonable to assume that SGS's time frame is somewhat 'broad/generalized' to include scenarios in which some departments have very few applications, while others have many. In my case, the department received an unusually high number of applications, but unsuccessful applicants were notified in late-March while waitlisted applicants (such as myself), were promised a decision by April 15th.

Any thoughts on when they'll release the MA results? I'm in the unenviable position of having to gamble with my admissions. That is, I will presumably have to accept one of my offers prior to SSHRC notification. If I fail to secure funding, well, goodbye graduate school!

Yes, provided that someone declines their offer. So far, no one has declined their offer and April 15th is around the corner. This is not looking good...

Provided the waiting list is ranked, the department should notify applicants as soon as a position becomes available, correct? After reading a few posts, it seems that some people are under the impression that the juggling of admissions will commence after April 15th. I'm curious because I'm in the top position on a ranked waiting list. I'm trying to determine if my chances begin -- or abruptly end -- on April 15th.

I take it that everyone is still waiting for the results? I'm tired of checking the mailbox...