anonyouknow

My last day will be July 31. On Aug 1 I'll be on a plane back to my home state, visit friends and family for a week, then take off with my dad and girlfriend for Calgary to set up before the semester starts. I'll only be informing my boss about mid-June. I know he'll have a meltdown and isn't the most emotionally stable person, so I'm really not looking forward to this. It's been unbelievably hard making it day after day here, the work is mind numbing and the environment is as close to hell as I suppose could be found on earth, but it's good money and I'll need every cent since my stipend will only cover tuition and basic living expenses, no way I can add to my savings the next several years after leaving. At this point I'm just taking it day by day ("Okay, all you have to do is make it to the end of today! If you do that then TOMORROW you can consider turning in your resignation!" ...except, you know, every day)

If you're coming straight out of undergrad, you won't be expected to have any publications (though those who do are in a pretty position), though some sort of research experience is usually a requirement for decent programs. I know that everyone out of my graduating class who went on to grad had at least 2 presentations, though no publications. If you have neither, play up what you've learned from the research experience you do have and demonstrate that you have the necessary background to carry out research regardless. Great GPA and GRE scores also wouldn't hurt If you are coming from undergrad, I'd also recommend applying to a few Masters programs as well, especially if the only thing holding back your record is a lack of presentations/publications. By the time you reapply to PhD you'd have gained what you need. Good luck!

Provided you score well on your GREs and write a good, focused SOP, I don't see any reason to restrict yourself from applying wherever your best matches are- whether prestigious high ranking schools or reputable schools without such high rankings. I would advise against applying solely to top-tier schools just for the brand and instead focus on locating the best programs with faculty and ongoing research that match your own interests. I highly doubt top-tier schools will reject you because you aren't already working under a well known professor in an Ivy, but they will most definitely reject you if your interests won't add something to their program. Just as a note from my own experience- I came from a 4 year, private, religious affiliated school with around 1200 students total, including part timers. None of my professors had done any major research in the field since their own dissertations (I've found a total of 2 papers my UG advisor wrote over the course of 30+ years), but taught me well and we got along amazingly and I got absolutely glowing recommendations from them. I didn't apply to any top-10 schools, but will be going to a sound program in a good school with which I'm very satisfied

I agree with ktel- there really aren't any better reasons for backing out of an acceptance than that. That sounds like a very tough position for you, I hope all goes well!

Thank you Please take your time!

I would LOVE scans of your information packet. My university has some information online that is helpful but isn't nearly as specific as I'd like. I'm actually nearly done with my student permit application and plan to submit in the next 2-3 days but I'm SO scared I may be missing something vital.

My first round of applications I got waitlisted at almost EVERY program I applied to. I was pretty crushed, thought I wasn't good enough, etc. This round things have turned around well even though I honestly didn't improve much on my application, I just took more care in contacting professors beforehand and putting together my materials, really. Sometimes it's just a tough year. Hopefully you'll get off the waitlist this year and have no need to reapply!

I haven't heard back from many of my potential programs, but I can definitely say what worked for the acceptances so far! This is my second round of applications, the first round I did no background checking on my POIs for each school and didn't even know if they were accepting students or not. There were some serious issues with my applications that round aside from that, but this round I was much wiser. I discovered 2 of my POIs at two schools were not accepting students and 1 was going on sabbatical for the year (I didn't end up applying to that school for a few reasons aside). If I hadn't checked, both those schools I did end up applying to (with different POIs) would have been out of the question as I would have tailored my apps totally differently. I think my application was stronger this round mostly because I've definitely fleshed out my areas of interest. I was able to write informed SOPs which, I hope, showed understanding of the field and current directions and that I could develop my own unique ideas to start contributing right away. I didn't pigeonhole myself into one project or anything, but I think I was way too broad last time; it sounded like I would be happy working pretty much with anyone, anywhere, rather than looking at these specific programs for specific reasons. Added to that- I was lucky!! It just so happens that my POI at one school thought my relocation story was interesting and wanted to talk to me before official interviews just to see how I got to where I am now. I was able to show how my research interests developed from my experiences living abroad and we had a good talk. Another POI just so happened to want to begin a project which matched incredibly closely with what I happened to set out in my research proposal, though I had no idea of this at the time. I think putting an interesting spin on my own experiences caught the eye of some people and at least got me a second look

Coming from someone in a totally unrelated field and noting that I have not even begun my first semester of graduate school yet, I have to say that I would let sleeping dogs lie. Even if the amount of conflict from letting your advisor know would be minimal, it still seems a tad unnecessary since you've done all the appropriate legwork to fill in Prof Bob. Hopefully he will read that article and make changes to his lecture from this point on as needed, and saving the details may possibly spare some hurt feelings. EDIT: Unless it is actually vital your classmates learn this information. If that information is hugely important to their future success, then of course someone needs to be made aware that IMPORTANT THINGS are not being fully covered.

I really have to give you credit for both your commitment to your family as well as your commitment to pursue higher education, I doubt very many could have handled everything you have. I am very fortunate in that my direct family is fairly healthy and very encouraging of me going to grad school wherever the best option lies and my SO is happy to move with me. The process has been stressful enough only having to think about my own prospects, I have a real respect for everyone on the forum who have given up so much and still are managing to succeed! I'm afraid with my differing situation I don't have any advice to give, just some support and encouragement. Hang in there and congrats!

Agree with this! After I received my first offer I sent emails to the coordinators or administrators in all my other programs, making it clear that I was very interested in their programs still but had received an offer which required an answer shortly so knowing of any sort of timeline would be very helpful. I told them all that if decisions were not likely to be available by such-and-such date I would be requesting an extension from the school that made the offer, and I definitely didn’t have any negative response. I sent the emails to four schools: -One got back to me asap and said I would be hearing that week, the next day I got an offer - One told me their committee hadn’t yet met but they would let me know my status unofficially asap, very nice - Two never replied Quite honestly, the programs that didn’t respond dropped a bit in my own rankings. If I made a bad impression simply by asking for a time line at a time when it actually was necessary to plan my own future then so be it, I doubt I’d enjoy working with administration for the next 6 years that feels it’s acceptable to just delete or ignore a prospective student. Even a "we don't know yet" would have been totally fine and taken a full 10 seconds, I'm not looking for paragraphs explaining the department situation, just if they know when decisions can be expected.

Yikes, sorry! It looks like you've gotten some good offers as consolation for the not-so-nice replies at least! Although we do need to figure out how to handle those that go the ignoring route- it looks like two that I mailed (which will remain nameless ) aren't up to answering either

I ended up having to do the same. My first offer (from my safety) needed me to make a decision and send it back by the first week of March, so I was able to mail all my schools and ask when I could expect to hear from them since I had a pending offer. It totally paid off! The next morning I had an email telling me one school would tell me my decision soon (in a very suspiciously happy manner) and the morning after that I got a funded offer from them! Another school told me they were just having their meeting and would let me know their decision (unofficially) asap. Everyone who replied was incredibly helpful and nice AND it relieved my pent up stress!

I'll have my fingers crossed for you, good luck in getting a great offer!

As far as I recall there wasn't a specific name for that bit of funding itself, but there was a name for the additional fees international students have to pay- "visa differential fees". They informed me the visa differential fee (which was over 6K and equal to exactly half of the international student's tuition on the website) would be covered by the department so international students are not "unduly disadvantaged compared to Canadian students." I can't say this is the case in every department, let alone any other schools, but it was a huge benefit for me, as that extra 6.2 K would have torn a pretty good sized chunk out of my other funding. I can't say if schools would give that sort of info before acceptance or only after extending a funding package as I only found out after acceptance myself! I'd assume if they have an actual policy for that sort of thing it would probably not be admissions-only information, though. Also throwing out a good word for any other Calgary psych applicants, Ms. Westgard is AMAZING, undoubtedly the most helpful grad administrator/coordinator I've spoken with Very professional and helpful, and still super nice personally!

Just jumping in here to let you know there is hope for internationals! My funding offer actually includes a nice additional bit where the department is paying out the majority of the difference in cost between me and local students in addition to the usual funding package. The actual difference now between what I will pay (if I do accept this offer) and what locals pay is almost negligible, and the funding package itself is actually better than most US offers my friends have received. Even if the site says international students pay a boatload more, there is a chance the department will even that out for you This is good news for me too! Great post and very helpful!

Thank you SO MUCH for the fast and detailed reply. I'll get to reading now Yikes, that is a pretty hefty sum in taxes, especially since grad students aren't typically rolling in money!

Hello all I've received a TAship worth approximately 16,000-17,000 per year, and have been told "TAships are taxed – in a ratio of 2/3 salary (taxed) and 1/3 scholarship (not taxed)." I'll be coming in as an international student and I'm not sure how much I should expect to be taken out of this amount for taxes. Can anyone who has received a Canadian TAship shed some light on what percentage is usually removed for taxes?

I'm finishing up my second round of applications as well, with a much better result this round I made a lot of mistakes in my first round; never contacting POIs, never even following up to see if my applications were complete, an unfocused SOP and terrible GRE scores. Strangely, I still received several wait lists and one unfunded MA offer from my top PhD program. Instead, I moved 10,000 miles away. Now I'm applying again with more focus and have had nearly all good news thus far. If my luck runs out here and I don't receive an offer from my final programs I'm still very excited with the offers I have.

Fortunately, as of this morning it's no longer necessary! I received an official acceptance from a good program with full funding this morning and can cross my safety school off my list for good I'll be mailing them to decline the offer today. Now that I've at least got one official response the waiting seems bearable, even though 2/3 I'm waiting on are my top choices. I'm very eager to (hopefully) get the official letter from Windsor so I can compare soon!

Hey jrg! So you're the other Calgary acceptance in the results section... I received my acceptance and package today as well. Who's your POI? Have you heard anything from Waterloo or UWO at all yet? I'm waiting for decisions from them too.

I'm in a similar position as well, though unfortunately without such a fantastic offer. I've been accepted to my safety, which wants my decision and a deposit by March 9, which means I would need to send it back by March 2 at the latest since the shipping time from Singapore to Canada is around a week. I still don't have an official acceptance anywhere else. I sent out emails to the four schools I'm waiting on this Monday politely requesting an update to my status and explaining the situation. One school got back to me fast letting me know I made it past the first round of rejections and official letters would be out this week, but I haven't heard back from anywhere else yet. Still, it definitely did help with at least that one school knowing I would have a decision soon, I'd definitely recommend it! (I'm also hoping the time lag in getting back to me by the other schools is due to them ensuring I'm getting great funding packages first ) I'll also be requesting an extension if I don't hear back positively from any of those schools in the next week. Good luck and congrats on your acceptance!

Thank you for the advice, all very helpful! I'll definitely take you up on messaging, I'm at work at the moment and don't have much time but I do have a few Windsor specific questions if you don't mind! Ahaha, I know I'm, repeating the thanks a ton but everyone's information really is incredibly helpful, so thank you as well! I'll put Koodo at the top of my list to check out. I think I definitely will apply for the visa online after all, even if I hear advice that I can get it at the border that doesn't take into account that problems could happen, and I'm not willing to go through a sudden unexpected issue just to save a bit of time, especially if it's concerning my future. Your advice was very good. I'll check out Royal Bank of Canada as well. I'm hoping to receive enough funding to supplement my current savings and my partner hopefully finding work to not take out loans, but I'd still like to investigate some options just in case, although I'm not sure I'm eligible as a non-citizen. I think TelUs may be a good option for my partner, who will need to make frequent long-distance calls back home to talk to family and friends. Having all the comparisons on companies here is fantastic! Viewit looks like a great option too, thank you for the resource! Again a lot of great information. I've read through the rental laws on that page and think I've got a better idea of the sort of contract I should be looking out for. Really fantastic help all around. I'll check out your exploration recommendations too I'm pretty interested in the museum-esque stops as well! And thank you for the transport options! I actually took Megabus once right before coming to Singapore to get to a conference in Chicago, so I'm fairly familiar with it and did like the service as well, it's good to hear it's an option in Canada too! Whew, I hope I didn't miss anyone out of the thanks! This has all been a huge help, I've got the thread bookmarked and I'm sure I'll reference it frequently. And like civicblade said, any additional contributions would definitely be welcome!

I'm sending from Singapore to Canada so there's no real process for speeding it up that costs less than $50, and even then it's 3 days minimum and it could still be stopped in customs. The joys of applying from around the world...

I am absolutely dying too. My safety has given me an acceptance, but with only 30 days to accept or decline, and since mail takes about a week to send, that means I’ll need to mail out my decision in just over a week. Meanwhile, I’ve been recommended for admission to one of my higher-up choices, but need to wait until mid-March for the official acceptance, and since it’s not official until I get that letter, in the meantime I’m terrified I’m going to be rejected after coming so close. I finally emailed all the programs I haven’t heard from on Monday asking for a status update as I need to get back to this first offer. I’ve heard back from one so far, which nearly gave me a heart attack. I made it through the first review and they’ll be sending out offers THIS WEEK. I’ve got a feeling I’m not going to get anything, then I’ll have to spend the next month and a half wondering if I’m waitlisted or rejected. The other schools haven’t given me a peep.