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Blurry

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Posts posted by Blurry

  1. based on the threads of past years it seems like the waitlist maybe doesn't start to move until the end of August? and then it does so until around February. so ... more waiting!

    A question about this: Say I'm holding a university fellowship the first year and then receive, in January, a SSHRC. I can't hold a fellowship and sshrc simultaneously, so what would happen? essentially lose the first year of funding from SSHRC?

  2. Hi everyone,

    I am starting to freak out a little bit and was wondering if anyone could help me.

    OSU is my first choice and I really want to go there. However, their estimated expense documents show that I would need to prove 31 244$ in income per year (for myself (20000$) and spouse (additional 11 000$)). Now this just seems patently ABSURD. I am unuaware of any department that could provide this type of financial support (even without a spouse) for 5 years. I live on less than 15000$ a year with my spouse now in Montreal and Columbus is EVEN CHEAPER.

    Has anyone experienced anythign like this? I called them and they verified those numbers and they say they are accurate. WTF!?

  3. The International Office at one of the schools told me that you cannot start the visa application process until 4 months before your program starts. So if it's a September program start, you won't be able to start until May anyways. So I think an early May marriage is OK.

    What province are you in? In BC, once you get the marriage license, you can get married the next day (and the license is only valid for 90 days)!

    I'm in Quebec. I went to the Palais de Justice (Montreal courthouse) yesterday. They have to post a notice for 20 days and you have to wait 60 days to get a date. I asked for early May. Hopefully I'll be alright then :)

    Does anyone know when it would be TOO LATE to apply for the VISA?

  4. I didn't get mine until May last year. Make sure you contact your school as soon as possible and tell them the situation--hopefully they'll understand and be able to help you out.

    The issue is that I have not made my decision yet. Although I will be going to the United States, I will probably not have a clear idea of where I'm going until early April.

  5. Might have been the whole group a/group b thing. It used to throw me off a bit too. The way I see the process it's like this (please anyone correct me if I'm wrong).

    You apply through the university. A while later you get a letter or e-mail from the university stating whether they will forward your application to SSHRC or not (group A or A-list - forwarded, group B or B-list - not forwarded).

    A couple of months later you get an e-mail from SSHRC (only if you were forwarded) confirming they have received your application.

    Then in the Spring you get the letter with your offer of funding or rejection. You are awarded a grade out of 30. If it's really low, probably rejection. The higher grades usually get the CGS (also called super-SSHRC, 3 years of 35), others get the 4 years SSHRC (also awarded to those studying abroad). I've seen people refer to this part of the process as being in group A (super SSHRC) or group B (4-yr SSHRC). It used to drive me nuts while I tried to understand what was going on.

    This whole damn thing is crazy!

  6. Yep. That's what he used. And he didn't apply this season--he didn't have a writing sample that he thought was good enough and had some rec problems.

    In that case, would be not be willing to move with you the first year? Has he done a Masters (although I realize this i very uncommon in the US)? Should he be willing to do so he may be able to pursue his interests while living with you during your more coursework intensive years. After that, you may be separated but it will be easier for you to visit while working on your dissertation.

  7. But... which rankings is he paying attention to? There are multiple rankings out there with varying methodologies, some of which are more scientific and some of which are less so. Does he realize that reputation and ranking is an unreliable measure?

    He is probably relying on the Philosophical Gourmet report which is a survey of hundreds of professional philosophers that rank institutions based on the quality of the departments' research (both overall and in specific sub-disciplines of philosophy). These rankings, while imperfect, do have a strong correlation with placement record.

  8. Mmm, he seems pretty focused on top 25 schools, and the schools I've been accepted to...aren't in the top 25. Definitely not terrible, I'm sure, but he's a little obsessed with ranking. I'm in Comm, so it's not exactly the same. Right now, his goal is academia--he's not interested in business or government.

    If his goal is academia I can see why he would be obsessed with rankings.

    Has he already applied this season?

  9. got a letter today from SSHRC saying my application has been forwarded (Group A). 246 of 773 were forwarded for candidates not registered in a university. Good luck everyone!

    Congratz, that's good news.

    Does anyone know how much longer it may take given that candidates have been informed whether they are Group A or B?

  10. Hi, all! I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, so please bear with me if it's not--I'm sorry!

    To my question--I've been accepted a few places with no notification of funding yet (but pretty sure I'll be funded at one of the schools), and four schools in limbo. None of the schools are "safety" schools for me, and I'd be excited to attend any of them, as long as I receive funding.

    The problem: my SO of 3 years intends to apply to graduate school next season after not getting his ducks in a row this season. However, he majored in philosophy in UG, and hopes to get his doctorate in that. Considering the employment stats in philosophy, he'd need to go to a really well ranked school to ever hope of getting a tenured position. However, the schools I'm accepted to right now aren't great in philosophy, and he'd either have to deal with a lesser-ranked school or switch programs (English was his other major in UG). I know I haven't heard back from all of my schools yet, especially the ones he'd be excited to attend in philosophy, but how do I deal with this? I feel like long distance for 6-8 years would never work, but a long-standing bitterness for not being able to "follow his dreams" won't be great, either.

    Ok--so this is hardly a question. I'm sorry. Thoughs? Anyone go through anything similar? Solutions I'm not thinking of?

    Thanks!

    I'm in philosophy as well. Is the placement of this school really bad?

    Moreover, is your SO more interested in studying philosophy than in pursuing an academic career? I know of many people who did a PhD in philosophy and went on to have VERY fruitful careers in government and business.

  11. Thanks for all the input everyone!

    I went through this last year. I managed to get a J-2 for my wife just by asking for it (which I did pretty soon after receiving the offer). She got her work permit without any trouble after writing the letter of application, showing that her income would not be required for our living expenses, and the permit arrived faster than expected (they estimate 3 months). Still, you have to pay quite a bit to apply ($380!).

    In my understanding, you need to show that with the school's financial package and your own savings you will have enough money to cover the entire cost of the program. So I'm not sure if the caveat about it not being "personal" funds applies in every situation. I showed my TA offer (which I guess they projected over five years, although technically it was only for the first year with renewal conditional on performance), my savings/chequing balance, as well as a bank statement from my grandmother and her signature stating that she would support us if need be, although I have no intention of ever actually asking her for money. It worked out OK for us.

    I understood that Canadians ARE subject to the home return requirement, though I could be wrong on this. I know it varies by discipline as well.

    From what I've heard in the past, a spousal visa only works if you're actually married, though (I'm not sure where they draw the line between cohabiting and common-law in the quote above). Quick ceremony with the justice of the peace, and then a more formal celebration at some point in the future, perhaps?

    We plan to marry some time in April; I was just wondering whether we had to married for a certain amount of time before applying for the VISA. We have been living together for three years.

  12. Just be glad you're not in Quebec :)

    If it makes you feel better I've made roughly 12 000 income in Quebec and received every tax dollar taken back with unused tuition amounts which I have deferred to later years. You will not be paying all that much tax if you also pay tuition. You can also claim your bus passes, a portion of your rent (your landlord gives you a slip each year for the amount you can claim), etc. With a good account, I don't think you will find yourself paying much.

    PLEASE ALSO NOTE that your first 10 000$ income is TAX-FREE, so you will only be paying tax on your non-scholarship income above this amount (I'm not sure if this amount differs by province).

  13. I've bene doing some digging and just found out that one coudl do a PhD in the United States on a J-1 rather than an F-1 Visa. The advantages of the J-1 is that your spouse (if you have one of course) can apply for a work permit and a social security number! This seems absolutely fantastic! I know that there may be restrictions on the J-1 (like you have to return to your home country for two years if you're on some special skill list); i don't know the details on this.

    Does anyone know anything about J-1? Also, my finacee and I are not married yet (we've been living together for three years though), how soon should we get married? Does this affect the visa application?

    Thanks

  14. Hi Everyone,

    I've been accepted and invited to visit two schools, both of which are excellent fits for me and are among my top choices. I've received a one year fellowship for one school (school A) and am nominated for a 2 year fellowship in the other (school B). The latter is a better fit (and better ranked) for my most central interest and my current advisor has also recommended that I choose school B. The city of school B is also better for my fiancee (given her interests and job prospects). I am also in closer contact with some students at school B as well as a potential advisor. Both schools have offered me some money to visit their departments and I must say that I am reluctant to visit and would like your input on this.

    I suffer from some pretty bad impostor syndrome so visiting (and being given that attention) really does not appeal to me at all. While school A has a visiting weekend, school B has individual visits :S

    If I receive the fellowship for school B I will distinctly prefer it over A and visiting won't likely change my mind in this respect (I am not even sure what benefit I would get from visiting); that is, there does not seem to be anything I could see that would trump the other advantages I have mentioned.

    My potential advisor for school B suggested that I visit and, in particular, wanted me to visit, preferably, when he is there. By the time I could visit (end of March) I may have already made up my mind. They are working hard to get me a fellowship and I am wondering whether I should tell them the truth: If i receive the fellowship my decision would most likely be made even before I could visit (i.e. I would choose to accept their offer)

    I am wondering whether it would be a good call to refuse school A before visiting. I am somewhat paranoid that they would just think I'm a rash loser or something. Same goes for accepting School B before visiting.

    Is it possible that I'm more stressed now after receiving good news than I was waiting in agonizing anticipation!!

    Thanks. Any help would be appreciated.

  15. I just got an offer OSU and would appreciate any feedback (recent) on good neighbourhoods to live in. I will probbaly accept the offer.

    I'm looking to bring my fiancee with me who will be actively looking for work but may not get any for the first year so will support out of stipend (and savings if need be). We currently live in <500 sq.ft so used ot that sort of thing. I need cheap (under 600$ - around 600ish is ok if all utilities are included) in a safe place that is commutable (at least public transit) to OSU. I don't really know much about COlumbus: all I know is that Victorian Village and Short North seem to be safe places, walkable and close to OSU.

    Where should I be looking? What should I avoid?

    Many thanks!

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