Sparrowing

Canadian schools whose English departments rank in the global top 50 include the University of Toronto (#7), McGill (#12) and UBC (#13). The University of Alberta is also a great school overall, and although its English department doesn't rank among the top 50, I know people who absolutely love it there. (Edmonton has nasty weather, though.)

U of T is the only Canadian school I've heard of that does not fund its MA students. Still, American students head there in decent numbers, because all the best Canadian schools are public and relatively affordable. Also, in Canada an MA is a basic prerequisite for a PhD, and US adcoms are aware of this cultural difference.

As a sidenote, I find it strange that when people research rankings by department or field, they often only look at US-published reports that omit international schools.

*typical Canadian protesting US-centricity*
*typical Canadian who thinks education should be publicly funded*

Canadian schools whose English departments rank in the global top 50 include the University of Toronto (#7), McGill (#12) and UBC (#13). The University of Alberta is also a great school overall, and although its English department doesn't rank among the top 50, I know people who absolutely love it there. (Edmonton has nasty weather, though.)

U of T is the only Canadian school I've heard of that does not fund its MA students. Still, American students head there in decent numbers, because all the best Canadian schools are public and relatively affordable. Also, in Canada an MA is a basic prerequisite for a PhD, and US adcoms are aware of this cultural difference.

As a sidenote, I find it strange that when people research rankings by department or field, they often only look at US-published reports that omit international schools.

*typical Canadian protesting US-centricity*
*typical Canadian who thinks education should be publicly funded*

I grew up in Vancouver so I thought I'd offer a few tips.

1. Despite what others have said in this forum, public transit in Vancouver is TERRIBLE. I can say this because I've travelled extensively and have lived in various cities in North America and Europe. So if you don't have a car and want to avoid long commutes, try to live near one of the major transit corridors. Also consider cycling if you're going to UBC.

2. For people planning to attend UBC, the West Side of Vancouver is beautiful but expensive, so allocate lots of time for apartment hunting. I wouldn't recommend cycling from Burnaby, but Richmond is perhaps doable if you don't mind a bridge. There are express buses up and down Granville st., so connections from the downtown/West End areas are fairly easy, as are Skytrain connections on the Canada line. Millennium line and Expo line routes will take longer; they seem direct, but once you're on that long bus ride on the 99 you'll wish you lived closer. If you don't like commutes but don't want to pay Point Grey/Kitsilano/Dunbar prices, look in South Vancouver -- Marpole, for instance -- or further east towards Cambie or Quebec st. You can probably go as far east as Main without TOO much discomfort, but further than that and you're looking at a very tiring commute. Richmond is close if you're ok with suburbs.

3. For people heading up to SFU I'd heavily favour the Hastings-Sunrise, Commercial Drive, or Main st. areas. New West, Burnaby, or Coquitlam will wear you down if you enjoy more urban environments, and truthfully aren't much less expensive. Hastings-Sunrise/PNE would probably be my first pick since you can take the 135 express bus straight up the mountain (I'd say about 30 mins from Hastings & Nanaimo). It's an up-and-coming neighbourhood with lots of great eateries (check out the Red Wagon diner, Roma, and Moccia's deli, for starts). There are many nice houses to be found between Hastings and Renfrew or north of Hastings toward the inlet. Many were built between 1910 and 1945 and offer reasonable rents for a partial house. Strathcona is also close to the 135 route and offers a nice community in one of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods. However, nice houses/apartments in this area are scarcely on the rental market; people tend to nab them and hold on for a long time. If you really must live in Burnaby, look around Deer Lake.

4. Vancouver really is an outdoorsy city. It's not as culturally interesting as Seattle, Montreal or Toronto and not even in the same league as SF, NY, or Chicago, but the surroundings are incredible. I miss them almost every day.

5. There are no truly dangerous areas in Greater Vancouver. Even in the downtown eastside you're probably more of a threat (esp. in a car) to the addicts than they are to you. Still, don't live there.

I grew up in Vancouver so I thought I'd offer a few tips.

1. Despite what others have said in this forum, public transit in Vancouver is TERRIBLE. I can say this because I've travelled extensively and have lived in various cities in North America and Europe. So if you don't have a car and want to avoid long commutes, try to live near one of the major transit corridors. Also consider cycling if you're going to UBC.

2. For people planning to attend UBC, the West Side of Vancouver is beautiful but expensive, so allocate lots of time for apartment hunting. I wouldn't recommend cycling from Burnaby, but Richmond is perhaps doable if you don't mind a bridge. There are express buses up and down Granville st., so connections from the downtown/West End areas are fairly easy, as are Skytrain connections on the Canada line. Millennium line and Expo line routes will take longer; they seem direct, but once you're on that long bus ride on the 99 you'll wish you lived closer. If you don't like commutes but don't want to pay Point Grey/Kitsilano/Dunbar prices, look in South Vancouver -- Marpole, for instance -- or further east towards Cambie or Quebec st. You can probably go as far east as Main without TOO much discomfort, but further than that and you're looking at a very tiring commute. Richmond is close if you're ok with suburbs.

3. For people heading up to SFU I'd heavily favour the Hastings-Sunrise, Commercial Drive, or Main st. areas. New West, Burnaby, or Coquitlam will wear you down if you enjoy more urban environments, and truthfully aren't much less expensive. Hastings-Sunrise/PNE would probably be my first pick since you can take the 135 express bus straight up the mountain (I'd say about 30 mins from Hastings & Nanaimo). It's an up-and-coming neighbourhood with lots of great eateries (check out the Red Wagon diner, Roma, and Moccia's deli, for starts). There are many nice houses to be found between Hastings and Renfrew or north of Hastings toward the inlet. Many were built between 1910 and 1945 and offer reasonable rents for a partial house. Strathcona is also close to the 135 route and offers a nice community in one of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods. However, nice houses/apartments in this area are scarcely on the rental market; people tend to nab them and hold on for a long time. If you really must live in Burnaby, look around Deer Lake.

4. Vancouver really is an outdoorsy city. It's not as culturally interesting as Seattle, Montreal or Toronto and not even in the same league as SF, NY, or Chicago, but the surroundings are incredible. I miss them almost every day.

5. There are no truly dangerous areas in Greater Vancouver. Even in the downtown eastside you're probably more of a threat (esp. in a car) to the addicts than they are to you. Still, don't live there.

Canadian schools whose English departments rank in the global top 50 include the University of Toronto (#7), McGill (#12) and UBC (#13). The University of Alberta is also a great school overall, and although its English department doesn't rank among the top 50, I know people who absolutely love it there. (Edmonton has nasty weather, though.)

U of T is the only Canadian school I've heard of that does not fund its MA students. Still, American students head there in decent numbers, because all the best Canadian schools are public and relatively affordable. Also, in Canada an MA is a basic prerequisite for a PhD, and US adcoms are aware of this cultural difference.

As a sidenote, I find it strange that when people research rankings by department or field, they often only look at US-published reports that omit international schools.

*typical Canadian protesting US-centricity*
*typical Canadian who thinks education should be publicly funded*

I grew up in Vancouver so I thought I'd offer a few tips.

1. Despite what others have said in this forum, public transit in Vancouver is TERRIBLE. I can say this because I've travelled extensively and have lived in various cities in North America and Europe. So if you don't have a car and want to avoid long commutes, try to live near one of the major transit corridors. Also consider cycling if you're going to UBC.

2. For people planning to attend UBC, the West Side of Vancouver is beautiful but expensive, so allocate lots of time for apartment hunting. I wouldn't recommend cycling from Burnaby, but Richmond is perhaps doable if you don't mind a bridge. There are express buses up and down Granville st., so connections from the downtown/West End areas are fairly easy, as are Skytrain connections on the Canada line. Millennium line and Expo line routes will take longer; they seem direct, but once you're on that long bus ride on the 99 you'll wish you lived closer. If you don't like commutes but don't want to pay Point Grey/Kitsilano/Dunbar prices, look in South Vancouver -- Marpole, for instance -- or further east towards Cambie or Quebec st. You can probably go as far east as Main without TOO much discomfort, but further than that and you're looking at a very tiring commute. Richmond is close if you're ok with suburbs.

3. For people heading up to SFU I'd heavily favour the Hastings-Sunrise, Commercial Drive, or Main st. areas. New West, Burnaby, or Coquitlam will wear you down if you enjoy more urban environments, and truthfully aren't much less expensive. Hastings-Sunrise/PNE would probably be my first pick since you can take the 135 express bus straight up the mountain (I'd say about 30 mins from Hastings & Nanaimo). It's an up-and-coming neighbourhood with lots of great eateries (check out the Red Wagon diner, Roma, and Moccia's deli, for starts). There are many nice houses to be found between Hastings and Renfrew or north of Hastings toward the inlet. Many were built between 1910 and 1945 and offer reasonable rents for a partial house. Strathcona is also close to the 135 route and offers a nice community in one of Vancouver's oldest neighbourhoods. However, nice houses/apartments in this area are scarcely on the rental market; people tend to nab them and hold on for a long time. If you really must live in Burnaby, look around Deer Lake.

4. Vancouver really is an outdoorsy city. It's not as culturally interesting as Seattle, Montreal or Toronto and not even in the same league as SF, NY, or Chicago, but the surroundings are incredible. I miss them almost every day.

5. There are no truly dangerous areas in Greater Vancouver. Even in the downtown eastside you're probably more of a threat (esp. in a car) to the addicts than they are to you. Still, don't live there.

Canadian schools whose English departments rank in the global top 50 include the University of Toronto (#7), McGill (#12) and UBC (#13). The University of Alberta is also a great school overall, and although its English department doesn't rank among the top 50, I know people who absolutely love it there. (Edmonton has nasty weather, though.)

U of T is the only Canadian school I've heard of that does not fund its MA students. Still, American students head there in decent numbers, because all the best Canadian schools are public and relatively affordable. Also, in Canada an MA is a basic prerequisite for a PhD, and US adcoms are aware of this cultural difference.

As a sidenote, I find it strange that when people research rankings by department or field, they often only look at US-published reports that omit international schools.

*typical Canadian protesting US-centricity*
*typical Canadian who thinks education should be publicly funded*

I agree. I know more than a few people who took on considerable debt because they were certain that the name of their school was some kind of insurance in the job market -- that they could later get a PhD, start a lucrative career within a year or two, and pay down their debt within five. They are now struggling to make loan payments and renting apartments I wouldn't even have considered as an undergraduate. I'm Canadian, and in this country the vast majority of graduate programs (including masters-level) are funded adequately enough to cover tuition and living expenses without necessitating loans.

For people who think that they are somehow more exceptional than the folks described above -- money isn't everything, but it's naïve to think that it's trivial or easy-to-come-by. Apologies if this sounds harsh. I know some people are going to dismiss this kind of advice no matter what, and I wish them luck. Some disciplines are exceptions, of course, but for the majority of humanities, social sciences, and pure sciences, please consider carefully.

And remember that the choice is not Masters degree vs. no-Masters-degree; there are options for funding, and they're worth finding. Lastly, keep in mind that some of your classmates will be financed by their parents, and after graduation they'll likely get hired before you do, for a multitude of other reasons. (Self-presentation counts for a lot in job interviews, and it's hard to maintain when your nutrition is poor, you have no health insurance, you haven't been to the dentist in years, and you can't afford nicely tailored clothes and grown-up shoes.)

Canadian schools whose English departments rank in the global top 50 include the University of Toronto (#7), McGill (#12) and UBC (#13). The University of Alberta is also a great school overall, and although its English department doesn't rank among the top 50, I know people who absolutely love it there. (Edmonton has nasty weather, though.)

U of T is the only Canadian school I've heard of that does not fund its MA students. Still, American students head there in decent numbers, because all the best Canadian schools are public and relatively affordable. Also, in Canada an MA is a basic prerequisite for a PhD, and US adcoms are aware of this cultural difference.

As a sidenote, I find it strange that when people research rankings by department or field, they often only look at US-published reports that omit international schools.

*typical Canadian protesting US-centricity*
*typical Canadian who thinks education should be publicly funded*

I actually find it strange that so much of this forum is dedicated to the application and decision-making process. But maybe I'm missing the point.

Sometimes it's nice to have interactions with grad students that don't impact internal departmental rankings. (Nobody told me about this system until the END of my MA, and I'm sort of glad they didn't. I wish I could remain equally ignorant for the PhD.) Relative anonymity can be a good thing.

I find it interesting that the majority of respondents are in relationships with non-grad-students. I wonder how many of those are undergrads and how many are working professionals?

I agree. I know more than a few people who took on considerable debt because they were certain that the name of their school was some kind of insurance in the job market -- that they could later get a PhD, start a lucrative career within a year or two, and pay down their debt within five. They are now struggling to make loan payments and renting apartments I wouldn't even have considered as an undergraduate. I'm Canadian, and in this country the vast majority of graduate programs (including masters-level) are funded adequately enough to cover tuition and living expenses without necessitating loans.

For people who think that they are somehow more exceptional than the folks described above -- money isn't everything, but it's naïve to think that it's trivial or easy-to-come-by. Apologies if this sounds harsh. I know some people are going to dismiss this kind of advice no matter what, and I wish them luck. Some disciplines are exceptions, of course, but for the majority of humanities, social sciences, and pure sciences, please consider carefully.

And remember that the choice is not Masters degree vs. no-Masters-degree; there are options for funding, and they're worth finding. Lastly, keep in mind that some of your classmates will be financed by their parents, and after graduation they'll likely get hired before you do, for a multitude of other reasons. (Self-presentation counts for a lot in job interviews, and it's hard to maintain when your nutrition is poor, you have no health insurance, you haven't been to the dentist in years, and you can't afford nicely tailored clothes and grown-up shoes.)

I tend to agree. I also should have mentioned that sometimes it's difficult to distinguish between a trend and a new critical turn.

At the same time, it is (IMO) essential to demonstrate (as an applicant) that you are keenly aware of contemporary developments, that you have the potential to articulate a research vision for your scholarly future. After all the reason a top department will want to train you is because you will then go forth, publish, bring in grants, publish, and generally promote your field's scholarship as a primary goal.

So I can't honestly envision an applicant to English programs in Fall 2012 talking in fiery tones of the glories of political modernism/structuralism/semiotic approaches. Knowing where the 'heat' is can only aid in formulating a sharply focused SOP.

I tend to agree. I also should have mentioned that sometimes it's difficult to distinguish between a trend and a new critical turn.

I agree. I know more than a few people who took on considerable debt because they were certain that the name of their school was some kind of insurance in the job market -- that they could later get a PhD, start a lucrative career within a year or two, and pay down their debt within five. They are now struggling to make loan payments and renting apartments I wouldn't even have considered as an undergraduate. I'm Canadian, and in this country the vast majority of graduate programs (including masters-level) are funded adequately enough to cover tuition and living expenses without necessitating loans.

For people who think that they are somehow more exceptional than the folks described above -- money isn't everything, but it's naïve to think that it's trivial or easy-to-come-by. Apologies if this sounds harsh. I know some people are going to dismiss this kind of advice no matter what, and I wish them luck. Some disciplines are exceptions, of course, but for the majority of humanities, social sciences, and pure sciences, please consider carefully.

And remember that the choice is not Masters degree vs. no-Masters-degree; there are options for funding, and they're worth finding. Lastly, keep in mind that some of your classmates will be financed by their parents, and after graduation they'll likely get hired before you do, for a multitude of other reasons. (Self-presentation counts for a lot in job interviews, and it's hard to maintain when your nutrition is poor, you have no health insurance, you haven't been to the dentist in years, and you can't afford nicely tailored clothes and grown-up shoes.)

Honestly, to be very frank, taking our 80,000 in loans is a terrible idea for a master's degree...in just about anything. Look at the job market. Look at your expected salary after you finish the master's degree. Look at all the other debt that you are carrying--car, credit cards, undergraduate student loans, etc. How much money can you make next year without a master's degree? Now add 40,000 to that number, and that's the opportunity cost of going to graduate school.

This is my personal, cynical, biased opinion. Master's programs in the humanities and social work are full of people who take out HUGE loans for comparably little reward. These master's students take classes with PhD students who are not only on a full scholarship, but are also getting paid a (barely) living stipend. You are sinking into debt, they are treading water.

What space-cat said.

Also, schools are looking to train the most promising scholars in their fields. The vast majority of innovative students cannot pay to go to graduate school. So, to prevent grad schools from being filled with the rich yet potentially mediocre, funding for graduate study is secured.

And you wanna talk about privilege? Privilege is paying for graduate school from your estate, or from Mommy and Daddy. You think that getting paid to go to class is privilege? How about this: I would never be able to afford grad school, not if I worked for the rest of my life. My job prospects are in the nonprofit sector or the service sector. I don't have any innovative (read: product) ideas, business training, or high-income skills. I will never own my own house. However, my economic situation says little about the viability of my ideas, my research skills, or my teaching ability. So any school that wants to hone those has to support me when I go there, period. It isn't privilege on my part (any more than a college education is to begin with) - it is the reality that my excellent academic skills are not useful to the private sector.

Not sure that is a useful comparison. We're talking about a particular profession that people choose to go into, not all of society.

In all seriousness, can someone explain to me what is wrong with hierarchy? Is the argument that the imporance of perceived prestige in hiring and graduate program selection somehow inhibits the quality of the collective knowledge produced by the academy?

I don't exactly fit the description in the OP, but I do relate on some levels. My mother left college after two years and my father went back to finish a BA in his 30's.

They're happy for me and tried to help by reading my personal statement, so that's awesome. But there are so many things that I just don't know and I realize it.

One example would be - I got an invitation to join Phi Beta Kappa during my senior year at a state school - I'd never heard of it and it cost $75 to join and attend a dinner, and because I had better things to do with my $75 dollars, I didn't join. I went grocery shopping or something. I still got into a good grad program, but things like this make a difference. This was partly my own fault - but because I was working and not in an atmosphere where people are talking about these things (and this atmosphere included my school, not just my family), I didn't have a sense that this could be valuable to me later. I could have looked into it more, but compared to people who are in an atmosphere where people are thinking about that, I was at somewhat of a disadvantage.

And I worry about things like this with grad school. I worry that I will not do something valuable to me (and it won't always come in the form of a letter! It could be as simple as attending department events to network or something) and not even realize it at the time.

I'm a little older than the average MA student (I'm 28), and I'm not as concerned about fitting in socially ... but it is important to get along with and network with your classmates. This was one factor - not the only one, but one - in my decision not to attend another program. I was worried that I really wouldn't fit in with the people there and so some of the usual benefit of going to that program would be lost to me.

I don't mean to come across as whiny here, because I know that lots of people have had much more difficult experiences than I have. I do think these things I mention matter though, even if they are less quantifiable than other things.