wrenochka

I finally received a letter today informing me that my application was rejected (successful applicants in my department heard by email on Monday, so I just assumed). I'm finishing my MA right now - I had been planning to start my PhD in September. I've been putting off posting this because I'm so depressed about it, and embarrassed about my score (15.7/30). I know there have been a lot of posts about the seemingly arbitrary nature of the adjudication (thanks for your post especially, DTrain), but it's still very painful. I'm sure there are a lot of people who've been rejected who prefer not to post their profile for this reason. Here's my profile - I hope it's some consolation for others in my position, if only to let you know you aren't alone: - 3.94 master's GPA - MA SSHRC + several major awards, including an entrance fellowship, an internal award, a national prize for grad students in my discipline, and an undergraduate researcher award - 3 peer-reviewed conferences (1 international, 2 national), 2 non-peer reviewed student conferences, 1 invited guest lecture - 0 publications - 4 RAships, including two overseas project positions - 2 TAships - high ranking by my department, forwarded by my university - strong letters from two well-known scholars in my field, my supervisor and the research chair who I've RA'd for, both of whom enthusiastic about my proposal - solid proposal, multiple drafts, reviewed and edited with supportive feedback from my referees & other professors in my discipline who have a great record of supporting successful applicants To be honest, the score feels like more of a rejection than not receiving funding, because it's clear that I wasn't even close to receiving funds and I know I did the best that I could. I really need funding to pursue my PhD, so I'm anxious about whether I should defer a year and work instead. I am first on the waiting list for our provincial awards, but to judge from others' experiences last year, I likely won't hear for a while, and possibly not until the end of the summer. My supervisor is as baffled as I am about the score. I applied knowing I had only a 50%-60% chance, so I didn't assume I would be funded - but I thought I was more competitive than a 15.7. It feels like such a personal rejection to receive a score that low after receiving such positive feedback from my mentors, and knowing that others in my discipline were funded with similar profiles. It's especially demoralizing not knowing how I could have improved my application. I guess it has to be the proposal, in spite of my referees' feedback - I really don't think having no publications would result in a score that low, especially for an applicant heading into year 1 of the PhD, but who knows. In any case, I don't have time to prepare a publication before the next application round, which makes me feel even more hopeless. I think it's time to retire for the night with a glass of whiskey and some brainless tv. Hopefully after a good night's sleep I'll feel a little more resilient.

So sorry to hear that. I hope we get letters tomorrow so we can have some closure.

Mailman just went by here in Montreal. No letters. I think I'm just going to brace for rejection at this point - others at Concordia have received notice of award emails, but I haven't.

You're welcome! Good luck & congratulations. The tone in this forum is way more hostile and paranoid than last year - I think everyone just really needs funding this time around and stress is high.

!! What department are you in? Was the email from Dolly at FGS? (Edit: sorry, just saw you're in Ed)

I'm not sure if doubting whether this person got an award makes you more or less cynical than me. Where are you located?

It's all on the site (http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/fellowships/doctoral-doctorat-eng.aspx#a3): Official medical/parental leaves aren't counted either, so long as you provided a formal letter from your university explaining the interruption to your studies: I'm surprised your program didn't make this clear to you when you applied - the interruption of study question/letter requirement is also laid out on the application form. I hope getting an award helps you settle back into your program again!

I'm confused.... do you mean you applied for a SSHRC? If you did, it would have been pretty clear whether you were applying for an MA or doctoral award. You can learn everything you need to know about the award types and amounts here: http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/fellowships/doctoral-doctorat-eng.aspx

Montreal mail just came. No letter.

Congratulations on your award! It sort of sounds like you're doing a fast-track PhD, since you were allowed to use an MA SSHRC for your first-year - does that sound right to you? If so, that's why you'd be eligible for the CGS.

According to my graduate program director, Concordia hasn't heard anything. I've never heard of Concordia departments sending SSHRC notifications before the letters, so perhaps the faculty of graduate studies here prefers to keep a lid on any results they receive. I really hope the Montreal letters come today...

Yes - it's on the SSHRC site, and I had a classmate who did this for her MA SSHRC. Email fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca asap - here's the quote from their site: "20. Can I request a change of start date? Yes, you may send a request for change of start date to fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca and SSHRC will contact you." Keep in mind there might be a delay getting the payment info through, though. I requested May for my MA award last year and didn't end up being paid until late June due to the notification delay, so you'll likely be getting a back payment later in May or early June at worst. Congratulations on your award! Can you post your stats, too? (publications, previous awards, etc)

Please share your stats! It would super helpful.

The tweet is out! Letters are mailed....

Yes, for sure! I've had two friends who've done just that for UK programs. And when you convert to the 20K, someone who got the 20K then gets bumped up to CGS.