Advice?

[lastminutedecision]

I got both of my offers rather early but both schools took forever to give the financial details... I'm having the hardest time ever making a decision between the two schools.

A Mcgill, amazing school, It's a course based program...but my advisor specializes in the area I'm most interested in.

They offered 1500 and I'm not guaranteed any TA positions, but I did apply!

B Dalhousie, great school, but soooo far from where I live, thesis program. First year my advisor is on sabbatical but he is still meeting with students. This advisor dabbles in my area of study, but his main interest is different.

offered 7000 +guaranteed TA positions and a possible RA position with my advisor

Should money be that big of a factor in ones decision? I have no debt from my undergrad at least... I do love montreal over halifax.

Also McGill's Musicology program is brilliant, there are a number of professors covering a wide range of topics of study.

Dal is also pretty good, but much smaller, which they are proud of because it grants a more intimate learning environment.

[jamestox]

Dear Decaf,

How amazing it is to read this!! I applied for the same programmes and had to make the same decision (through in two more schools into the mix and I found it nearly impossible!).

I know exactly what you're going through. Ultimatley I decided on McGill's programme for a number of reasons, and while they're personal to me, they might be of interest?

To give a bit of background, I'm from the UK, about to wrap up my undergrad here and am making the move all the way to Canada (to a continent I've never been to before)!

While I was offered far more money at Dalhousie (and in fact I was offered yet more in the form of a scholarship today which doesn't help the decision-making process!), I chose McGill primarily because:

a) Faculty - after chats with an incomprable amount of people I realise this is THE most important decision for Grad school, and while you say you'd be on the Non-Thesis programme, it's still so important to factor this in. McGill musicology/theory professors are excellent and, speaking as someone from another continent, loads of them are renowned across the pond.

I've got a UK-based scholarship which means money isn't an issue - finally!

c) Montreal seems quite a vibrant and dynamic place - though I'm sure you know about this more than I do. I think the opportunity to enhance/maintain French is fantastic and relevant to musicology. Plus, OSM are having a new concert hall built coinciding for when we start! A great cultural centre, non?

d) The facilities at the Schulich seem pretty amazing. Admittedly, it has to cater for a larger student base than Dalhousie, but the facilities, so I am told, are quite a bit better. Add to the mix that they have 600 concerts per year, a 3 story library etc, and I think you'd have access to better facilties than you might expect at Dal.

e) Name. I hate myself for writing this, but as a junior professor told me here (he left graduate studies at Harvard for Toronto for many different reasons) while name isn't everything, it does count for something. McGill's 'brand' is very exportable. So if you choose Dal (which is arguably less well-known) you should have solid reasons for this.

At the end of the day, it has to be your decision of course. I applied to Dal and I think that some of the faculty there are excellent (Dr Joubert comes to mind, as does Dr. Baur - but as you say, he's on sabattical for an entire year). I think you'd have a great time at Dal if you pick it! Though it would be lovely to see you at McGill!

Hope you are able to pick soon. Having been through this agonizing decision-making process myself, I can definitely sympathise. I think your main priorities should be a) where do you want to go after x or y university; and what place is best served (facilities/faculty/location) to effect this?!

Let me know how you get on and good luck,

Best,

Harry

[lastminutedecision]

Dear Decaf,

How amazing it is to read this!! I applied for the same programmes and had to make the same decision (through in two more schools into the mix and I found it nearly impossible!).

I know exactly what you're going through. Ultimatley I decided on McGill's programme for a number of reasons, and while they're personal to me, they might be of interest?

To give a bit of background, I'm from the UK, about to wrap up my undergrad here and am making the move all the way to Canada (to a continent I've never been to before)!

While I was offered far more money at Dalhousie (and in fact I was offered yet more in the form of a scholarship today which doesn't help the decision-making process!), I chose McGill primarily because:

a) Faculty - after chats with an incomprable amount of people I realise this is THE most important decision for Grad school, and while you say you'd be on the Non-Thesis programme, it's still so important to factor this in. McGill musicology/theory professors are excellent and, speaking as someone from another continent, loads of them are renowned across the pond.

I've got a UK-based scholarship which means money isn't an issue - finally!

c) Montreal seems quite a vibrant and dynamic place - though I'm sure you know about this more than I do. I think the opportunity to enhance/maintain French is fantastic and relevant to musicology. Plus, OSM are having a new concert hall built coinciding for when we start! A great cultural centre, non?

d) The facilities at the Schulich seem pretty amazing. Admittedly, it has to cater for a larger student base than Dalhousie, but the facilities, so I am told, are quite a bit better. Add to the mix that they have 600 concerts per year, a 3 story library etc, and I think you'd have access to better facilties than you might expect at Dal.

e) Name. I hate myself for writing this, but as a junior professor told me here (he left graduate studies at Harvard for Toronto for many different reasons) while name isn't everything, it does count for something. McGill's 'brand' is very exportable. So if you choose Dal (which is arguably less well-known) you should have solid reasons for this.

At the end of the day, it has to be your decision of course. I applied to Dal and I think that some of the faculty there are excellent (Dr Joubert comes to mind, as does Dr. Baur - but as you say, he's on sabattical for an entire year). I think you'd have a great time at Dal if you pick it! Though it would be lovely to see you at McGill!

Hope you are able to pick soon. Having been through this agonizing decision-making process myself, I can definitely sympathise. I think your main priorities should be a) where do you want to go after x or y university; and what place is best served (facilities/faculty/location) to effect this?!

Let me know how you get on and good luck,

Best,

Harry

Thank you soooo much for your reply! We definitely are in the same boat with this decision. It's nice to hear that it wouldn't be a mistake still wanting to go to mcgill... quite a few people have told me to go where the money is. But my close friends want me to go to montreal, because I love it there. It's seriously such a wonderful city. Halifax is also gorgeous, but not nearly quite the cultural hot spot. Here I was stressing about possibly moving to Dal because I thought it was far... hahah doesn't compare. I agree that Dal has a wonderful faculty and a lot to offer, one wouldn't hinder their progress in academia by deciding to go there. But... McGIll is just so much more exciting to me, I'm coming from a small school and it will be nice to have a real sense of healthy competition. I also reaaaaally would love to work with either Dr. Brackett or Dr. Huebner, I love McGill's faculty and the wide array of courses offered each year... plus the campus and city are both lovely. It will just really suck being poor hahah, here's to hoping my TA application made an impression... otherwise I will just have to embrace my impending bohemian lifestyle. I have told the universities that I will make my decision this week... I just hope I can find some sense of peace with my decision. What will you be researching, if you don't mind me asking?

[jamestox]

Hello!

Not at all. It's wonderful to find you and so totally at random. And please, distance means nothing in the face of money-troubles! I've been there and I know exactly how much it plays on one's mind. Your quandary is a lot "worse" than mine, though I think not insuperable.

I think you just have to weigh up whether the monetary demands put on you at McGill would be outweighed by access to Canada's top faculty, great facilities, and a location you clearly love. But Halifax is wonderful (quite "British" so I'm told?!) and Dal's professors are great (though for me, there simply aren't enough of them in number).

I have absolutely no idea what I'm researching!! Part of the offer was to work with Lloyd Whitesell on some research he's undertaking, so that should be great.

Of course, Dal's offer is fantastic, and teaching experience looks great on your CV!

I know which one I'd rather you choose, but it's all up to you and you'll be very happy at either I'm sure!

Best of luck!

[lastminutedecision]

Hello!

Not at all. It's wonderful to find you and so totally at random. And please, distance means nothing in the face of money-troubles! I've been there and I know exactly how much it plays on one's mind. Your quandary is a lot "worse" than mine, though I think not insuperable.

I think you just have to weigh up whether the monetary demands put on you at McGill would be outweighed by access to Canada's top faculty, great facilities, and a location you clearly love. But Halifax is wonderful (quite "British" so I'm told?!) and Dal's professors are great (though for me, there simply aren't enough of them in number).

I have absolutely no idea what I'm researching!! Part of the offer was to work with Lloyd Whitesell on some research he's undertaking, so that should be great.

Of course, Dal's offer is fantastic, and teaching experience looks great on your CV!

I know which one I'd rather you choose, but it's all up to you and you'll be very happy at either I'm sure!

Best of luck!

Well.. I made my decision. McGill it is. It was a difficult decision of course, but only because of the financial issue... which isn't reason enough to justify turning down an offer.... especially considering the fact that I have some assistance. I just won't be 'comfortable'. Yes, Halifax is wonderful! I haven't been to the UK but I'm sure they didn't call it Nova Scotia (new scotland) without reason. Mhmm I agree, Dal has a great faculty but it is still very small and my interests only lined up with one prof... who wasn't even going to be there next year. McGill has a number of profs whose work I admire and that I would love to potentially study with. Plus the courses offered at McGill seem to be far more interesting. Haha yaaa that's why I went with the course based route, I didn't have a definite idea I wanted to pursue for a thesis. Did mcgill guarantee a TA/RA for you then? That would be wonderful! Apparently it's fairly competitve if you haven't been guaranteed a spot, I'm hoping my past teaching experience aids in the application process. I'm seriously so excited for next year!

[jamestox]

Hey,

Wonderful news!! You've definitely made the right decision I think!

I got an R.A. with my acceptance letter yes, so really looking forward to that. Lord know's what I'm going to do for an actual thesis though!

See you in the Autumn/fall then!

Best,

H