How to start...

[antanon82]

(To Admins: If something similar has already been posted please let me know and/or delete this thread)

I am about to apply to grad schools in Canada, but not sure how to begin. I initially started two weeks ago by writing to profs directly (the ones that matched my research interests) but most of them said "no" due to shortage of funds/space.

One of the profs (Guelph) I wrote to, forwarded my email to the grad school administrator, and replied that I apply online soon. What does this mean?

Am I supposed to apply to programs first, then write to the profs?

I need help...

Thanks.

[surefire]

(To Admins: If something similar has already been posted please let me know and/or delete this thread)

I am about to apply to grad schools in Canada, but not sure how to begin. I initially started two weeks ago by writing to profs directly (the ones that matched my research interests) but most of them said "no" due to shortage of funds/space.

One of the profs (Guelph) I wrote to, forwarded my email to the grad school administrator, and replied that I apply online soon. What does this mean?

Am I supposed to apply to programs first, then write to the profs?

I need help...

Thanks.

Okay, there is a lot of info on the forums to address some of the concerns you bring up here, but you need to articulate a few missing pieces first (narrow your search to specific topics based on your answers to the following):

1. When you say that you are "about to apply", does this mean that you're looking to gain entrance for Fall 2013? The Fall 2012 application session is largely concluded (and undetermined/in flux program slots, from here on, will mostly go to those on waitlists). However, rolling admissions are not unheard of. Programs with this admissions process may still be willing to consider apps for Fall 2012 (it is possible that Guelph is one of these and that's what the reply meant). But, yeah, when did you hope to start? If it's Fall 2013, applications for Canadian schools will largely be due in December 2012 and January/February 2013, which means that you've got some time.

2. Are you looking for an MA or a PhD program? In Canada, you need the former before you can do the latter. Are you coming straight from a BA (or MA)? Or, were you off working for a bit? Where you're coming from will help to determine your next step. If feasible/appropriate, I would advise you to chat about your interests with professors whom are well-acqainted with you and are potential recommendation letter-writers. They will help you articulate your interests and can advise you on where you should apply to in order to cultivate these interests.

3. What's your field/discipline? What are your goals and where do you want to end up (do you want to work after an MA, go all the way through a PhD?) The answers to these should inform where you are looking to apply. You need to articulate this to yourself first, before you can expect profs that have never met you to entertain the notion of advising you.

I'm intrigued as to why you decided to start e-mailing potential profs as your "first step". And they said "no"? To what exactly? In my application seasons, I never had a prof JUST say "no", with no further advice on how to proceed. I had some say, "You should contact my colleague Professor so-and-so, she is more available/suited to your interests" or "let's meet in person/on the phone to chat more in-depth about this". You might want to re-assess how you are approaching these e-mails before sending another one (also, your timing; most profs are less accessible in the summer and, if you are in fact angling for Fall 2013 entrance, I have a hard time imagining that most profs know for sure whether or not they are available to supervise in a year and two months from now). This article has been cited on grad cafe many many times, but it might help to illuminate how you can proceed on the e-mailing front: http://science-profe...ting-to-me.html

As I've said though, I don't think that e-mailing profs should be your "first" step. I think that introspection (ascertaining answers to the above questions) should be your first step. Your next steps should involve a lot of focused research accordingly as well as contact with profs that are familiar with your work. This should consume a lot of your summer. As you are in the Canadian context: In October/November, SSHRC and OGS (Canadian National/Provincial Funding bodies) applications will be due, so you will need to have transcripts, a statement of interest, a CV and letters of recommendation for those. These apps are a good "dry run" for formal grad school applications (which, as I said, will be due in the following months).I would recommend that you proceed with these milestones in mind. Grad Cafe is a good resource, and you will get the most out of it with informed questions, a capacity to articulate your goals and a specific focus.

Good luck!

Edited June 19, 2012 by surefire

[abdefghijkl]

antanon82: In my department we always like students to approach prospective faculty advisors BEFORE applying to make sure that there would be appropriate faculty interest and availability to successfully supervise a student and thus reduce the number of applications we get that we can't seriously look at because we can't help those students. On the other hands, I know that the culture in many other programs is the opposite, and I've heard from many of the students I've helped that they got crabby or indignant replies to initial contact emails stating that "no one will talk to you about anything until you are admitted to the program," and this kind of really arrogant stuff. Don't let that turn you off.

I think you are on the right track. True you should be trying to put together funding this summer, but you should also be trolling departmental websites (as it sounds like you have) to find potential advisors. When you try to contact them, you'll need a very direct and unembarrassed email containing: One sentence saying exactly what research you want to do. A line asking if that prof is currently taking grad students and would be interested in the research. And an offer to PHONE to talk about this (as these things can be easier to talk about by voice than by emailing). Do NOT end your email with some line about how you know the prof is busy, or that you understand if he doesn't have time, or any other thing that gives him/her permission to blow you off. You will be making a big personal investment in this grad program -- money, time, your mental energy, your reputation -- so you have a right to ask what you will get from the program. Any prof who doesn't get that will probably not serve you well as an advisor.

If that doesn't work, then visit, phone or email the faculty member in the department who is in charge of graduate admissions, and tell and ask all the same things to and of him/her -- they tend to be quite helpful and will have a broader view of the program than many of their colleagues in the department.

In the meantime, don't be deterred. Keep at it and feel free to send me an email if you need more help...

Edited June 19, 2012 by Prof. Susan

[antanon82]

surefire:

I'm looking to gain entrance for Fall 2013, which means I have time to gather my transcripts, etc. and then start applying.

I already have a Masters degree in Biotechnology, but I'm interested to apply for M.Sc. in anything related to biological sciences, so that after a year I hope to start PhD. At the moment I'm working in a microbiology lab and have two publications.

The reason why I started off emailing to profs was because I was advised by someone that applying to a program is "of no use" unless I have a prof/supervisor with space and funding (some online applications will ask me to indicate the name of the prof I contacted earlier). I received 4 replies and they were mostly about "no space to accomodate", and "no funding".

Prof. Susan: I think I might have to "polish" my approach towards prospective supervisors before I email them and talk about my interests, or be clear about how I'm interested to work with their current project...

Thanks for the replies. I need time to browse forums and see if I can gain more info...