mimiuchi

i've accepted an offer in the US not Canada. SSHRC got back to me; they said it's no problem to switch to cat B. i guess they're happy to save the extra money.

Hello, So i was fortunate enough to be awarded a Category A CGS (35k/3 years). I had assumed i could switch to Cat B Fellowship (20k/4 years) without incident... until i read the award holder's guide. They were really emphatic about the different categories, and i also noticed Category C is where I wish i had landed where I have the choice between A and B. Anyone have any insights about whether it will be a problem to switch from A to B?? It's too late for me since i already accepted an offer in the US and turned down my Canadian offer... thanks mariam

i see people are gathering stats. I'm going into NELC, Islamic thought. Publications in progress, some presentations. Applied via uni. Received MA SSHRC

Just received my letter today - in Ottawa so that helps. Very fortunate to have received a doctoral SSHRC, with the option of Class A or B. I've already accepted an offer in the US so that would be a class B, and my uni will let me keep a few extra grand a year :-) YAY. I found the ranking to be interesting, something new (20.1/30).

Dear Salik and Samarkand, Thank you both very much for the info, it was very useful. Between the info you provided and my other consultations with current students and alumni and all three schools, I am strongly leaning towards Harvard. However I still have a few questions - @Samarkand: are you currently at Harvard? what department/program? @Salik: I just inboxed you my answers to your questions about my background. And if i could trouble further, I also inboxed you some foliow-up questions along with my email address since it may be more appropriate to move this discussion offline given that it involves discussion of certain professors etc. I did want to mention that Cook and Modaressi are still at Princeton (they are alternating for sabbaticals over the next two years) and retirement is somewhere on the horizon, but nothing official yet. I've been told by current students though that Cook tends to defer to Modaressi and/or Zaman when it comes to law. from my research and consultations, i do feel that Princeton's program is a little 'lightweight' compared to the other two. The course work is only 2 years and 3 courses/semester (compare to 3 years at Chicago where they have 3 quarters, 3 courses/quarter or Harvard, 2 semesters and 4 courses/semester). Plus no teaching obligations at Princeton and the exams are also said to be fewer and less intense. So i don't know what the hype around Princeton is about, maybe just elitism as you mentioned? As for Chicago, yes, El Shamsy and Donner are the main Islamic thought people there, but Frank LEwis and Qutbuddin seem to dabble in history and thought as well. But i don't know that i would say that the program was legendary and is no longer so... i mean back in the day, they only had Wadad Kadi instead of El Shamsy, so i don't think the department/faculty changed a whole lot, did it? Lastly - apparently Aron Zysow is actually at Harvard currently. From what i've been able to gather, he's been a visiting fellow with the legal studies program for the past few years. he was teaching also a few years back, but doesn't appear to be anymore. I need to find out more about whether he is accessible as a resource at Harvard or not. That would be the cherry on top much obliged, mimiuchi.

Dear Salik, I'm interested in Islamic thought, specifically the premodern legal tradition. Sure i don't mind sharing, but what do you mean by profile/stats? mimuchi

Thanks Lewin. Point #3 is really helpful - i didn't think of TA work being an issue and this is built into my PhD funding package. I guess i have to wait to see if i get it and then i'll double check all this stuff. I'm hoping #1 isn't an issue - i indicated i would be going to U of T but now i'm headed to the US. I would get less funding anyways (20k not 35k) so i hope it won't be an issue!

Hello, I'm driving myself crazy trying to decide between NELC PhD offers from Chicago, Princeton and Harvard. I think i have the inside scoop on Chicago and Princeton, but Harvard is a big question mark. I am getting the feeling that Harvard NELC doesn't have the best reputation. Can anyone shed some light on why this might be? regards, mimiuchi

Hello, I've applied to the SSHRC Doctoral scholarship and my application has proceeded to 'round 2'. In my application I suggested I would be attending a Canadian university. However, I've actually accepted an offer to a US University. I also received full funding for 5 years - 22k/year. Now i'm wondering if I am also awarded SSHRC, how much of the 20k would I be allowed to keep? Does anyone doing their PhD in the US have experience with this? thanks!

has anyone heard from Harvard [PhD NELC that is]? I don't understand how they have the earliest application deadline but inform last... what the?

I just called SSHRC and they said that no decisions are given until April, and these are sent by mail. This is for applicants through the uni.

spoke too soon... i just received an email from the Princeton chair of NES inviting me to the weekend visit. Anyone else get an email? Not sure if it's worth traveling back to the US if i think Chicago is a better fit... especially since i just arrived in the Middle East a week ago and have been between two countries already :S But i hear Princeton provides the best funding among all NES programs... so if Chicago's funding is a little weak, Princeton might be a better option? Any thoughts?

Hey everyone, Just wondering if anyone knows where I can find the inside scoop on relative rankings of top Near East/Islamic Studies programs? I know there is no way to definitively rank programs, but what have people read/heard/general thoughts on this issue? More specifically, i've been accepted to uChicago's NELC, and i've been told by one or two people that it is considered the most prestigious Islamic studies program in North America, with Harvard as a second runner. Can anyone confirm or challenge this statement? mimiuchi PS - i know that for PhD programs you should go where you find the most suitable supervisor. I'm just wondering about prestige/rank/reputation overall?

Hey everyone, New to the forums, my first post, though i've been lurking for awhile. My 0.02$ - > I got an informal email from the prof i want to work with @ Chicago NELC saying I was accepted for the PhD program with full funding. He said there would follow an invitation for a one-day visit with accepted applicants Feb 27th. If they don't send rejections concurrently it must mean that they have short-listed applicants, right? > Princeton - i spoke to an admin a few weeks back and he said short-listed applicants receive invites Feb 7th (today ) I also received an email from this same admin with the chair CCed asking me if i were to be invited, what country I would be coming from... this is probably because I listed two countries in my application - Canada and a country in the Middle East. I am currently in the Middle East, and had to tell them that obviously. I hope that doesn't decrease my chances for being invited since Princeton apparently covers most of the expenses for the two day visit (this year Fri/Sat 24/25 of February). Anyways, I think i'm set on Chicago [unless Harvard makes an offer] so not sure i'll make the trip all the way to New Jersey if i'm invited... not sure... still waiting for the details on funding etc. from Chicago before applying. Okay all the best to everyone and looking forward to seeing this thread fill up mimiuchi