Canadian Applicant Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members don't see this ad.
I'm not sure whether anyone here applied to the Counseling program at McGill. Apparently, the decisions have not been made. They say that students can expect to hear back from them around the end of March.
 
I got an acceptance from Acadia today!!...only concern is that is is a M.A. clinical program with no guarantee into a Ph.D. program.
 
I was accepted at Concordia today! Lots of big decisions to make...and no idea how to make them!!!!!
 
congrats Psychedtobegrad! it's good to have choices! good luck with the decision. I'd consult with as many people (profs, gradstudents, etc) as you can.

In these past weeks I've been getting in touch with all of the people that I've made contacts with over my undergrad to help sort of these questions.
 
Has anyone heard from Ottawa's Clinical Psych program yet? Also, does anyone know how many applicants are accepted into this program?
 
I'm having the toughest time deciding between my offers. One of my schools is pressuring me to decide by the beginning of this coming week too.....ahhhhh!!!! Each program has pros and cons and I'm just not sure which factors are more important in the end.....
 
Isn't it a general rule that students are given till april 15th to make decisions?🙂 What are some of the things you're considering, if u don't mind me asking?

psychgirl77 said:
I'm having the toughest time deciding between my offers. One of my schools is pressuring me to decide by the beginning of this coming week too.....ahhhhh!!!! Each program has pros and cons and I'm just not sure which factors are more important in the end.....
Click to expand...
 
psychick said:
Isn't it a general rule that students are given till april 15th to make decisions?🙂 What are some of the things you're considering, if u don't mind me asking?
Click to expand...

We do have until April 15th, but it's generally considered 'good form' to make decisions as quickly as possible once you have all the details about two offers. That said, the school shouldn't be pressuring you!

I'm fairly lucky; all but one of my schools have been really good about giving me time to interview other places and consider my options (except for one, where my POI was pressuring me... but I turned them down!).

I'm really torn between two fantastic schools, too. Luckily I have a little more time to decide, since I still haven't gotten the official paperwork (with funding details, etc.) from the Graduate Office at one of the schools.
 
I've also felt the pressure to decide from my one school that I have an official offer from but I have resisted and reiterated that I will tell them as soon as I possibly can. They are my 2nd choice so my acceptance is reasonably likely except that I have reason to believe that my first choice is going to send me a letter too. :xf::xf::xf::scared:

However I do agree that once I have any two official letters in hand I can, realistically within 24 hours, select the the lesser enticing of the two to decline officially and email the POI that day as well. I imagine in some cases there might be an outstanding question or two I may have to ask one of the schools before making that decision but that would be a pretty quick process too.

I was lucky (as per my moniker, I am often lucky and very grateful for it! :luck:), but I know I could easily have turned out to be the one waiting on the shortlist with baited breath and I'm very empathetic to that situation so I certainly won't be hoarding offers - at the same time, I refused to be pressured to accept an offer before I know everything that I truly need to to accept it, even though this meant letting my POI know that the school is obviously not my very first choice, something I would have ideally preferred not to convey, especially as they are a close #2.

Anyway, I would suggest the same strategy to others too and I'm confident that this meets the spirit behind the APA guidelines.
 
Hi guys! So I'm making some ridiculously tough decisions very soon (i.e., as soon as letters arrive), and I need some outside opinions. How would people rate the general reputations of the clinical programs at York University, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Waterloo? Which would you consider the best?

I have a vague idea, but I think I might be biased. I have done my research, don't worry; I do know the nuances of the programs-- I know that York is particularly strong in EFT training, for example, and all about the different research programs and such. I just want some outside opinions on general program quality. Please private message me with your responses.

Thanks!
 
For those of you choosing between schools that are so good that you can't tell the difference:
Why not try a different perspective than looking for subtle signs that one is better than the other? For example, when someone suggested to me that the two options that I was trying to weigh were both great opportunities, my perspective changed. I'd been looking at it as if one choice might be really bad. But that wasn't the case. They were both great. From there, you can afford to look at different things: location (eg, living in BC, or close to home, might be great), great facilities (eg you own office, great gym), vibe with the supervisor, proximity to beaches/camping/surfing/skiiing/whatever-you're-into, etc.

It's just that I've found that it's really easy to get completely wrapped in trying to figure out which has the best rep. But if there's little discernable difference, then maybe there are other things to be considering, that might be more important in order to be happy and flourish.

On another note: In Ontario, undergrads can get OSAP: Ontario student assistance program, ie interest free gov't loans. Does anyone know if there are such loans, aside from OGS/SSHRC/NSERC/etc, that one can get so that one can live more comfortably? This is assuming that one is getting a stipend/TAship/RAship. If there is such available, do you know the amount of stipend/TAship/RAship beyond which one is no eligible for additional loans?

I'd rather rack up more debt for the next 6 years, and live comfortably, than have to scrape by.
 
On a semi-related note....has anyone heard from NSERC yet? I think they said they will release results by end of March but I also heard from other sources that they pushed back the results this year. :xf: for everyone who applied =)
 
I'm wondering the same about SSHRC...
 
NSERC results should arrive by mail within the next few days-- I have a friend in Ottawa who got hers today. They're sent from Ottawa, so just add postage time. (Toronto people, likely tomorrow!) 😀 Good luck all!
 
I'm still waiting to hear from the Clinical program at the University of Ottawa. According to my correspondence with them, applicants were to be contacted by the end of March, which has now passed. Has anyone heard a yes or no from them?
 
sasksaffron said:
I'm still waiting to hear from the Clinical program at the University of Ottawa. According to my correspondence with them, applicants were to be contacted by the end of March, which has now passed. Has anyone heard a yes or no from them?
Click to expand...

Hey Saskaffron,

I received their rejection letter via email already. So, i'm hoping no news = good news for you =)
 
To anyone who hears from SSHRC either way, can you post on the thread to give us a heads up?
 
to those that applied to OGS/NSERC... how good do your marks have to be?
 
Nwlc said:
Hey Saskaffron,

I received their rejection letter via email already. So, i'm hoping no news = good news for you =)
Click to expand...

Their rejection email sucked... it was a 2 line email and the title said NOT ADMITTED... how considerate.
 
deadmau5 said:
to those that applied to OGS/NSERC... how good do your marks have to be?
Click to expand...

At my uni (I don't konw if this is a policy of my school, or OGS or SSHRC), but you had to be over 80%.


Re: "Their rejection email sucked... it was a 2 line email and the title said NOT ADMITTED... how considerate."

That's really rude. At least they should send you a form email giving the usual song and dance about how all applicants are so great, and so much of it depends on supervisor availability...
 
Has any one made any decisions yet? Where?

I have said no to UBC, Western, and Acadia. I am just deciding between York and Concordia...I think I am leaning towards York.

Apparently, SSHRC awards have been decided but we have to wait for the decisions in the mail!! No phone calls or e-mails!
 
psychedtobegrad, do you happen to know when we'll get these SSHRC notices? I think we find out aboug OGS next Tuesday April 14.
Just wondering how you think the programs at York and Concordia compare?

I'm off to Ryerson for Clnical Psych for the fall 2009.
 
psychgrad said:
psychedtobegrad, do you happen to know when we'll get these SSHRC notices?
Click to expand...

I am not sure when they mail them out/if they already have mailed-All I know is they have been decided and we have to wait for the mail

psychgrad said:
Just wondering how you think the programs at York and Concordia compare?
Click to expand...

I am not really sure how the programs compare. I am trying to figure that out. I really need to make a decision soon! I have asked some professors and grad students, most say the programs are both pretty good and it really comes down to how much you can publish while you are there.
If you have any idea how they compare I would love to hear it!
 
Has anyone received rejections from UVIC or U of Calgary? I've already accepted an offer elsewhere, but still think it's weird I haven't received rejections from those 2 schools. You would think spending about $100 on an application would guarantee a timely letter.
 
m
 
Last edited:
psychedtobegrad said:
I am not really sure how the programs compare. I am trying to figure that out. I really need to make a decision soon! I have asked some professors and grad students, most say the programs are both pretty good and it really comes down to how much you can publish while you are there.
If you have any idea how they compare I would love to hear it!
Click to expand...


In terms of research, a top-producing professor/researcher in Toronto told me that York isn't known for training researchers unless you study with "her student" who is now a prof at York. York is traditionally known as a liberal-arts school. This was her opinion when I ask her if I should apply to York for graduate school. I applied anyway 🙄

However, with the strike this year at York, I was worried about potential future strikes prolonging time to completion of the PhD. They striked in 1997, 2001 and 2008. Their contracts are due in a few years and this might be a factor in your decision.
 
Last edited:
psychgirl77 said:
Has anyone received rejections from UVIC or U of Calgary? I've already accepted an offer elsewhere, but still think it's weird I haven't received rejections from those 2 schools. You would think spending about $100 on an application would guarantee a timely letter.
Click to expand...

Psychgirl77, From my expereince when I applied to programs last year UVic and Calgary were the last schools I heard from... I think I ended up calling Calgary in April (and received a formal letter shortly thereafter) and UVic I received a "sorry we don't have anyone to supervise you" letter late-May or June, no word before that.
 
psychgrad said:
In terms of research, a top-producing professor/researcher in Toronto told me that York isn't known for training researchers unless you study with "her student" who is now a prof at York. York is traditionally known as a liberal-arts school. This was her opinion when I ask her if I should apply to York for graduate school. I applied anyway 🙄

However, with the strike this year at York, I was worried about potential future strikes prolonging time to completion of the PhD. They striked in 1997, 2001 and 2008. Their contracts are due in a few years and this might be a factor in your decision.
Click to expand...

I had the same concern about the program in terms of research, but the prof I would be working with provides lots of opportunities for publishing.
As far as I was told, the strikes do not prolong how long it takes to complete degrees for the grad students, just the undergrads. While the strike is going on the grad students just work on their research...have you heard otherwise? If so I will need to take that into consideration.
Thanks for the info!
 
psychedtobegrad said:
I had the same concern about the program in terms of research, but the prof I would be working with provides lots of opportunities for publishing.
As far as I was told, the strikes do not prolong how long it takes to complete degrees for the grad students, just the undergrads. While the strike is going on the grad students just work on their research...have you heard otherwise? If so I will need to take that into consideration.
Thanks for the info!
Click to expand...

The student I talked to said if you are a TA you don't get your regular pay during the strike, you just get strike pay which is considerably less.
 
notherngirl said:
Psychgirl77, From my expereince when I applied to programs last year UVic and Calgary were the last schools I heard from... I think I ended up calling Calgary in April (and received a formal letter shortly thereafter) and UVic I received a "sorry we don't have anyone to supervise you" letter late-May or June, no word before that.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, northerngirl. 🙂
 
As far as I was told, the strikes do not prolong how long it takes to complete degrees for the grad students, just the undergrads. While the strike is going on the grad students just work on their research...have you heard otherwise? If so I will need to take that into consideration.
Thanks for the info!
Click to expand...

I'm just being devil's advocate, throwing stuff out for you to think about--I doubt these will be real issues for you.

If York strikes in 3 years, it won't likely affect you but if they strike 3 years after, when you are finishing your PhD and your defense may be held up for a few weeks because committee members cannot convene. The timing of the strike could also interfere with the start of internship.

But what's a few weeks delay after having completed 6 years? Yikes...6 years...😱. Is everyone ready for this?

What are your plans for the summer before starting grad school?
 
Thanks for all of the advice about York everyone, definitely some things to consider...does anyone have any info on Concorida?
 
I go to UToronto. York is not so hot for research... unless cognitive or social related. I haven't seen much else there. Apparently the clinical program is okay... but I honestly haven't met a clinical psychologist in Toronto from York.

The strike at York was bad... they're in school until June.
 
Last edited:
Just in case anyone else is wondering, SSHRC administration said that The results are late this year. Tthey should be mailed out at the beginning of next week.
 
psychgrad said:
Just in case anyone else is wondering, SSHRC administration said that The results are late this year. Tthey should be mailed out at the beginning of next week.
Click to expand...

SSHRC results are out. Your graduate department should know the results. SSHRC are mailing out results tomorrow.
 
I have a money question for the other Canadians.

Let's say you're about to start grad school, and you have funding for most of your expenses and tuition, but you want more $. Can you apply to regular OSAP like you did in undergrad, in hopes of getting a few grand to smooth the way in grad school?

I'm going to a school in the USA, will/can not be holding OGS or SSHRC, but I'll have funding for most of my expenses. I just want to be comfortable, even if it means going further into debt. Thoughts?
 
If you have assets, you can get a line of credit--it's so cheap now. Interest is hovering around 2.25% from Firstline. You only have to pay off the interest portion each month. Scotia, also specializes in student loans.

Usually your school has a preferred institution that offer financial products-call your alumni office or get a copy of their alumni magazine and see what company is advertising.

If you don't need a lot of money, consider working part-time to have extra "splurge" money and avoid going into debt...

I have Chris Johnson's Free Money University--it's a guide for getting free money from the Canadian government for different things ranging from student grants to business grants (http://www.freemoneyuniversity.com/). I think he has some U.S. resources--if not you can call his office to find out. Last year, I was able to get money from one of the business programs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ThatPsyGuy
General Rant Thread? General Rant Thread.
2 3
Replies
147
Views
9K
statsprof
statsprof
N
Postdoc Interview Invitation Thread 2025-2026/2027
Replies
8
Views
5K
BendDontBreak
B
A
APPIC 2025-2026 Interview Thread and Sheet
Replies
25
Views
14K
PsychPsychBaby
PsychPsychBaby
borne_before
Wednesday Thread
Replies
1
Views
532
borne_before
borne_before
N
  • Poll Poll
Health Psychology: support and vent thread
Replies
39
Views
4K
oliversacks4thewin
oliversacks4thewin
Top