Going/Applying to Canadian Grad Schools

[WaitingKills]

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I figured that there are a lot of people out there who are applying to American schools, so there's got to be a few of us Canadian's out there.

Sooo, here is a thread for us 😀

Are you currently in a Canadian grad school willing to give advice to us people who are going through this grooling process? Are you applying and have questions specific to Canadian schools and profs? And I guess we can also do the typical 'where are you applying this year' topic as well.



So I'll go first... I'm Canadian and applying pretty much everywhere this year except for a few schools where I don't think I have a good shot at all to get into (eg. Waterloo/McGill).

 

[scienceisbeauty]

Hi WaitingKills

aight, so I'm Canadian and proud of it. In any case, when you say you're applying everywhere, are you applying to Research focused schools as well as Clincal focused schools?

 

[JockNerd]

I'd ask where they see the CPA/APA accreditation issues going.

I hope you guys are looking at US schools too! I'm Canadian and am quite happy in the US. 🙂

 

[scienceisbeauty]

I am applying everywhere : States and Canada - I'll be applying mainly to equal emphasis schools as I have experience and am interested in both domains.

I'd be happy to be anywhere where there is a good prgm.

 

[WaitingKills]

Hey 🙂

Scienceisbeauty - I'm applying to clinical programs in Canada. I'm not too fussed as to their emphasis, but would prefer it to be more clinical than research.

Jocknerd - I'm only applying to Canadian programs this year. I applied to American one's as well last year, and found it to be a real hassle. I probably should apply to both, but really want to stay in Canada.

Anyway, hi guys. Hopefully we can keep this thread alive through the application process.

😀

 

[JockNerd]

Jocknerd - I'm only applying to Canadian programs this year. I applied to American one's as well last year, and found it to be a real hassle. I probably should apply to both, but really want to stay in Canada.

In what way(s) did you find it to be a hassle? Sharing the impediments you encountered can be immensely helpful to anyone applying this year.

 

[WaitingKills]

In what way(s) did you find it to be a hassle? Sharing the impediments you encountered can be immensely helpful to anyone applying this year.

I found the whole 'international' thing to be an issue. I had problems with the schools wanting more information about my financial status (as well as my parents) than I was comfortable providing to be very problematic. I had a bank manager at the bank where I have money write a letter certifying that I have enough for my studies (I think one year guarentee is required) but they wanted actual statement from my parents and I. Being that the schools I applied to guaranteed full funding and a tuition waiver, I don't believe that they needed to know how rich/poor my parents and I are (ps. I'm 28, what do my parents have to do with anything?), especially with a letter of certainty from the bank.

I also had a couple of professors/grad secretaries/program directors tell me straight out that they prefer to accept American students into their program over Canadians.

I'm sure it could have all been worked around, but I honestly don't have the time or patience this time around to do it. Beyond that, I'd really like to stick near my family and be in Canada for a while (just moved back after being out of the country for 2 years).

 

[JockNerd]

I found the whole 'international' thing to be an issue. I had problems with the schools wanting more information about my financial status (as well as my parents) than I was comfortable providing to be very problematic. I had a bank manager at the bank where I have money write a letter certifying that I have enough for my studies (I think one year guarentee is required) but they wanted actual statement from my parents and I. Being that the schools I applied to guaranteed full funding and a tuition waiver, I don't believe that they needed to know how rich/poor my parents and I are (ps. I'm 28, what do my parents have to do with anything?), especially with a letter of certainty from the bank.

The financial statement is a requirement of the government, not the schools. You couldn't become a nonresident alien without providing that documentation.

Although, I am aware that a friend of mine who was applying to grad schools and who did not have the required funds had the financial letter waived at two schools in the US, due to his being Canadian and the schools' being fully-funded.

It's interesting to me that you felt some abrasiveness. The reactions I got were more like "ooo, neat."

 

[Duckygirl]

Yes, yes, let's do talk about CPA and APA accreditation changes. I remember reading last spring that the CPA and APA were parting ways; Canada is the only country in the world that was allowing another country's accreditation system dictate their programs, blah blah blah...But I still want to go to Canada!

Does anyone out there know more authoritatively what the status is with American students going to Canada and vice versa? If I go to Canada, will I be able to change over my accreditation to the US when I'm done? What will it take? Would it be worth it?

I haven't poked around on the APA website about it recently, so I'm just wondering if anyone has a better idea about what's been decided. As far as I know, most, if not all Canadian schools were going to phase out their APA accreditation. Where does that leave us?

 

[JockNerd]

The standard reply is that CPA and APA accreditation will mean basically the same thing, and that professionals from a program accredited in one will be able to move seamlessly into programs accredited by the other. In order to facilitate this, CPA requirements go significantly beyond APA requirements.

Whether or not this will actually happen is something else entirely. Enough special arrangements exist between our two countries and enough people have already done cross-border stuff that I personally suspect this will end up being the case. But, I don't know for sure and I suspect we won't know until APA accreditations in Canada start to expire.

 

[RayneeDeigh]

I frequently update myself on license mobility developments 'cause it's of concern to me. As far as I know, mobility activist groups are doing a great job and the loss of APA accreditation shouldn't be an issue at all. The way I understand it, CPA and APA will be working side-by-side. For instance, the APA conference is in Toronto in a few years.

I think it's mostly a decision to reduce paperwork. I'm sure the APA was having to do a lot of paperwork for Canadian schools, and I know Canadian schools were getting fed up with having to file two accreditation reports every year.

 

[Logic Prevails]

FYI: APA accreditation is supposed to be phased out of Canadian schools by 2014. I know of one person who did a CPA accredited degree and then wanted to work in the US - they went through a bunch of paperwork, then had to take an extra course (on 'culture/diversity') to satisfy the regulatory bodies.

 

[KillerDiller]

FYI: APA accreditation is supposed to be phased out of Canadian schools by 2014. I know of one person who did a CPA accredited degree and then wanted to work in the US - they went through a bunch of paperwork, then had to take an extra course (on 'culture/diversity') to satisfy the regulatory bodies.

Do you happen to know if that course was required by the APA or by the specific state for licensure? I go to school in Mass and know that clinicians from other states often take cultural and diversity classes at the schools here in order to obtain a license to practice.