What To Do When You Hear Back About Your Grad School Application

TalentEgg Incubator.  18 October 2010.

You applied to grad school.

You sussed out what programs you were interested in,you wrote a CV, you asked for reference letters, you ordered your transcripts, and you sent the whole package in the mail.

And you waited.

And waited.

And waited.

“Hopefully, you don’t have to deal with the rejection process, and you have an offer (or two) to access.”

And then…you get the results of your application(s).  It could be delivered via email, or through the mail.

Rejection

Sometimes, the results aren’t what you hoped for: you get a big, fat, NO.

Or, in more words:  “This year we received a large number of high calibre applicants.  Unfortunately, your application was not deemed acceptable.  Best of luck with your future endeavours.”

If you are lucky, you may be wait-listed to a program.  However, because the applications for grad school are so competitive, many schools do not have a wait-list.

You now have a couple of options.

The first is to wallow in your own crapulence.  Of course, being rejected and upset is normal, and even okay.  But you can’t dwell on these feelings, because it will not help you in the end.  What you need to do is learn from your application, see your faults, and move on.

This doesn’t mean graduate school is closed off to you forever.  Instead you should think long and hard about things, and re-evaluate should you decide to apply again the following year.

You should most definitely contact the graduate director and ask what the shortcomings of your application were, and how you could improve.   This feedback can be instrumental in helping subsequent applications.

Or, you could reject the rejection letter, but you can’t be certain that option will get you the results you want.

Acceptance

Hopefully, you don’t have to deal with the rejection process, and you have an offer (or two) to access.  If that’s the case, you want to find out how much information the program is willing to give to you.

Do they provide or offer you the contact information of current or recently-graduated students in your program that you can contact with questions?

How much will your tuition and student fees run you for the length of your program (be it 12, 18, or 24 months)?  What kind of financial assistance is offered to you  (are you offered a TA or RA position, or must you finance your schooling on your own)?

What are the costs of housing and living in the area, and how easy will it be for you to find a place?  Is there residence available on-campus for graduate students?

If you need to relocate to a new city, how much will that cost you?

Perhaps most importantly is what can this degree program give you?  Will you have access to a better job, or does it provide you more training to help you get a better job?  Are there co-op or internship components to your program?

If you have been accepted in a program, they (and this means anyone and everyone associated with the department) should be doing everything in their power to help answer your questions.   If they aren’t, it likely means that they won’t offer you the level of support you will need when you are in that program.

This decision isn’t an easy one to make, so take the time to assess all the possibilities that have been laid out for you.

When It Comes To Grad School, What’s The Difference Between A Resume And A CV?

TalentEgg Incubator.  14 October 2010.

A curriculum vitae (predominantly called a CV, although sometimes a vita) is a biographical account that outlines ones career and job training.

This obviously bears a striking resemblance to aresumé, which we use when applying for jobs.

But if the two seem to be similar, why do you need a CV for your graduate school applications rather than a regular resumé?

Although the two often overlap in a few ways, they are primarily dissimilar documents.

“Since graduate school is focused on research and presenting research, you want to highlight experiences in your undergraduate career that correlate with your ability to research, write, and present.”

What is a resumé?

A resume is a one or two page document that outlines your work and volunteer experience as related to a specific position you are applying to.  If you do not have a lot of work or volunteer experience, your resumé may be fairly general in nature.

A master resumé on the other hand is a much longer copy of your resumé that outlines all of your work and volunteer experience.   A master resumé is particularly useful document for students to maintain, and something that all students and new grads should have.

The reason:  when it comes time to write a new resumé for a job application, master copy will make it easy to cut and paste the most relevant experiences into your new resumé.

What is a CV?

A CV is very much like a master resumé because it outlines everything you’ve ever done. However, a CV includes much more than just the volunteer and work experience you’ve had in university.

So, what do you include in a CV? Since graduate school is focused on research and presenting research, you want to highlight experiences in your undergraduate career that correlate with your ability to research, write, and present.

This may include:

• Major presentations you’ve given, particularly those outside of the classroom
• Major research papers or thesis work
• Working as an undergraduate teaching assistant
• Any work you have had published; preferably in academic journals, but non-academic sources can also be useful
• Tutoring or being a peer mentor for younger students in your program
• Any scholarships or awards you have been granted
• Particularly for science and engineering students: any important laboratory findings or work you have completed

When writing your CV it is pivotal that you go through multiple edits and have more than one other person read it over to ensure you haven’t missed anything.   Submitting a CV with errors is a quick way to ruin your credibility with the committee who overlooks your application.

Where do I find a sample of a CV?

If you search CV or curriculum vitae on the Internet, you can get a bunch of examples from different websites. However, since CVs are sometimes considered the norm for job applications outside of Canada, you may not find a very good example.

To start, there are two places that you should check out related to your current program.  First, check out your campus career centre.  Oftentimes they have handouts or resources you can use to help you draft up a CV.

For me, the best example was speaking with faculty members of my department, and modelling my CV after theirs.  Although professional CVs will be longer than those of an undergrad, they are one of the best resources you can find!

But whatever you do, don’t make your CV look like this one! (Hot damn!  I wish I could win the “Puletsur Prize” and donate the winnings to charity too!)

Danielle’s Midterm Grad School Update

TalentEgg Incubator.  14 October 2010.

The weeks and days leading up to my move to Ottawa to start my program at Carleton I was really nervous.

Would I get along with my roommate?  Are there extra-curricular activities for me to get involved in?  Who were the people in my program?  What would the differences be between graduate school and an undergrad?   How difficult is it being a teaching assistant (TA)?

There were so many unknowns.

I am happy to report that so far everything is going well, aside from a couple of things.  I had a little bit of trouble finding my way around campus the first couple weeks, and I still haven’t figured out Carleton’s tunnel system.

“So far the most challenging thing about graduate school is being a TA.  There is nothing like having 30 students staring at you while you are try to facilitate a discussion that they’re not really interested in participating in.”

This fall has apparently been a very rainy one for Ottawa, so the sky has been primarily overcast or raining since I arrived.  Lastly, I still have not convinced one of the groundhogs close to my buildings to let me adopt it, but I’m working on it.

My roommate and I frequently have late night dance parties in our apartment, and get up to all sorts of other shenanigans.   I’ve also made some other friends in res I can procrastinate with/watch TV with/make large Sunday dinners with, which is great.

I have found some extra-curricular activities to keep me occupied on campus.  If I didn’t have these and I’d go a little nutty.

I am one of the Canadian Studies department representatives for the Graduate Students Association Council as well as the Political Action Committee associated with the GSA Council.  I am also the Treasurer for the Graduate Residence Caucus, so I’m responsible for operating a budget for our events and that sort of thing ( it’s accountancy that makes the world go round).

And of course, I’m still writing for TalentEgg.

A grumpy groundhog

The other 19 people in my cohort are pretty awesome.  All of us come from different academic backgrounds in the arts (English, International Relations, Women’s Studies, Law and yes, even Canadian Studies).   This makes the discussions we have in the core MA class really interesting.

In addition to those in my cohort, the second year MA students as well as the PhD students I have in my other class have been great people to learn from in addition to discuss issues and concepts with.

It seems that everything I’ve heard from people about graduate school sucking out your soul and making you cry is relatively untrue.

I think a lot of that has to do with being an undergrad English student: we were expected to read up to 300 pages a week per class.   If I was taking two English classes in a term and if you’d factor in the 50 pages I’d read on average for other classes, I would be reading close to 500 pages a week sometimes.

As a graduate student I’m reading between 100 and 150 pages a week per class, which works out to be around 300 pages total for a reading-intensive week.  Even when I factor in the undergraduate French class I’m taking, it seems like I’ve actually got less homework now than I did back then.   But I’m not complaining…

So far the most challenging thing about graduate school is being a TA.  There is nothing like having 30 students staring at you while you are try to facilitate a discussion that they’re not really interested in participating in.   It’s getting easier, but I still have a lot to learn and improve on.

Maybe all of this will change once my work load starts to pick up, and I have papers to mark.  But so far, so good!

Make The World A Better Place From Within The Mining Industry Through Corporate Social Responsibility

TalentEgg Incubator.  6 October 2010.

Historically, the global mining industry has had a bad reputation when it comes to corporate social responsibility—as in, keeping companies accountable to the local communities and the environment in which they mine.

However, helping other people and protecting the environment are very important to young Canadians, and we flock to meaningful jobs that provide opportunities to do both.

In recent years, Canadian mining corporations have developed and participated in numerous corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects.

“Work within the industry rather than work against it . . . This is the best and most effective path for influencing the potential and direct impacts of mining on the environment and local communities.” —Guy Gilron, Director of Environmental Science, Teck Resources

These initiatives help to ensure they keep local residents’ best interests at heart and protect the environment at the same time.

CSR projects are activities completed voluntarily by companies to ensure they work in a socially, economically and/or environmentally appropriate manner.

Guy Gilron, Director of Environmental Science at Teck Resources, a large Canadian mining company, says, “There has been a significant improvement in the implementation of a wide range of mining practices to support environmental protection, community engagement, and social responsibility. Interestingly, this has not only come from increasing and evolving government regulations, but also from the establishment of international best practice standards . . . and industry associations.”

In the mining industry, everything from exploration to extraction will affect the local community.  The relationship between the community and the company has the potential to create conflicts, and as a result CSR professionals try to create a harmonious relationship between the community and the mining company.

“Some of the most important CSR practices being employed by the industry include: proper closure planning, inclusion of community engagement and human rights in all aspects of mining operations, and protection of endangered species and ecological receptors and their habitats,” says Gilron.

Over the last 25 years, the involvement of CSR in the Canadian mining industry has increased significantly.

In 2005, the Mining Association of Canada was recognized with the Globe Foundation’s “Industry Association Award for Environmental Performance.” This award recognizes associations whose industry improves environmental performance through research, development, and education, beyond regulatory compliance.

Also, in 2009 Environment Canada published an Environmental Code of Practice for Metal Mines, which outlines the environmental concerns related to mining.

The document covers the life cycle of mining, and recommends environmental management practices.  Examples include management of wastewater, and the prevention as well as the monitoring of wastes into the air, land and water.

If you’re still skeptical about the effectiveness of the Canadian mining industry’s CSR activities, Gilron says you should get your hands dirty.

“My advice would be to work within the industry rather than work against it, and strive to incorporate your personal and professional passions for CSR into the way you conduct your work. This is the best and most effective path for influencing the potential and direct impacts of mining on the environment and local communities.”

Mining Is One Of The Most Technologically Advanced Industries In Canada

TalentEgg Incubator.  6 October 2010.

Since the first coal mine opened on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island some 350 years ago, the mining industry in Canada has changed considerably.

Presently, Canada has more than 800 mines. The industry employs at least 363,000 people and is one of the most technologically advanced sectors in Canada.

But when young Canadians think of mining, the image of a man covered in dirt hitting a cave wall with a pick-axe tends to come to mind.

That image couldn’t be further from the reality of Canada’s mining industry today.

Check out these commonly held myths and the truth we dug up about each of them with the help of the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR).

Myth: All mining jobs take place in dark, dank, underground spaces.

Truth: The mining industry includes exploration, development, operations, processing as well as mine closures and land reclamation.  Since most of these parts of the mining cycle occur aboveground, most workers in the mining industry do not work underground.

University of British Columbia Mining Engineering student Elizabeth Hughes, who is currently completing an eight-month co-op term with Goldcorp in Vancouver, says although she sometimes does ventilation surveying underground, she typically spends her days “doing either drill and blast designs and letters, stope valuations, [or] development designs.”

Also, don’t forget that many careers in mining have nothing to do with physically extracting resources from the earth. People who work in mining can be found in high-rise office buildings in large cities, in labs, and out in communities collaborating with local citizens.

Myth: Mining uses archaic tools and brute force.

Truth: Thanks to rapid technological advances in the mining industry, it is rare today that miners use their own physical strength to extract resources.

The integration of technology in Canada’s mining industry has allowed for the use of robotics, computers and other state-of-the-art equipment to become commonplace.

In fact, miners can dig through 2400 feet through rock in order to reach minerals located deep underground while operating equipment from a completely different city than where the mine is located.

Mark Ashcroft, a professional engineer who is President and CEO of Stonegate Agricom, a company focused on the development of phosphate deposits in the Americas, says, for example, “A young mechanical engineer could find himself in the pit or underground shop looking at maintenance issues on production vehicles.  A mining engineer could find herself collaborating with an electrical engineer and a telecommunications vendor as they discuss the management of wireless technologies and mining fleet dispatch software.”

Myth: Employees in the mining industry require no knowledge or skills.

Truth: Due to the sophisticated equipment and leading-edge technology used in the mining industry, highly skilled and educated workers are required to work in mining.

The skills necessary may include computer technology, information management, mining extraction knowledge or mineral processing, as well as many others.

What are known as “soft skills” are becoming increasingly important in mining as well. Mining companies need people who can grow the business, understand and stay ahead of complicated laws and regulations, and ensure they operate in a sustainable, community-friendly way.

Myth: The mining industry is dangerous.

Truth: Over the last 100 years, the mining industry has developed into a sophisticated industry that utilizes automated mining processes.

As a result, it is considered one of the safest industrial sectors in Canada.   Concerning safety laws, there are 14 federal regulations, 19 federal acts as well as dozens more at the provincial and territorial levels that regulate the mining industry.

The Mining Industry Needs More Than Just Engineers And Geologists

5 October 2010.  TalentEgg Incubator.

Depending on your interests, education and training, there are more than 120 different occupations within Canada’s mining industry.

With new mineral deposits being discovered in Canada all the time, the potential for meaningful employment and high pay for students and recent graduates in the mining industry is looking great!

This dynamic and constantly evolving field needs young, educated workers who can achieve the goals set out by the mine, the division and the corporation as well as those set in regards to safety, efficiency and profitability.

“Yes, you require those pillars of engineering and science, but you can’t get at the resources without the foundational people who are opening doors and making sure they stay open.” —Sean Junor, Manager of Workplace Planning, Cameco

With the help of the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR), we’ve compiled some information about just a few of the interesting jobs you might find in the mining industry right now.

Business, communications, sustainability, law and arts graduates

Although engineers and geologists are crucial to the industry, if they can’t access land and resources, or if they don’t have the support of the communities nearby, they can’t do their jobs. That’s where people with backgrounds in business, communications, sustainability and regulatory issues come in.

Sean Junor, Manager of Workplace Planning at Cameco, one of the world’s largest uranium producers, says there are many different kinds of career opportunities within the mining industry for young people outside of science and technology.

“Say you’re sitting in a business class or you’re wondering what to do with a communications program, there are a whole bunch of different usages for credentials within the industry. Say you do your communications degree from Ryerson, or a business degree from Trent, you’d probably think, ‘I couldn’t work in that industry because I’m not a miner, or I’m not an engineer,’ but there is a whole element of support [in the mining industry].”

Grads with these backgrounds are sorely needed because “as the industry expands and as land gets more and more scarce, you get into negotiations for more and more of it, and you need people with those backgrounds to do it,” says Junor.

“So yes, you require those pillars of engineering and science, but you can’t get at the resources without the foundational people who are opening doors and making sure they stay open.”

Community Liaison Officer

Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) work with mining companies as links to the local communities.  Specific to the mining industry, CLOs work with Indigenous communities and sometimes with environmental agencies.

This includes representing the community’s best interests, promoting events and services within the community, being an advocate for community members, and building relationships between industry and community groups.

Since many mines are located in northern locations, they are usually found in close proximity to Indigenous communities.  As a result, CLOs (sometimes called  Aboriginal Liaison Officers (ALOs) or Community Affairs Managers) work to bridge gaps between mining companies and Indigenous communities to create a common understanding between the two groups.

CLOs can come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds, including:

• Indigenous studies
• Social work
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Communications
• Education
• Anthropology
• Languages

Engineers

Engineers with training in a variety of specializations can find their place in mining.  Engineers in training must possess a bachelor of engineering degree and will eventually require their professional engineering (or P.Eng.) designation in order to have a stamp and hold responsibility for major decisions in the field.

“The young engineer’s exposure is rarely limited to one specific area and there is a lot of opportunity to see different disciplines in action at any given time.” —Mark Ashcroft, President and CEO, Stonegate Agricom

The day-to-day work of engineers in mining changes often. Mark Ashcroft, a professional engineer who is also the President and CEO of Stonegate Agricom, says, “The mining industry is a wonderful mix of professions.  The young engineer’s exposure is rarely limited to one specific area and there is a lot of opportunity to see different disciplines in action at any given time.”

“Due to the ‘extractive’ nature of mining, a mine is a dynamic environment that changes every day.  Nothing is ever exactly the same,” Ashcroft says.

“A young mechanical engineer could find himself in the pit or underground shop looking at maintenance issues on production vehicles.  A mining engineer could find herself collaborating with an electrical engineer and a telecommunications vendor as they discuss the management of wireless technologies and mining fleet dispatch software.”

Geologists and Geological Technicians

Geologists play a key role in many different aspects of the mining industry, from surveying locations for mineral and metal deposits, to the discovery, exploration, evaluation and production cycle of mining.  Their knowledge of geographical imaging (GIS) and other surveying systems is also valued.

Careers in exploration geology also offer opportunities to travel the world.

Geological Technicians supplement the work of geologists by collecting, preparing and analyzing samples.

This career path requires knowledge of chemistry, biology, environmental science, geology, computers and mathematics, but geological technicians can possess degrees in engineering technology, geology or computer science.

Mineral Processing Technicians and Engineers

 Mineral Processing Technicians process the ore extracted by mining crews and prepare it for shipping.  Mineral processing technicians usually possess degrees or diplomas in metallurgy, chemical engineering, mineral processing or metallurgical technology.

 Mineral Processing Engineers extract and refine raw minerals from ore using a variety of technologies and processes. They also find ways to reuse waste materials to leave less environmental damage on the mine site.

Surveyors

Mining  Surveyors revise and arrange mines, developing the direction and extent of underground operations as well as surveying techniques. In order to become a mine Surveyor, a mine technician/technologist diploma is usually required.

From there, they become a junior apprentice Surveyor for the first one to two years of employment.  They can eventually progress to an apprentice surveyor and then a surveyor as opportunities and training allow.

For more information about these career paths and others, including salary information, please visit the Employment Profiles and Career Paths pages of www.acareerinmining.com.

Fellowships, scholarships and paying for grad school

TalentEgg Incubator. 7 September 2010.

The good thing about grad school: you take fewer courses and fewer years to complete your degree.

The bad (bad, bad) thing about grad school: your tuition per course is more than for undergrad classes, so grad school can still be just as expensive or even more so than a bachelor’s degree.

The good thing about it being more expensive (if anyone in their right mind would consider it a good thing!) is there are more ways for graduate students to pay for their education.

Scholarships, fellowships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, as well as provincial and national awards can all help pay the bills.

Scholarships, fellowships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, as well as provincial and national awards can all help pay the bills.

Scholarships

Graduate scholarships are similar to undergrad scholarships in that they are based primarily on academic merit and often awarded based on need. There is no one way to obtain scholarships: some require applications while others are awarded by the university or specific departments.

Research assistantships

Research assistantships are awarded to students based on academic merit and begin as soon as the student starts their studies at a school. A research assistant (RA) helps a supervising professor to complete their professional research. As a result, the money granted through an RA-ship is actually from their supervisor’s funding partner (body), and not the school itself.

Students completing an RA-ship work a certain number of hours per week, for which they are paid an hourly wage.

Teaching assistantships

All undergraduate students have encountered at least one TA during the course of their studies, and as a result have a fairly good idea of what a teaching assistantship may require. The majority of TAs lead labs or tutorials, mark student assignments, labs, tests and papers, maintain office hours and help get materials ready for classes.

There are also marking TAs who have no interaction with students and only mark the papers, assignments and tests of students. TAs are allotted a certain number of hours and get paid an hourly wage for the hours they work.

Fellowships

There are two kinds of fellowships, portable fellowships and institutional fellowships:

Portable fellowships can be used by students at any institution they choose, and are often called external fellowships, since funding normally comes from outside organizations.

Institutional fellowships, on the other hand, are granted by an academic institution for study at that school, and are sometimes restrictive to the program being studied, as well as the subject manner.

Provincial and national awards

Students thinking about applying to graduate school often don’t apply for provincial or national awards since they typically require in-depth applications that are incredibly competitive. Nevertheless, they can provide excellent sources of funding during the course of your graduate degree.

Some provinces that offer graduate programs at their university offer awards to students studying in that province, such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, or the Pacific Centry Graduate Scholarship.

National programs include NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR. Awards from these organizations can also granted to post-doctoral fellows and tenured faculty.

The bottom line

All of the funding options listed above are competitive in nature. Your grades, extra curricular activities, research statement, and prior work in academia may be considered when you apply for these positions and awards.

There is a good possibility that you won’t get any funding help, so if that happens, how do you plan on paying for grad school?

Commuting conundrum: School

TalentEgg Incubator. 1 September 2010.

It’s almost back to school time and many students are considering their housing options for next year: Should I live on-campus, should I live off-campus, or should I commute?

Like commuting for work, commuting to school can have a number of advantages over living close to (or on) campus. The closer you are to campus, the more expensive your housing will be, so if you would like to save some money, living further away from campus can be beneficial.

Much of this depends on exactly what your accommodations will be, and what your living arrangement will be. For example, if you are living at home, do you have to pay for rent, groceries, and utilities, or will your parents waive those fees for you?

If you are living in shared accommodations (student house or an apartment), are your expenses going to be cheaper than if you lived closer to campus? And how does the money you save factor when you add the extended amount of time it takes for you to get to campus?

Paul Aoanan, a second-year mechatronics engineering and management student at McMaster University, takes two buses and travels up to 50 minutes to get to school everyday from the other side of Hamilton, Ont.

Aoanan’s family recently immigrated to Canada, so being able to save money while going to school was very important to him. “School is expensive as it is. I can use the money that I have saved [through commuting] to pay for books and other school requirements.”

If you are thinking about commuting being the right option for you, the most important thing you need to consider is the amount of time it will take out of your day. “You need to plan ahead and to leave early to avoid being late or caught up in something. During the winter months, commuting can be really difficult: you must tread icy sidewalks and wait for the bus during a cold afternoon. You must also endure extreme weather,” says Aoanan.

As anyone who takes public transit often is well aware, when you are waiting for your bus in the rain (or a blizzard or a hailstorm), it is going to be late or it won’t show up at all. Similarly, as soon as you get on to your bus, the sun will come out. Murphy’s Law happens all the time when you commute.

Depending on the length of your trip and the amount of transfers you have sometimes you can do some reading or other homework while you travel. If you’re prone to motion sickness however, that’s probably not a good idea!

Like many students, Aoanan primarily uses his commute as a way to veg out: “Most of the time, I just listen to the music on my mp3 player and stare out the window. This is how I meditate and mentally prepare for school.”

Aoanan has four excellent tips to pass on to students who commute:

1. Don’t rush

Keep in mind that school is a long way and that there is no turning back in case you forget something. During winter, people who commute are prone to slips and falls while on their way to their respective destination. Walk slowly.

2. Dress properly

Watch your local weather forecast and decide if you will need to bring your heavy winter coat. We do no want to freeze outside, do we?

3. Plan the trip

Knowing when and where to go is a must.

4. Leave early

Take into account unforeseeable events such as missing the bus or the need to satisfy your hunger pangs by quickly grabbing a tea biscuit from a store.

These four things will help make commuting a breeze!

For more on commuting, check out Danielle’s other Commuting Conundrum article about commuting to and from work.