Apply to NSERC after 1st year

[C2U2]

Are we eligible?

Where can I see the requirements/eligibility for NSERC?

thanks

[hopeforthebest]

Originally Posted by C2U2

Are we eligible?

Where can I see the requirements/eligibility for NSERC?

thanks

I've had friends get them after first year and it's totally possible, at least at my institution. It is however not likely unless you have a really great GPA.

Your institution might have specific requirements, but here is the NSERC website page for USRAs.

http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Student...A-BRPC_eng.asp

I wouldn't stress about getting NSERC after your first year.

[bj89]

At the university of windsor it is possible to get it after first yeAr. However i believe at york, 1st years arent allowed to apply. Make sure you ace ur 1 st semester classes tho, cuz theyre only gonna base it off ur 1 st semester marks. I applied on my first year with like a 3.86 and didnt get it. But i applied with a 3.92 in 2 nd year and got it. Its hard in 1 st year to get it and ur chances increase as you progress through the year. But it is possible nonetheless!
Make sure you ace those 1 st semester classes.

[johnw]

So there is no strict cutoff for NSERC in general? I guess it differs between schools?

[hopeforthebest]

Originally Posted by johnw

So there is no strict cutoff for NSERC in general? I guess it differs between schools?

Correct.

I mean, there may be like an absolute lower limit, but I'm not aware of it and it would likely be pretty low. It typically just depends on the amount of competition that year at your school.

[bj89]

Originally Posted by johnw

So there is no strict cutoff for NSERC in general? I guess it differs between schools?

Originally Posted by hopeforthebest

Correct.

I mean, there may be like an absolute lower limit, but I'm not aware of it and it would likely be pretty low. It typically just depends on the amount of competition that year at your school.

I believe there is a really low limit, like a B+ average or something. Whether you get it or not depends on the competition at your school, because you get ranked with all the other applicants in whatever department you apply in.

[hopeforthebest]

Originally Posted by bj89

I believe there is a really low limit, like a B+ average or something. Whether you get it or not depends on the competition at your school, because you get ranked with all the other applicants in whatever department you apply in.

Yeah, I was thinking it's probably like a 3 or 3.3.

[DOC_Ma]

Originally Posted by C2U2

Are we eligible?

Where can I see the requirements/eligibility for NSERC?

thanks

Upper years have an advantage but 1st years can apply I guess it depends on your marks. Friend of mine had 90+ average at waterloo didn't get it after 1st year but most people get it with 85+ average in 3rd or 4th year. Also isn't it too late to apply this year?

[DOC_Ma]

Originally Posted by johnw

So there is no strict cutoff for NSERC in general? I guess it differs between schools?

There is one but fairly low. The real cut off depends on the school and most importantly the department. It's the hardest to get at biology due to all premeds but much easier at earth sciences and relatively easier at chem (at my school).

[hopeforthebest]

Originally Posted by DOC_Ma

There is one but fairly low. The real cut off depends on the school and most importantly the department. It's the hardest to get at biology due to all premeds but much easier at earth sciences and relatively easier at chem (at my school).

As a chem major I can second that it's the same at my school. They also just seem to offer more of them to chemistry, despite our smaller size. Quick note about NSERC: to hold an NSERC USRA, I believe you need to work with a professor who has a NSERC grant of some kind. If you want to do research with someone who doesn't, that could be an issue, but there are ways around it. This is a bigger deal at smaller schools.