1. How to win the Awards Game According to Kristin…..

2. Why Listen to Me? From undergrad to PDF I have always held an award, including: OGS, NSERC, CIHR, MSHFR, NCIC/CCSRI I have had the “pleasure” of being a reviewer for: OGS, NSERC, CIHR Fellowships…

3. General Advice…. Don’t make the reviewer think… – Provide all the key information they are looking for in easy tidbits – Remember they will likely not be experts in your field, dumb it down and play it up. Example, unless you are publishing in the high impact generalist journals, they won’t know necessarily know if where you are publishing is AWESOME or yeh? ! Include details (Impact Factor, Citation #) Don’t annoy the reviewer with… – Edit your document, show them you care – Fix grammar and spelling mistakes – Excuses…

4. How it all Works MSc & PhD – ranked at Faculty Level PDF – ranked at NSERC NSER C MSc – ranked at Faculty of Level PhD & PDF – ranked at CIHR CIHR Ranked at both program and Faculty level OGS

5. What is the Magic Formula?

6. Grades – do they matter? MScPhDPDF YES This may be All you got To differentiate You at a MSC Less so We all know 99% of graduate Courses have a A average You need PUBLICATONS NO!!!

7. Reference Letters – they do matter!!  Get the best references possible.  Make sure the person knows you and will say you are awesome  It is important that the references use specific examples – that ensures the reviewers they actually know you.

8. Publications MATTER a lot  Highlight your role in any publication.  If not a common journal, give information about the journal to put it in context – IF, citation of the paper etc.  This really changes your position in the list.  If no publications – play up all conference presentations.

9. CIHR Fellowships are very structured in scoring.

10. 10 Program Overview - Summary of changes - Transcript Transcripts submitted by candidates are no longer provided to the peer review committee. Transcripts are not comparable from one institution to another PhD transcripts often do not list any courses taken It has no impact on the evaluation criteria

11. Final Thoughts  Take the time to make it the best application you can – spelling, grammer, make it accessible, but your work in contact.  Have someone read it over.  Build leadership skills.  SELL ANY POSITIVES…..