Joining : MSc Students

If an undergraduate student has access to workshops that prepare them for graduate school applications, they should attend them. Please do not wait until the final year to do so. This also goes without saying: the prospective student must try to earn an honours degree (In Ontario, this means a 4-year degree) instead of a general one, and they should try to complete a Bachelor's thesis.

While the stereotype is that academics are socially awkward, this is far from the truth. A researcher has to do many social tasks - from giving speeches to establishing research connections with strangers through cold-call emails. Therefore, being able to get three references is proof that the student has some social skills. It is important to note that getting an academic reference is far more challenging than getting a reference for a job for multiple reasons:

• Rank Matters: A letter from a full-time professor will carry more weight than a letter from a contract professor. Since Algoma University does not make any distinction between teaching-stream professors (aka. lecturers) and research-stream professors, students can simply get letters from any full-time professor. Some universities are more rank-conscious, though. Asking a letter from a postdoctoral fellow is fine if the prospective student has trouble finding references. However, in no circumstances should prospective students ask for a reference from PhD students and non-academic acquaintances.

•  Relationship Quality Matters: The quality of the relationship also matters. And in fact, it is better to get a letter from a lecturer who the student knows well than from a professor who the student barely knows. Building a quality relationship goes beyond just showing up in class on time and earning good grades. In fact, a reference is more inclined to write a strong letter for a B student than for an A student - if the reference is better acquainted with the B student. A good way to build a relationship is to work with a prospective referee on a project, or complete a project-based class.

• Only Positive Letter: Often, an academic will refuse to write a letter because they cannot provide a positive letter. This is because even a neutral letter can significantly weaken the application.

Once someone agrees to act as a reference, the student will submit their name and their contact information to the application system. Usually, there is no need for the student to ask the references for their letters;  the application system will usually solicit the letters at a later date.

Finally, the prospective student should be aware of the application deadlines. Usually, the most fortuitous time to apply is in December. Some universities may have multiple application cycles in a year, but the extra cycles should be avoided (as Prof. Hu has learned the hard way). The prospective student should also prioritize compatibility with their prospective supervisors over the university ranking or prestige.

Some documents, like a language test report, can be difficult to get, so students should apply for them early as well.

To study at Algoma University, the prospective MSc student must also meet or exceed the minimum requirements. Furthermore, they must be aware of the funding package. It is important to note that Algoma University's funding is considered "middle-of-the-road." While some universities expect students to completely self-fund, Algoma University does guarantee $22,000 per year. However, unlike some more competitive universities, Algoma University does not cover the tuition fees. This means that:

• A domestic student will actually receive about $11,500 per year

• An international student will actually incur an annual debt of around $3,600 per year

 Furthermore, getting this amount requires the following:

• The student must work as a graduate teaching assistant.

• The supervisor must provide $10,000 per year.

If the supervisor does not have any available money, the student is not allowed to self-fund the $10,000 amount. A student with a scholarship may be able to get around the requirements.

Before committing to applying to Algoma University (or anywhere else), a prospective student should understand a prospective supervisor very well. This includes the following:

• Reading through their biography. For Prof. Hu, his biography can be found here.

• Reading some of their publications. Research direction may change, so the students may need to watch out. Prof. Hu has put multiple drafts here, so prospective students will not need to contend with an incomplete list like the one on DBLP.

The prospective student should be aware that Prof. Hu does not expect them to know extended reality (XR) or know how to use a game engine. However, the prospective student must profess passion in these areas. Having experience with XR, mobile computing, or web development helps but is not essential. AI backgrounds may be useful if they are rooted in Machine Learning or Data Science (e.g., regression, clustering). Prof. Hu does not focus on modern AI such as vibe-coding or agentic AI. And in fact, vibe-coders probably would not do well with XR development, which can be quite challenging. Prof. Hu will also avoid overly enthusiastic AI users because he is afraid that they will run afoul of the academic integrity office and the research ethics board.

If the student feels that they need more information, they should contact Prof. Hu by email. In this initial email, please heed the following advice:

• Do not use generative AI at all; many professors are wary of AI-generated emails and will throw them out automatically.

• Approach Prof. Hu with a sense of curiosity and earnestness.

• Do not submit any document (e.g., CV, transcripts, language test results), as an inquiry email is just an inquiry email.

• Keep an open mind; Prof. Hu may revise the research direction or refer the prospective student to someone else.

• Keep the emails short; the student can always send more.

• Professors today are even more swamped than before, thanks to AI. If the student does not hear back, please send a follow-up email that is not AI-generated.

It is important to note that different professors will have different rules. Some professors may not entertain small emails, and may ask the student for the full package right away.

After having understood the program and what the professor stands for, the student can formally contact the professor for application. Each professor at Algoma University will require different documents. For Prof. Hu, he would like the following:

• A Curriculum Vitae: This is not to be confused with a resume. While a resume is trimmed, a Curriculum Vitae (CV) describes everything. Fortunately, most undergraduate students will not have a long CV, so a resume should still work. Real-world and professional experiences are highly valued, so please do not de-emphasize them. In Canada, it is not mandatory to have a headshot, so please do not include it.

• A Statement of Purpose: This letter should explain the reason why the prospective student wants to work at R2/C2. The letter should also describe what the student can offer. The letter should be around 500 words long. It is important to note that a statement of purpose is not a research proposal; it does not seek to set a research direction. Chances are, the final work may not resemble anything outlined in the statement of purpose at all.

Please do not submit anything that resembles AI-generated content. Also, please avoid using a template. Prof. Hu does not require a transcript or a research proposal. However, if the prospective student decides to send them, Prof. Hu will take them into consideration.

If Prof. Hu provides a positive response to the letter, the student should be prepared for a remote and on-camera interview at some point. Prof. Hu will ask some questions about the prospective student's passion and experience.  The student should be prepared to ask Prof. Hu questions as well so they can better understand if they are compatible with Prof. Hu or not.

If Prof. Hu believes the prospective student will be a good fit after the interview(s), the student will finally be asked to formally apply for the position through the portal. If asked to rank, the applicant should do the following:

• Rank Prof. Hu Higher: If the applicant strongly wishes to work with Prof. Hu, and Prof. Hu has given permission to do so.

• Rank Prof. Hu Lower: If the applicant wishes to work with other Algoma University professors more, or if the applicant has received stronger support from the other professors.

It is important to note that just because a professor approves a student, the application may still fail due to various factors (e.g., provincial funding). Therefore, students must always have backups. However, please do not go overboard by applying to as many universities as possible.