SensLu

Wait, so he can't email you a copy of his letter signed and you put it in an addressed envelope for him? I've done that before and no one questioned me. I typically have a close relationship with all my letter writers and I hope you do to. Explaining your financial situation and how you "just realized" you only need 2 letters should be enough. Any professor will understand your situation as they have likely been in the same financial situation when they went to college. I doubt the professor would be offended. But make sure you mention that you realized you only needed 2 letters because the professor may recommend emailing the letter as a means to save money. Then again, having the extra letter would be beneficial in case your other letter writers don't send you the letters back on time.

I was recently told the NSF GRFP is the most prestigious out of the awards. Meaning when people see that on your CV, it means a lot more than other fellowships, acceptance rate doesn't dictate prestige because most government issued fellowships are extremely competitive. I personally would ask professors in your field, about which one is the best. I personally would choose the fellowship that allows the most flexibility and the one that you know for sure you only have one chance at applying to. Btw, congrats on getting both, that's a major achievement.

I decided if I did get it, I would decline the award. I already have the NSF GRFP fellowship and from my knowledge if I want to go into a PhD program, I can't apply for the NSF grant but I would at least have a second chance to apply for the EPA Star grant. So I'm going to use my reviews this year and hopefully make big improvements to apply for my PhD. With that said, my mentor who sat on the panel for a few years said they are more inclined to give the award to masters students when narrowing down the most qualified candidates. I don't know all the years he sat on the panel but I know he did in 2010 and 2011.

Actually I just remembered my undergraduate mentor who sat on the panel several times told me that they have sometime made decisions early to certain groups and not announce all at once. So I guess there's not an exact date. And a PhD student who didn't win the award told me I'd know by June. Also I went back and read the email they sent all applicants sent in December and it said, "Review and evaluation will take approximately 6 months". Sort of contradicts the May 1st date. So I guess that's why this thread hasn't been active Lol.

So this thread is dead but is there anyone out there excited to know the results? I believe I read we'll know before may 1st

I got the award and had two good reviewers that gave me E/E. They both mentioned my letters of recs and undergrad research made up for my bad grade (less than a 2.7GPA). They like my research topic and engaged enough in my project that they gave me tips on what they would like to see me do, what ways I could make the project even better, and what I should have elaborated more on. However one said I explained my project extremely well considering I only had 2 pages. They both gave me props on broader impacts which was actually my biggest worry even though I have a low GPA, I have little to no formal volunteer experience with the people I got one G/G review and that was horrible. It's like the reviewer had a bad day, saw my low GPA and completely didn't even try. Basically said my GPA was low, I have no publications and probably not motivated, also said I dont understand the implications of my research project (which is basically the opposite of what the other reviewers said about my implications). I honestly didn't find that review helpful. Nothing in there actually suggested that how I could improve. Then again, he did give me G/G so he must have saw something good. I'm pretty sure without the good letter of recs from professors and supervisors then I wouldn't have the validation needed for the reviewers to give me top scores.

I don't think you can change that, but when you confirm you've accepted the award, you put in the school you're accepted at and going to. I noticed people have already accepted the award and their proposed program is different than their current program.

I found it, wow, one reviewer was really harsh but gave me a Good. E/E G/G E/E so excited!

DUUUUUUUDES! I was awarded with a GPA below 2.7. btw, where do you find the info on what the reviewers said?

So glad it's finally coming to an end. Now I can seriously start focusing on finding a full time job and living life knowing I won't be in a graduate program...

THE MESSAGE IS UP! ahahahaah! EDIT: that was me laughing hysterically and nervously

works for me

From what I know about the process of another fellowship I applied for (the STAR grant) acedemic reviewers have met back in January and early February, they discuss the proposals of students likely to get the award. They make recommendations and Officials overseeing the review panals make the final decision based on a series of things, demographics, research topics, etc, not sure what date they do this, but I was told the professors that review these proposals don't even know who the final winners are. Also, a couple weeks ago, looking through the depths of the NSF website and found a list of dates when review panelist meet and the NSF GRFP wasn't listed, so either they already had the panel meeting, or they aren't willing to tell us when they met.

Yea last night I stared into the darkness of my room and remembered that I never used the terms "human health" and I probably could have related my project a little more to worldwide issues. Though I remember cutting a lot out because of the page number restrictions, so then I tell myself that I couldn't fit in as much as I wanted. Lol this will drive me crazy if a reviewer mentions it.

haha, Me too!! and there's 27 people view this thread right now, I think everyone is anxious! I think we'll find out next week though

That's interesting, I feel a lot better when it's put in terms of 1 in 6 chances. Thanks!

My guess is the number in the NSF presentations are lower than the ball park numbers they give. Though I don't think they're lower by a lot. I wish there were some statistics, like other organizations. Very scary to think I'm competeing with 12K+ applicants. However, I'm more interested in knowing the statistics for each category as well. Either way, no matter how good or bad out applications are, none of us can't be surprised if we don't get the award. I'm just really interested in seeing the feedback I get if I don't win.

For some reason I'm even more nervious now that I've basically just decided what school I'm going to....which is not the school I listed on the NSF GRFP application. I also applied for the EPA STAR fellowship. I feel like because of all the sequester talk that my admission to grad school pretty much relies on getting one of these fellowships. I don't think my potential professor has heard about the proposals he submitted for EPA research funding either. oh and I'm guessing April 3rd the announcements go out.

I'm freaking out, I don't even know what school I'm going to yet!

That's awesome!! I never was able to find out previous years information. For some reason I thought there were at least a few thousand every year that applied for the this grant.

yea I got the NSF email today, apparantly there will be approximately 1000 fewer grants awarded. I wonder how this effects the NSF GRFP.

I agree 100%. And that's exactly what I plan on doing. However, luckily for me the schools I'm applying too has either an open application date or has a submission date past april.

I hear some people get them early and they finish announcements by April. I wonder what category he's in? Mine was life sciences.

I never had an issue submitting and I used Adobe 9. I'm still curious why no notification has been sent out yet. My undergrad mentor is judging the same EPA STAR funding category that I submitted my app too. Though she obviously won't be judging my paper, I was told she hasn't recieved the essays she will be reviewing. I wonder if the email will come after our essays have been assigned to judges. It seems based on this thread that the EPA is very disorganized this year compared to previous years. I'm at least giving til Janurary until I make more a fuss about this Lol

This is rather annoying that no one is getting an email back. I didn't see a number listed in the solicitation page, just the email address.