nnnnnnn

Me too!!!! Last week, I was a teensy bit sick and wanted to recover before a conference, but I was going crazy without exercise. As a former gymnast, I've always been into various forms of acrobatics. Most recently, I've picked up parkour. Classes are at awkward times for me, so although I'd prefer formal training, a lot of what I do is practice on my own. I think the nice thing is that really I can do this anywhere, at any time, and without need of another person. This sort of independence and freedom allows me to fit my hobby into my pockets of free time.

As I finish my second year in grad school, sometimes I wonder if my research is meaningful. I used to be able to convince myself that it was and of course my adviser and labmates will tell me it is. But I feel our scope is so limited and biased. I don't want to hole myself into this PhD fooling myself that my work can have impact only to graduate and realize otherwise. I don't mean to sound and down and depressed as I do. But how do you know you're on the right track? Is it the journals you publish in? The accolades you accumulate? If so, which ones? I'm serious that I have no clue. If it helps, I'm in chemistry / materials science.

I never wrote before because I had no advice to give. But I'd like to say that I am happy for you. Congrats!

Can I bump this? Sometimes I ponder transferring. My lab has been very good to me in a lot of ways, and I am grateful. Honestly, I'm more upset with the social situation of my school than anything else. Having close friends at another school nearby has given me insight into the program there (considered stronger than mine) and I've incorporated into that school's social environment (I hang out there more than I do at my own school). Socially, I feel lonely and lost here. My labmates, while friendly, are distant. My department is loosely associated. As an engineer, I'm having difficulty meeting other women, even after joining an organization for women in science. I don't believe strongly enough in the vision of my lab's research to have that be the saving grace of the next 3+ years I spend here. Having received NSF funding, I should be able to transfer to another school....maybe?

From my reviews: "letters attest to the quality of her work" "All of this is also strongly supported by the reference letters. "The research project is sound, providing clear research plan, with references and supported by adviser." "All these efforts and activities are reflected in broader impacts and are supported by reference letters." I sent my essays to everyone who wrote me a letter of rec and wrote one of my own letters (well, maybe she modified it...) so I know for a fact at least one of them tied in very my with my essays.

Rejected. All rejections thus far means they were just stringing us out? Boooooo

I already accepted NSF, but I'm just kind of curious about you guys now.

Other than in regards to being advantageous or not to you, I meant "stupid" in terms of its actual definition...

THAT IS SO STUPID

Waiting this out is too frustrating. I'm giving up on this. Really, given everyone else's deadlines, this is just too late...

I'd like to point out that these benefits aren't guaranteed. I've definitely TA-ed for a professor who outlined to me that he was too busy, I could do whatever I wanted with the class (even do poorly), and that I should only contact him if there was significant trouble. Perhaps you solidify your basic knowledge and public speaking skills (the latter not so much for me), but gaining these skills is NOT where the majority of your time will be spent. Unless you enjoy teaching or wa, I believe the majority of your TA time will not be beneficial to you. As a one time experience, I feel TAing was alright. But don't lock your next few years into something you might dislike, IMO.

Hmm? I second your sense of apathy. Similarly, I haven't had a break recently, and the feeling's only been for two weeks, but wow, I'd hate to imagine the years dragging by like this. After struggling on something for a year, I've finally managed to make minimal progress on my work, and this made me happy for less than a day. Perhaps this will sound incredibly spoiled, but after being awarded funding (which only serves to vindicate that I can get by without achieving very much), I don't have TA work on my hands anymore. This means while watching experiments, I waste time on youtube and facebook, even if I kind of hate myself for it.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ford+fellowship+eligibility+criteria

I'm another Matsci with no word yet...

Not trying to be mean, I'm just confused how being unable to find an adviser equates to medical leave...?

I know a girl who took medical leave her during her "first" year of grad school (and did not apply to NSF). She could then only apply in her "second" year (although for all intents and purposes, that served as her first year of grad school). She called them and everything to check. But seriously, would you take medical leave just to apply again?

To hear anything at all...? Check your spam maybe? If you're talking about getting off alternate though, it seems like chances are low. Checking past years' stats, there are a lot of HMs...

I know a chem grad student who got it. If that helps. (She also got NSF so not sure what she's choosing.)

HM here too

Got the "still being considered" email. Applied to Materials Science. Currently attending. If that helps. Got NSF GRFP so I'm not too concerned, but it would still be nice to know....

Applied 3 times: 1: Had no idea what I was doing. Very little research experience. Had just figured out I wanted to attend grad school... Slaughtered by reviewers. 2. Chose primary field A when I thought chose B, and submitted past the deadline for A and too late to switch to B. (Yes, I'm seriously that stupid) 3. Got two publications out in the past year (didn't do much, but managed to contribute enough to merit my name on the list). Started early. Agonized about my GPA (which had been meh in undergrad). Also, wrote one of my own LORs and brought up a lot of stuff my prof had probably forgotten. >< TLDR: I got it this year (E/E, E/E, E/E) - wheeeeeeeee!

My undergrad GPA was relatively low (3.3) and this got pointed out to me on grad school visits and on my first NSF application. Senior year I managed rise 3.45 by the time I graduated, not sure how much better that is. For me, grad school has been a lot easier than undergrad. I have a 3.93 right now and between both of those GPAs, I was told I had a "stellar academic record" on my NSF reviews this year. Considering I don't think I've gotten much smarter in the past two years, I think the whole system is bull. Moreover, I'm a bit upset because there are some interesting classes I want to take, but my adviser is telling me to protect my GPA - I thought it doesn't matter anymore! I just want to learn...

I'm also interested in knowing this. I majorly lucked out in getting the NSF GRF this year and am very afraid it will somehow get rescinded. I'd like to go abroad to do research at another university for the summer. My adviser tells me I can do this while on my tenure, but I can't find confirmation of this on the NSF GRFP website. I would gladly delay my start of tenure until September if there's any sort of chance of trouble with my fellowship....