TongueSten

One of my reviewers commented on the strength of my "academic performance, outreach, and athletics". I didn't mention anything about athletics in my application. I am literally physically useless and only run when I'm in danger. Not sure where they got that from.

I got it! VG/VG, E/E, VG/E I'm an undergrad, and I wrote my proposal primarily on chemical synthesis. The only negative comment I got was that my proposal was technically sound but lacking in originality.

Yep, The Next Generation.

"Where Silence Has Lease" http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Where_Silence_Has_Lease_(episode)

Mood^ I just want to know!!!!

Just to chime in, I was at a meeting in February and I spoke to a rep for the GRFP. When I mentioned that I had applied and how anxious I was about hearing back in April they said the results would most likely be out by the end of March. They may simply have been trying to make me feel better. How futile!

I'm in the exact same boat! I started my application in late September and probably spent the first week staring at an empty document trying to figure out how to start writing. Le sigh! I keep hearing that award process is basically a lottery, haha! No one I've spoken to seems to know exactly how the selection process works. I am trying so hard not to get my hopes up; at this point I just want to know how it turned out so I can move past it (and start prepping my next application!).

I will very likely attend Scripps in the Fall too, and I had/have many of the same questions. I asked as many current students as I could during the interview/visit weekend. Here's the gist of what I was told: Transportation: You pretty much need a car. The overwhelming majority of the students I spoke to owned cars; everything is so spaced out in San Diego that not having a car makes your life harder than it needs to be. That being said, one or two people I met relied on the bus system and they were perfectly happy with it, but they did tend to live closer to the campus. These people also mentioned that grocery shopping can be difficult. Housing: The impression I got is that most 1st year students live in an area called UTC (which is very close to the campus), and then move further away (Del Mar, Pacific Beach) later on. Of the people in UTC, most people seemed to pay ~$900/month in rent for a shared living situation. Everyone told me that they found housing on Craigslist; my own searches indicate that a studio apartment in UTC will cost at least $1100/month. I hope this is helpful to you. I am not from the area, but I have several of the same concerns as you and figured I would share the information I have gathered.

Hmm. Thanks for the heads up! I had been banking on being able to apply two more times if I didn't get it this round, so I'm a little disappointed.

Congratulations! I haven't yet, but according to the results survey two people have heard back. I'm surprised it's taking so long, I submitted my application in October!

Don't lose hope! I emailed the program, and apparently what happened to me was some sort of a mix up (I've been accepted, but the RSVP request was sent to me before the actual offer). I was told another wave of letters should be released this week.

That's what I figured. Applyweb still says my application is "ready for review". It's a bit odd, but I'll take whatever I can get!

I was invited to open house/visit weekend at UPenn, but I haven't received an acceptance yet. Can I assume I've been accepted?

Everyone I spoke to said the stipend is more than sufficient. The cost of living in Madison is pretty low especially considering what I'm used to (being from a large city on the East Coast), but you might see it differently depending on your own experience. I have heard small grievances from students, but none of them had to do with stipends/funding. But yeah, they're a powerhouse in my field, so I'm excited for the visitation weekend.

I know a few grad students at UW-Madison. Apparently you do have to pay the university fees. I was told it's not a major expense as long as you plan accordingly when budgeting your stipend.