Spaghettyohz

E/E, E/VG, VG/VG. Yet another honorable mention. This is my third (and obviously last) try. As great as HM is, I needed the money to make my doctoral program feasible. I'm sad, and not sure what to do. To posters wondering about re-applying: I would wait to year 2 if you can't get solid recs from your advisors in your first year. My worst reviews came last year when I didn't include any LORs from my grad program advisors (because I had just started my MS two weeks before the NSF was due, and they didn't know me). Anyway, congrats to all who won!

For reference, the dates that results were announced in previous years (mostly at 3 AM): 2016: Tuesday, March 29 2015: Tuesday, March 31 2014: Tuesday, April 1 2013: Friday, March 29 2012: Friday, March 30 2011: Tuesday, April 5 2010: Tuesday, April 6 2009: Friday, April 10 Be on the lookout for maintenance notices on the Fastlane site (within the time frame of 11 PM - 6 AM) in about three weeks!

Hi all! I was wondering if anyone is currently dealing with/has experience negotiating funding offers. I'm in a bit of a conundrum: I got into my top choice (yay!) and my last choice, but my last choice is offering a much, much better fellowship. Obviously, I want to go to my first choice for its fit/strength as a program, but the reality is that I also need to pay rent, eat, etc. I am comfortable with the idea of negotiating, as this was suggested as a possibility by both my current advisor and the faculty at the program, but I'm not sure how to word this sort of email. I don't want to come across like money is all that matters here, because it's not. But as things currently stand, there is just no way I can make my dream program happen. Thoughts? Help!

Congrats!!! I just got the call this morning. I am beyond thrilled right now!!

ASU has an excellent STS program. I don't know much about their faculty, because their research is a bit outside of my focus area. But I'm currently in an STS program, and Arizona is held in very high regard. Congrats!

Thanks!!! That is very helpful. And congrats on the Rice interview!

Has anyone heard back from UCI following interviews? The anticipation!

Hi all! This is just kind of a general response to some of the concern about getting a master's before applying to doctoral programs. My advice comes only from personal experience, and I'm sure there are people whose stories about applying directly are very different from mine, but I wanted to add a few thoughts to the convo. Two years ago, I was in the exact same position (applying with a BA, and watching rejections roll in, even though I had great credentials). First, I was also told repeatedly that getting a master's from a terminal program wasn't worth the cost. This was the primary reason I avoided most master's programs (aside from the one I got into and am now attending). Certainly, a lot of programs are very expensive. However, many have fellowships, RAships, and other funding mechanisms that they may not publicize on their websites, because they aren't certain from year to year. If there's a master's program you're interested in, talk to someone in the department. I was pleasantly surprised by the support I was offered. Second, there is SO much beyond credentials that master's programs offer. I learned a ton about the inner workings of academia, and the types of values and language that are important to cultivate. I also made a ton of contacts through my mentors, who have been very interested in helping me to succeed in moving forward with a doctoral career. The first time I applied to PhD programs, I didn't get into any. So far, this round, I've gotten one acceptance and one interview, and am awaiting replies from 2 others. I don't think that having another degree under my belt was what made the difference. I think it was knowing the field better, being able to position myself in current scholarly conversations, and the connections I made. For these reasons, the master's was SO worth it. I would highly recommend this route. Also, don't give up! I know how disappointing it is. But bouncing back and growing as a student is a pretty great experience.

Anyone have info they can add about the MIT HASTS interview emails that went out today? Do you get the sense that was all of them, or do you think they might go out in batches? Thanks!

Honestly, I would wait until year 2 (since there is now only one grad-level application attempt).

I didn't have publications last year and got HM, and did have 3 publications this year and got nothing (although all three reviewers noted that my publication record was exceptional for my stage - 1st year grad). I described a mixed methods study plan this year as well. I don't know if it helped or hindered me though. The only real critique I received was that I didn't have any LORs from my current program. But, considering that I started grad school 3 weeks prior to the NSF deadline, it didn't seem reasonable for me to include any. They would have been much weaker than the ones from PIs I've known for years and have published with.

This happened to me last year. One reviewer copied and pasted sections of my LOR #1's letter verbatim into the score sheet. Luckily, this year, my reviewers were actually quite thoughtful.

Wow. Well, that stung. Last year, I received HM. This year, my reviews were even better (glowing, with tons of props for my BIs).... nothing. I feel really bummed, you guys. I NEEDED this money to go full time. Looks like it's another 2 years to complete my master's and then another year of working FT to fulfill employer tuition benefit commitments. Really, really bummed.

Eek! So happy to be immediately proven wrong. I feel like this has to be it. The main fastlane site has a maintenance notice not specific to the GRFP as well. Plus, I think it's reasonable to think that they may change the post time to 6 AM.

Last year, when the Tuesday announcement came out, the maintenance notice was posted the previous Thursday. As hopeful as I would like to be, I think we're looking at this Friday. Hopefully the maintenance notice will be posted soon so I can stop having nightmares that they canceled the GRFP this year lol

Okay, probably just wishful thinking, but: 03/16/16 - FastLane will be unavailable from 10:00PM ET, Friday, March 18 to 8:00AM ET, Saturday, March 19 for scheduled maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience They wouldn't announce it on a Saturday, right? Right??

Edit

E/E E/VG E/E with an honorable mention and no substantial feedback about what could be improved. /sigh. Without this level of funding, it's no grad school for me this year. Probably done with this whole process.