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me5000

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Everything posted by me5000

  1. monkeywrench, congratulations! that's great news. I would echo the last post, if you are willing to share any tips for future applicants I'm sure it would be very much appreciated (I personally am not going to reapply b/c this year was my last chance for the predoc but I know there are many who would like to hear how you did it).
  2. Didn't get it. In WA, received it in the mail Friday April 11. received honorable mention. last year at least i got both honorable mention and alternates list (which didn't pan out). in response to alternates this year, i would suggest calling every week or every other week to check your status b/c last year i never received follow up letters confirming that i didn't get the alternate,i only knew for sure after calling in early may. also, for everyone who didn't get it and are interested in getting feedback, you can email them to request. i emailed last year and they sent out reviewer comments, took a few weeks to process. good luck to all of you!
  3. I couldn't help it, I called Ford today and the person I spoke with said that they're getting the materials organized right now, and will start to mail them mid-to-late part of this week, so we **should** be starting to receive them next week. There were appx. 1800 applicants, (predoc, diss, and postdoc combined) so I think we'll probably be all over the map on how soon we'll get them. She was pleasant enough on the phone, and sounded sincere. These next two weeks waiting are going to be unbearable. I wish they posted results online or by email at least. I did request the four letters, two from my MA program and two from undergrad. I think it's kind of touch and go in terms of maxing out the letters, sometimes I wonder how it all works out...I've been told by profs who have served as reviewers for NSF that even if you have all four but they say something similar, it won't be as strong as only two people saying something positive but with different perspectives and experience. Best of luck and fingers crossed for all of us!
  4. I fully agree with the two previous replies. If you're in it for the academic career track, it's always best to do it now. The chances you'll want to come back and go through the application process all over again after getting a nice paycheck for a year are really, really slim. Even with friends I know who worked and really, really saved during their time off, they resented seeing those savings dwindle down so quickly as soon as they returned to school, and the experience was never the same for them, in my opinion. I know the fear of paying back student loans is daunting, I agree with that too. But if you ask around and look at the university's website, and find there are at least some chances you'll get funded at least part of time, even if they are in different/related disciplines and maybe even only guaranteed a quarter at a time--then that will lower the amount you'll have to take out in loans. Plus, I've found that applying for RA and TA positions really gets to be a skill well learned...after the first couple of tries you get to be a whiz at it even if you don't get it at first. Also, most faculty find that type of initiative impressive, so your advisors have a better shot at advocating for your funding the time around...i.e. "This student has made substantial progress in the program even without our funding, and was actively pursuing funding outside the department, and this demonstrates extreme initiative and promise of success in our program so should be ranked high in our funding priorities" Best of luck to you.
  5. I know, I wish someone had told me about it as an undergrad. This is my last shot at the predoctoral. Although there is also the dissertation and the postdoc should we wish to relive the drama of applying, getting letters etc. I could kick myself for not getting my s*** together for the NSF or Javitz fellowship applications. The road not taken. Best of luck with the applications and funding.
  6. since it's getting close to april i thought i'd start a new thread for this year's ford. so, please, join the anxiety wagon i've just reviewed the posts from last year, i wish i had known about this forum then! this time last year i was biting my nails waiting, ended up with an honorable mention/alternates list but didn't get the alternate. i received my mailing april 16th last year (i'm on the west coast). will anyone who has received the award tell us when they received notification? was it early april or did you hear at the same time most of us did (close to the 15th)? i guess i figure that your response somehow will give me an idea of whether i should plan to lose sleep 1, 2, or 3 weeks in april! thanks in advance
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