Teaching Faculty Wannabe

@nervousosteoblast First off, I love the name because I feel the nervousness and I think bones are really cool. Second, I don't have experience with the particular situation you are in, but I do have some advice.
I applied to the NSF GRFP for the first time this season, so I have never gotten it or anything. But I had experience applying for it and advice from a winner as well as from a professor. I think GPA is important to them, but I have a feeling your Master's and PhD one might be more important since they are more recent. Secondly, NSF seem to care more about your research proposal, your research experiences, and the outreach you have done within STEM. Their main two things is broader impacts and intellectual merit. If you can prove to them that you have both of things, then I think you are a pretty competitive applicant. They want to see that you are able to write a proposal, have the right background for the research you talk in the proposal, and how the research in your proposal will affect others. With the other essay, you discuss your past, which also builds up on your intellectual merit and previous broader impacts on your community.
I hope this helps!

Sooo, after April 9th means Aptil 10th, right???

Hi, Younis. I think this question belongs in the Waiting it Out board or one of the discipline-specific boards. You'll likely get better information there.

Sooo, after April 9th means Aptil 10th, right???

Your fellowship is probably still taxed, but taxes are not automatically withheld. If it's going toward living expenses and not just tuition, you need to pay estimated taxes 4x per year. You should be sure to pay this if you haven't been doing it so far, or else you can get slapped with a big fee if you're ever audited.

I feel this. I had to choose between two schools with different living environments, and I liked them both a lot. However, I had a gut feeling of wanting to go to one over another. Once I chose that one, many doubts ensued, but it was definitely the right choice. 

American here who completely agrees with you.

Let's not get started about all the different forms... I respect my country has online software, ENTERS all the information for me for most part, and helpful information is WAY easier to find online.

American here who completely agrees with you.

Hate the US and their weird ass tax system and determination of residency (with the only other country in the world basing 'residency' based on nationality being eritrea). Like for real.. why you folks always have to be special with your weird non-metric system, weird president, and also these things..

One thing to consider if you are renting a house is who will do yard work. For most of the houses I've rented, the tenant was responsible for yard maintenance, so that requires paying someone to do it or owning your own mower and if applicable snow removal equipment. 

Committed to Northwestern!  Anyone else going there?  Anyone from the area and have any essential tips, recommendations, etc?

Admitted to Columbia's BME masters program yesterday! Anyone else? 

I decided to say fuck it and commit to Davis. Even if by some chance I get the NSF I don't want to make a decision so last minute. It feels really good ?
Thanks all for being such a supportive group of people. Best of luck to those still waiting!

Thanks guys. I know its just something to ignore and thankfully my boyfriend doesn’t agree at all with this nonsense. 

Unfortunately, money throughout the world is not distributed well, in my opinion. The wealthy are super wealthy, and the poor are usually super poor. Also, education is not valued like it should be either. Like in the US, education is not one of the top priorities when it comes to creating the federal budget. So, because of this, there is pretty much a requirement of organizations focused on the value of education. And then organizations have to make scholarships, fellowships, and grants in order to keep things running because in the world of humans, "money is what makes the world go round". This is how I see it, anyways. It is sad and frustrating and maybe it will change one day, but as of right now, it is what we have to do as students, sadly.

I am so sorry. This sucks.

Unfortunately, money throughout the world is not distributed well, in my opinion. The wealthy are super wealthy, and the poor are usually super poor. Also, education is not valued like it should be either. Like in the US, education is not one of the top priorities when it comes to creating the federal budget. So, because of this, there is pretty much a requirement of organizations focused on the value of education. And then organizations have to make scholarships, fellowships, and grants in order to keep things running because in the world of humans, "money is what makes the world go round". This is how I see it, anyways. It is sad and frustrating and maybe it will change one day, but as of right now, it is what we have to do as students, sadly.

Additionally, you may be in my situation where you have funding on a project that it turns out isn't your favorite, and is also very specific about where you need to take your project. If you get an NSF GRFP, you're granted a lot of freedom as you write your own proposal and outline/goals. 

The fact this post has 76k views is giving me life right now 
 
?

Alright yall...last weekend to wait it out, presumably! Eat good food, hang out with friends, and take a bunch of deep breaths.

There are many programs where you are "guaranteed" funding, but the form that takes can be very different between universities, and even between departments. In my department, most people are funded by training grants or their PI's grants. In the department my housemate is in, people are funded almost solely through Teaching Assistantships, which take up a considerable amount of time. Being able to have a few years without teaching to focus solely on research is huge and a big reason why many of them apply as already matriculated grad students.

I think the only other thing you have to do is accept your school's offer.

Hi all!
I know I am just an applicant, but I wanted to share some online advice/things grad students can relate to that I found.
https://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/the-50-things-only-grad-students-will-understand
https://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/the-12-grad-school-survival-tips
I think it would be awesome if we could create a collection of online things for new grad students, or just grad students in general, here.

I visited Boston University for a PhD in Materials Science. If you have questions, just PM me.