Physicsisphysics

Hey - I have more reacts in my quota again!

He's probably as stressed as we are.   Begging his boss, "Please, let me release the results so I can get some goddamned peace and quiet!"

Poor Rob - they've probably answered like 1,000 emails this week just from people like us. I can safely cross out "Be the liaison for a prestigious fellowship" from my bucket list. 

Can't lose a fellowship that doesn't exist anymore

Welcome back.  Join the charge to 1000!

lmao, I appreciate the lack of effort in this troll - at least it's obvious so we can stop dealing with it.

Us, when the results inevitably don't arrive by close of business:
 

In a way, we will be liberated if the results are not released today. We are all on edge because we were told where (when) the finish line is - and we are anxious for it to arrive. However, once that is taken away, we won't have a hard deadline to look forward to, to be anxious over, or to lose sleep over. 
Either way, today is the last day of our suffering under the mental bondage of a deadline. Rest easy, fellow applicants, because the wait is over at 1700 EDT today. 

Fingers crossed for tomorrow I guess?

Why was it punted to STI-TEC in 2018 and then SysPlus this year after being run by the ASEE for so many years? We're out here working our asses off to help this country (which I love) advance our technologies where this fellowship could provide hundreds with the resources to do so, but they're just twiddling their thumbs up their butts. They spend so much money on trying to recruit new scientists and graduates to join government agencies after graduation, but shit like this just turns us all off and they wonder why.

Lowest bidder wins the government race

It seems like it gets punted to a new contractor who has no idea what's going on every couple of years. I assume they every reset means the loss of a bunch of knowledge about how the program should be run

they're really about to push it to the very last day aren't they

Snare, snare? I have no snare in my NDSEG app.
Yeah, there we go. Ready?
Waiting around for my final application decision
NDSEG fellowship, we ain't in a competition
~December Gang~ dawg we're just clownin around
No sysplus updates since Santa came to town
My application was focused, my proposal was sick,
April updates can suck my big fat....nahhhhh
it's all good cuz we're brothers and sisters in this
it's a war with institutions and academia and shit
Don't let your self worth be defined by a yes or no online
yall better recognize, ~December Gang~ til I die
*mic drop*
 
 

My gangs that December gang.
That no update since 12/6 gang
Are we gon let that get us down gang?
We'll still get that PhD, gang

DAWN OF THE SECOND DAY
And so it was that the applicants to the 2019-2020 NDSEG Fellowship found themselves on the forum at the dawn of the Second Day, April 14. The Second Day was far from the second day of waiting, but was the second day wherein notification was possible, as laid down by the mythical NDSEG Administrators themselves. The ~DecemberGang~, with its characteristic boundless enthusiasm beginning to wain ever so slightly, was holding strong as other clans found updates even on the First Day, April 13. The community had survived the Troll Attacks of the Zeroth Day, a day of fervent activity for the Forum that sowed despair among some of the ranks and camaraderie among others. But at the dawn of the Second Day, the group was hopeful. Could it be that the benevolent Administrators would end their wait on this day? There was hopeful anticipation, nervous anxiety, and of course cynical despair (as was common among many in the year 2020). But in the end, only the Administrators could know what was to come on the Second Day.  
Good luck waiting everyone, one day or another it's coming to an end soon. 

Agreed, the DoD selection panels were in February/March, so the updates may mean nothing

Agreed, the DoD selection panels were in February/March, so the updates may mean nothing

Agreed, the DoD selection panels were in February/March, so the updates may mean nothing

Agreed, the DoD selection panels were in February/March, so the updates may mean nothing

I don't know that anyone is saying no fellowship  = career over and no success. There is something to be said for being able to do research for a couple of years without having to spend part of your time TAing. Plus having your own money gives you a little more leverage on the direction of your projects which can also be exciting! 

Don't worry, I have the same neuroticism about my research too

Guys this is insanity. Yes if you get the fellowship, that certainly makes your life much easier and is a wonderful feather in your cap. This achievement should not be diminished. This does not, however, mean that if you win this fellowship, that you're done. How you execute over the next several years is ultimately what determines your success. I'm certain if a modicum of the enthusiasm over the dates in this thread were to be applied to your research work, you career dreams would be realized. 
 

like they care lol

I got the email this morning!
 
I got it! 
 
I was an Arizona State Undergrad, and didn't really do much research until now, so I really thought I had no shot, but I guess I got lucky!!!