Physicsisphysics

Ah shucks, I unfortunately did not ask --- I should have!

Edit: Called back and asked about it, but I left a voicemail so hopefully I can update yall soon

Ah shucks, I unfortunately did not ask --- I should have!

Edit: Called back and asked about it, but I left a voicemail so hopefully I can update yall soon

NDSEG got back to me and said they expect results to be out no later than April 15th, but they don't have anything more concrete than that.

NDSEG got back to me and said they expect results to be out no later than April 15th, but they don't have anything more concrete than that.

I'm in Geosciences, applying under the Army Corps of Engineers BAA. My application last updated 12/06/20.

I did computer and computational sciences in ARO BAA and my application was last updated 12/06! 

Here is an additional data point on my end: 

I'm going to reserve having an emotion about this until the results come out. One thing we should consider as well is field/discipline. I'm in life science or biosciences and mine updated 12/06/20.
What disciplines are y'all?

If it turns out to be true that the dates signify something, someone should really tell them because its a rather glaring flaw in the system. It's also distressing regardless of whether it means anything.

Two years ago was a different contractor, so I wouldn't put too much stock into what they did, I think Sysplus is pretty organized relative to the others that ran it in previous years

It's looking like the NSF will fund 2000 individuals again this year. Information from an article from Feb. 13, 2020:
The 2021 budget proposal also puts NSF’s flagship graduate fellowship research program (GRFP) under the knife, proposing a 20% drop from 2000 annual fellowships to 1600. Begun in 1952, the fellowship program is a pillar of NSF’s investment in training the next generation of scientists, and several labor economists have argued that its success warrants growing it to 3000.
[NSF Director] Córdova, however, has repeatedly proposed trimming GRFP since President Donald Trump took office, in some years down to 1500. In 2017 she said it was time to compare its impact with that of other mechanisms for supporting graduate students, notably traineeships and through research grants. And NSF’s current program announcement says the agency plans to make 1600 awards in fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
The Senate has rejected previous attempts to trim the program, however. For example, the final 2020 spending bill approved a few months ago ordered NSF to stay at 2000 slots. An NSF spokesperson says the agency will comply with that language.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/02/how-congress-could-reverse-cuts-trump-s-budget-request-nsf

Ah OK, makes sense. I don't think that's the case --- I emailed one of the administrators in early March and he said that in March, apps go to the DoD selection panel, which finishes evaluating the applications in April, so the actual decisions aren't made until then (aka early April). Since we're in such limbo, I emailed the administrator to see when exactly we should hear back.

Curious to see if anyone else sees this too, application updated last 2/28/20. Could mean nothing at all but dang, its hard to wait.

also very impatiently waiting....
question for those that have applied before / know folks who have: do they provide feedback on the application materials?

I'm pretty sure they have a category only for people on gap years (level 2, so basically right above senior undergrads, but right below first years). I remember it was a classification on the app.
And yes, based on what I've heard from panelists/reviewers, you're only compared to those in your own level.

I mean, I'm sure they just compare you somewhere in the middle. Is it fair to compare students at prestigious institutions with those at schools with less resources? Not really, but metrics for scholarship judgement are never perfect. 

From what I understand having asked people, there's no firm answer. But i've heard people say you might be judged more leniently in your first year since you're still building your CV and just getting started in research. By the time you're a second-year, you're given less 'benefit of the doubt,' so to speak.

Thinking about heading to UChicago in the autumn (if moving is possible by that point). If I do go, I'd love to rent a studio or 1-bd in Hyde Park, but I'm not sure that's possible on a $31k stipend (which ends up being closer to $26k when you subtract fees and taxes, although health insurance is covered). Any tips on what kind of price range I should be looking at, locations w/in Hyde Park, and how to approach finding places? I would be covering rent on my own the first year and then my partner would be joining me starting the second year so we can split rent.
I'll also be moving from abroad and I'm not sure how to approach that yet. Autumn quarter starts September 29 and I was thinking about flying to Chicago about a month before that and staying... somewhere(?)... while I spend a few weeks touring flats.
Edit: I've also seen on this thread that it's a bad idea to have a car in Chicago. Can anyone corroborate/refute?

Officially going to DePaul for my Ph.D. starting this fall! Can't wait!

I went to an NSF panel prior to applying and they said that senior undergrads are compared with senior undergrads, first years with first years, and second years with second years

I remember hearing in the past that the number of awards in each category is proportional to how many apply for those categories. This was from someone who was a GRFP reviewer for 20 years.

This was posted in last years NSF GRFP post, I cannot verify its real, but this allocation seems reasonable to me.

Also worried about receiving honorable mention (or nothing at all) because my undergraduate GPA was trash (at a tough institution, to be fair) and will likely yield negative comments. Also no pubs, but I'm not sure how much of a red flag this is as a first year. Hoping my letters of rec and research proposal gave me a fair chance... 
In general, I think it's a good idea to have your letter writers write about different aspects of you/your application. While that advice applies to many awards, I feel it's especially true since NSF makes very clear which categories they evaluate.

I applied for Chemistry (life processes) and Neuroscience, so I guess my application was interdisciplinary? I’m at the end of my second gap year post-undergrad and starting my PhD in the fall (hopefully......) I’m not expecting much but the extra money would definitely help since I’ve narrowed my admissions offers down to two locations infamous for absurd COL.

From those of you on the other end of this process--any tips for applying? 
I plan to apply this coming cycle.
I'm especially interested in folks from Clinical Psychology PhD programs as explaining the basic science value of our work can be tricky.