ChivPowers

For what it's worth: I signed up to have the NSF pay for my subject test, but I never ended up taking it. So obviously, I never had to scores sent... yet and still, I received the NSF award. So, no, the subject test is not necessary. Secondly, I had GRE scores in the 1200s -- which is NOT the greatest score -- but again, it didn't prevent my application from being positively reviewed. Good luck this year guys!

Your credentials aren't bad at all, but I'd still recommend you take a couple years and do some kind of RAship so you can get more experience. Then you'll definitely be able to get into whatever school you are planning on. My 2 cents. Good luck!!

To all of you who will be new to Northwestern this year, here's my advice (as someone who moved here last year from philly for grad school): Don't live in Evanston. It's very expensive. I live in Roger's Park (where the NU shuttle picks me up conveniently 5 or so blocks away) and I have an amazing apartment (850 sq. ft) with really reasonable rent ($800ish) and I love my neighborhood. I don't live with roommates, and I live completely on my stipend. If I were living in Evanston, I would have a much smaller apartment, for much more rent, with only Evanston out my front door. In Roger's Park, I've got all of Chicago just one train ride away. Anyway, the point is, consider living in other parts of Chicago -- it's worth it. Not to mention you'll be holed up in your lab so much, that it's nice to get out to other parts of Chicago instead of being in Evanston all the time. My two cents.

So... noone got their award packet yet?

Even if this turns out to be a scam, what's the risk in applying? You don't have to pay the $8.00 if you don't want to, and you don't even have to request letters of recommendation from people. I see no harm in applying.. if you've applied for ANY other funding this year, then your app. is pretty much ready to go (judging from the application posted online). They don't even need an official transcript!!! I hadn't heard of it until this thread, but now I'm applying! I could use $3000 for research supplies and scan time!

Here's another question for someone who has won the NSF-GRF in the past: Are you paid directly from NSF, or does the funding come through your department? I know that typically that would be a school-specific question, but I heard there's something different about the way NSF distributes money. Second, what other fellowships does NSF consider "major"? They state that you cannot hold another major fellowship at the same time as NSF, but does anyone know what their criteria for a major fellowship are? As for those ratings sheets.... If they're not posting them until after this epic announcement period is over, I guess I should mark my calendar for Nevuary 32nd as the date when I'll get to see those...?

So getting back to the subject at hand, did anyone ever figure out if the NSF twitter is real?

Wow -- guys -- we're all mature adults -- or aspiring to be. Yes, it was immature, mean, and just downright annoying that just.for.the.grfp dude posted his letter from the 10th. But hey just.for.the.grfp guy, you should be careful -- there are only 9 people in the field of Botany who got the grfp -- you're easily track-downable -- so you might not want to be making enemies. Secondly, you guys are silly to be attacking someone for using the word "gay" in a way that has nothing to do with homosexuals. Come on, really? It's perfectly acceptible for someone to say "gay behavior" because at this point, it has an meaning that is COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY independent of anything having to do with being homosexual. Just because it's not PC, doesn't mean you have to overinterpret and personalize it. I use "gay" as an adjective for obnoxious, weird, etc... but I'm NEVER referring to homosexuals in these instances.. I have absolutely and utterly NO PROBLEMS WITH GAY PEOPLE. My sister IS homosexual and she uses it in the same way. It's NOT a big deal. Why can't we all just accept the word "gay" to mean happy, homosexual, or obnoxious. If "bad" can sometimes mean "good" (and it does) , and sometimes mean "not good", then "gay" can have multiple meanings and uses too. Now, that being said: Just.for.the.grfp, you are frickin' gay. Get a life. Support the folks who must endure this endless wait instead of laughing in their faces and taunting them. BTW- I'm surprised that someone with a kindergarteners maturity level won the grfp. I hope your award frees up your time so you can use it to get a mature grasp on life. Good luck to everyone on here who is in LIMBO.

All of the above posters absolutely have the right idea. You should look for the best person to mentor you in your pursuit of understanding some social phenomenon. You could get incredible graduate training anywhere so long as you rise to the occasion and take advantage of your resources.. and conversely, you could be at a Tier I research institution and end up having crappy training because you didn't put in the effort. So yea, it's about the advisors, the resources, and your motivation -- not so much what the Princeton Review has to say about a program... In the same vein, you could end up working with a super big-wig in the field in an "amazing program" but then never get any real face time and ultimately have projects that suffer because your mentor is too busy for you. That all said, GOOD LUCK!

So did anyone receive their packets yet? and is anyone planning to decline???

Geesh, in the wake all this waiting, is it too ridiculous to wonder about when they'll post ratings sheets...?

oh.. you're probably right. so there ya have it folks, no change at login!

Just a small, insignificant FYI: When you log into the Ford application page, and go to "Data Review" you will see that it says "Honorable Mentions List?" and should now have an answer. (Mine does) Has anyone called yet to find out how many alternates there are?

Well, the NRSA also stopped funding for the Diversity Program in Neuroscience after this year too. In my letter, it said if I got the award, it would only be for one year (instead of 3) because the NRSA decided to stop funding this program. So, for what it's worth, looks like the DPN program is on its way out too...

There's a thread for what school and program people decided on, there should be one for the fellowships, scholarships, and grants people accepted and declined. What fellowships did you apply for? Which did you get? Which did you decide to keep? Which did you decline? (why?)