ChivPowers

This NSF thing is certainly taking a while, but it seems like we all have a better chance at the award because of it. Maybe we should just let the NSF do their jobs and stop nagging them with calls, keep ourselves busy with the academic work we all know we have to do, and get the notification when it comes. Don't get me wrong, I'm just as anxious about it as everyone else, but don't we all have more to do with ourselves than worry about whether we obtain one prestigious fellowship? There will be many MANY more fellowships in our futures -- I know there will be in mine. For those who are absolutely convinced their application was crap, why the hell do you care then? Why don't you just write it off as a loss, move on with your life, and if you get it, yippity! I don't think you'll get it though because if you aren't confident in your application, noone else is going to be either. -- which brings me to another point, the NSF isn't going to fund applications that are not high quality just because they got some extra funding. It's likely they'll give the actual award to a bunch of the HMs and then have a shorter HM list -- or at least that's what I think they should do. It would be horrible for the future of science for them to fund average applicants merely because they could. To CuriousD, the information you posted is much appreciated on this end. Yea, so that's my take after having been reading all of these crazy posts for the past week. It was time to chime in.

I'll definitely post as soon as I get some kind of notification. I've really got my fingers crossed. I check my mailbox multiple times a day. The NSF thing is just ridiculous, but if it means I might have a better chance at it, then I'll wait however long it might take for them to publish the results. I guess that's easy for me to say as I'm not a grad school applicant, but a first year. Anyway, I'm just as anxious to hear about the Ford! Good luck to all!!

Oh.. after reviewing the formal annoucement, I see there's no such indication of when they notify people.. I guess that was a figment of my imagination... much like my Javits app. success... :roll:

No!!! This doesn't mean good things for me. I really thought they weren't notifying people until the end of March as is indicated in the formal announcement. Shucks, I guess I'll have to look past the Javits this year. Good luck to all!

Hi folks, Apologies for the long delayed reply. So, yes, NU is Northwestern, and yes, the psych. program is based in Evanston. However, Evanston is actually much more expensive to live in than Chicago proper (unless you're living in Lakeview or Gold Coast or something...). Also, yes, that stipend is what every entering Psych. grad student gets unless you're externally funded or get a special incoming fellowship. I received a special incoming fellowship, but it was the same amount as everyone else's "University Fellowship." I REALLY love my program and my mentor and my lab on the whole. To follow up on some comments as well, I think that $20,000/yr is a normal-high stipend. I've got friends who are getting close to $30,000 (Penn) and friends who are getting $17,000 (Temple). Good luck to all of you who are applying this year! It's one of the best decisions I've ever made, so I truly hope you all end up feeling the same way.

I applied to UC- Boulder last year and was flown out for interview weekend around February. Unless the economy got to 'em, you'd get an "interview" in Boulder.

Ok, did the TA thing this week.. not so bad.. Anyway, I have questions for other Cog. Psychees out there... If you're in, what kind of packages are you getting? I'm getting 20,xxx + benefits and 5 years 4 summers guaranteed at NU. I'm curious what others were offered. I'm a first year now, but last year was offered lesser packages from CU-Boulder, UW-Seattle, UI-Chicago, and UC-Riverside. Also, any Cog. Psychees get an NSF? Javits? APA Neuroscience? Ford? (I guess this would be directed to those who are already in programs...) Care to share you essays or have any good essay advice? I'm stumped writing this one I'm workin' on for the 15th deadline.

Uh oh ya'll, I'm about to teach my 1st hour-long discussion section as a TA in a week. I'm excited and anxious. Any good advice? (I've never taught anything in my whole life)

Personally, I'm feeling all the same anticipation waiting for fellowship app. decisions as I did during last years grad school app. session. Anyone else applied for this besides me? (Hope not ) What are your stats. and GPA? First year grad student or applying? What programs and degrees? GRE?