stilrsnation

@ survivorGuilt - I got the call/email on 5/31 as noted in my last post, just finished filling out my forms, emailed my contact, he emailed me back, no indication that I was in trouble due to being late! The one place says it was due June 3, the other June 8, and he said anytime last week would be OK. I'm not recommending the delay to anyone else. I just wanted to write this b/c the email I got says it will be like 6-8 weeks until I actually get an offer letter. So - got yours? Anyway, I figure it's going to be awhile before the award letters arrive. I don't understant the 1400 packets heather_bee refers to, that seems like about the total number of applications received, and lots of people got dec letters. Maybe 140? That would make more sense...who knows whether the estimate of 150 awards was accurate? 105 was in the original RFA. Anyway for those who got one, post if you get the letter! For those who didn't, particularly if it was your first time, apply again next year! This is one of the few, if any others, that lets you keep applying past a certain point in your studies (and even this cuts off after 4 years of PhD, but most others are like 1 year cutoff). And I applied last year, didn't get it and used some of the feedback to improve my app - particularly the personal statement - though since the research project is different who knows what made it? Could be randomness...

D2, just got "recommended for selection" call and follow up email has already arrived. Torture over, for me. I suspect it won't be much longer for anyone else, due to the May 30 date. Missed by just a little, I guess? I have no way of knowing whether all of the 214 finalists are/were still in the running as of this past week or so. Those are just the ones recommended from the panel review, it is possible that there was an additional round of internal review already? GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE ELSE.

OK, just gonna throw this out there as a little rant. I think it's obvious at this point that we all made it to the last stage, the internal review. Anyone think otherwise? Anyway, 6 people have posted as having been notified and probably double that (judging by the number of posters and lurkers) are still waiting. This out of the small sample of applicants who are OCD enough to have found this forum. though I am hoping that in this age of Facebook and Twitter, it's more than a small sample who at least stop by (and would heed the call to post upon notification! So what is the chance that any remaining rejectees (if they exist) won't be called or emailed and will simply wait up to another couple of weeks (even assuming no more posted delays) until rejection letters finally arrive in the mail?! Kind of a rhetorical question, unless someone really knows. Anyway, just wanted to throw it out there. Keep your fingers crossed I guess - though mine are starting to hurt.

no movement over the weekend. just called tthe "ncer hotline" listed on the application page - left a voicemail message for one of the "hotline operators" to get back to me. Won't hold my breath, though it's hard.

D2, also on the east coast. No call, no email yet... Hey - JumpingJack and itsavialable (FONs A & K)- you around? heard anything? I've seen C,H,I,J categories get calls and/or emails. Not sure what that means for Weinersmith (J), you were around earlier...

Congratulations! I wonder what that means for the rest of us.....out here still wondering. Oh and don't know on changing the topic, sorry.

Sorry to hear those who got "declination" letters. Still no word - though mail hasn't come yet today. D2...any others out there? Anyone know if these latest round of reviews sound like the internal review? Would we know?

OK at the risk of jinxing myself. D2, no word yet. So if there are other D2s lurking, please do what I did - show yourself! Then I have less cause to believe in the jinx. Anyway, I'm just wondering about this phone call/email thing. It sounds unconventional enough (though I understand the reasoning) that while it may have been policy in past years, I wouldn't be surprised if it changed. Which would leave us holding our breath all the way through may, if we are lucky enough to make the final cut. If I get my rejection in the mail today, the jinx is real.