nelafleck

^Bump. No thoughts on this?

^agreed with what most people have said. However, it is important to take the "international skill set" factor into account, something you'll only get from the school in NZ. Good luck with your decision!

^Ditto as well. That and the nagging stories from friends in industry who are doing amazing things help to activate some of those overwhelming feelings. ...But the free food, ability to take a day of vacation at a whim (well, at least easier than in industry) and the lack of life responsibility make me love being a student

Is the research/work you'd be doing at the job at all related or potentially related to research you could be doing in your PhD program? If so, I would absolutely be honest. Let them know that you are looking to get a good "foothold" in this area before pursuing it in a PhD setting. Also, state that you are interested in publishing papers with any experiences you gain while on the job. good luck!

I know this thread hasn't been used in a while, but I have a general question about NSF GRFP that didn't really fit anywhere else. To preface, I am a second year graduate student who is currently receiving the NSF GRFP. My application for was a M.S. degree in Engineering, with an expected graduation time of 3 years (I wasn't sure about PhD or not when I applied) on the form. What I am wondering is this: With the courses I have left to take for my engineering degree (including required electives), I realized that I can be enrolled "full-time" in engineering and concurrently receive an Engineering Management degree from my university if I enroll in that program and finish out the management courses. Is this allowed or discouraged by NSF? Does anyone have experience with this issue? I've scoured both the NSF Fellows "terms and agreement" document AND the award announcement and guidelines, and it doesn't specifically state it one way or the other. All it states is that you are expected to "be enrolled full-time as per the GRFP institutions rules in the eligible degree program", which I can do while concurrently receiving the management degree.