scigrad

I don't think it would be wise for NSF to just start handing out awards all willy-nilly. We have to be brutally honest with ourselves and realize that some proposals don't get funded for a reason. To lower the bar because NSF has some cash laying around would be detrimental to the award itself. Just my .02. edit: I'm sure I'll eat my words when I don't get funded.

This discussion is really blowing my mind. My RA is for "20 hours" per week as well, but it's become quite clear to me that "20" means "all waking." I suppose it's different in liberal arts, but it seems the disparity is just enormous. I'm not quite sure what to make of it.