ddrum001

So I know one can apply in undergrad, first year-grad, and second year-grad too...so some people could apply 3 times. Does anyone know the stats on the chances for first-time applicants vs. 2nd-time applicants vs. 3rd timers?

Indeed! Even if I don't win, I will say that we made history. I can already see myself recalling this to my grandchildren..."Back in Twenty-Aught-Nine we had to walk 20 miles to school, up hill both ways, just to check my email 10 times a day..."

I know I have went thru a roller coaster of hope for some news all week, and it has left me deflated. Since this is my first year applying, this process is beginning to feel surreal, like we never will be notified. Honestly, I've been legitimately waiting since the ides of march, 24 days and counting, and I'm starting to think I died and this forum is Jean Paul Sartre's "No Exit". The people aren't hell, but my existence is somehow dependent on the NSF...or perhaps Descartes had it wrong; it should be "I doubt they'll post today, therefore I wait, therefore I am."

While I agree with your first point on getting to other work, I don't think the NSF funds any where near all the reasonable proposals. While the prestige of the award may go down with higher acceptance %, it is my opinion that the government funding of basic science vs. other projects such as general defense is way under what it should be. If the NSF simply gave all the HM people funding(maybe less than current awardees) and eliminated the HM, similar to what you proposed, the full awardees would maintain prestige but still science funding would improve. Then again, I'm a scientist so perhaps I'm biased, but so is everyone else here!

I have to agree with Vannik, but if we don't know by the 15th, I'm gonna sharpen my pitchfork and start recruiting for the mob.

Sorry if this bursts anyone's bubble...but I believe that the scheduled maintenance on Sunday night occurred last sunday as well. While I remain hopeful for Monday, I wouldn't hold my breath. If you did every time NSF missed a "deadline", you'd be dead several times by now. Instead, why not start working on your proposed research to pass the time. After all, it's out of our hands at this point...but the results of our work are still in our control. I'm sure most people are concerned with the results more than the money any how; it's easier to make 31K in almost any career other than science.