so, i'm actually getting a little antsy because i submitted a research proposal for NSF that i used for a grant later on in one of my classes, and it got torn apart in that class (structurally, although the idea seemed to go over pretty well). oh well, i suppose at the very least i can reapply next year and then if that fails apply for an nrsa.
as far as i know the research proposal is supposed to not even really count literally, but should be indicative of research potential, but a professor of mine who has reviewed for nsf said that the research proposal is often considered as more than 20% of the app because people reviewing are used to reading "real" grants...