PSi_light

I think that it means you didn't get anything sadly. As we posted before and you can read here: https://webspace.utexas.edu/moontj/IMPA ... l%2008.pdf HM is kinda "considered for funding" because they take the top 7% give them definite awards and then the top 1/3 of the second category and then sprinkle the remainder around on a few of the other 2nd and 3rd category applicants considering some of the other factors (ethnicity/gender/location/program). Good luck, but I'd suggest you compare it to some of the rejection letters in earlier posts to see if the wording is any different.

I just saw someone say they got a rejection letter like right about now (on an earlier post) so I guess so.

Oy!

To quote a song, "Why can't we be friends?" I know some really great people who didn't get it and some really great people who did. I'm currently in limbo which I assume/hope means I got HM at least. Of course I'd like the fellowship, but there is no need to start complaining about how they weigh various factors. To those who didn't get it: I'm sorry and I have full belief that you are still good/competitive grads/prospective-grads. I did my undergrad at a no name university with no grad program in the sciences (read not even a masters), and I still got offered admission at top grad schools and first author-ed some papers. I do think that among professors (aka the people reviewing the essays) there is a bias toward bigger/top-name grad schools because when I visited the grad schools I was surprised at how some people were unwilling to look past the fact that they had never heard of my undergrad. It definitely turned me off to a few schools. I think that reviewers (grad admissions and now nsf) are/were skeptical of my high GPA, but when they see that it is matched by a pretty good subject GRE they know that I must know my stuff well enough that I could have been competitive at a "better" school. In fact now that I TA at a "better" school I see that the undergrads get less hands on experience and less opportunity to be tested and expected to actually know stuff. We had to run instruments ourself whereas they turn stuff in and are given the results. We never got multiple choice tests because our profs were willing to make us do long free response problems that require advanced critical thinking (and are harder to grade, but hey in a class of 300 who wouldn't do multiple choice). I'm not saying big universities are bad b/c they definitely give you the chance to have specialized classes taught by people who are leaders in their field, but for learning the basics in undergrad I think going to a smaller university is sometimes underrated. I can imagine that the same can be true for grad school.

I think $30k/yr could make me feel pretty adequate. I think I would still feel good because even with HM you're in the top 1/3 or 1/4 of the people who applied, and this is a pretty competitive field since most people don't go to grad school and then a lot of people in grad school don't even apply if they think they have no chance. To anyone who is still waiting, I'm ready to celebrate an HM. It's still pretty cool. Granted I was hoping for a win or lose because of the decisions I have to make (more related to personal things, but I was kinda trying to use the NSF like a coin), but I think knowing that I wasn't "not recommended for funding" feels cool. Again, sorry to anyone who didn't win. I'm sure you're all awesome people and I really wish we could all get something (T shirt at least). You may want to stop lurking the forum though because I have a feeling that as the waiting continues the whining of people in limbo is just going to piss you off.

Given that it looks like 10% got awards, I think the top 1/3 of group II did get awards already. I'm not sure you can read too much into that cryptic statement though. Just to play devil's advocate (and I apologize if this upsets you) could she have meant 2nd group as in Group III if they're down to only group II and group III it might mean that? Although in reality I think they've probably regrouped them even more and you have a good chance. If they are in a new category system (of just the HM's and potential winners) then we don't know how many people are in each group so we don't really know what being in the second group means. I plan to leave them alone, although I do want to know. (Wouldn't that be something if they looked up your personal file just to pull you from the running?) Right now at least 90% of us who don't know got HM or the award. HM isn't as sweet (well for someone like me who doesn't even know what I could use the teragrid for) but I'm sure any of the people who got rejected already would love to get HM over rejection.

I could never get my hopes up like that.

Okay I can't find where you posted before (sorry its only 9 am my time), but from the same source: "? Rate applications using NSF

I'd like to point out that we suggested this method of release several pages ago... so maybe they do read this?

I think you are a bit too optimistic. I call that we know by this time next week. Good luck all!

It seems like a lot of ppl here did get rejections. I think based on their wording on the website that if you weren't up for HM you're not in the running. It makes sense since we all agree that HM isn't much more than a "nice try, maybe next year if you give us your left kidney."

Sorry I'm thinking your theory is wrong b/c my friend who is really smart won it. I knew she would. I do hope that the limbo = HM and I think I'd rather know I still have a chance at something than be flat rejected. HM sucks in a way but its still got some prestige, and I'm sure anyone who got a rejection letter would happily swap it for an HM.

I'm prob at risk of losing my limbo status... but in an effort to make ya'll smile: I named my flash drive "Your Mom". Every time I pull my data off the lab computers, they say "Transferring x files to 'YOUR MOM'". Maybe I'm a simpleton but it still makes me smile. By the way the funny videos on the earlier posts made me laugh at totally inappropriate times during a phone convo w/ my dad earlier. Love ya guys/gals!

Congrats to all who got it. Sorry to those who didn't. I'm still in limbo (which I hope is a good sign and doesn't just mean my university's email server is having issues... j/k)

I didn't get a reject or an award yet. If anyone gets a rejection letter, please let us know.

Your left kidney might be nice....

I guess it matters for any lucky/smart jerks who would be out in less than 3 years. But I have a hard time feeling bad for anyone in that predicament (3 yrs or less and 2 fellowships)

The calls feel helpful, but I don't think they are. Lets face it, no one is getting any actual information. I'd like to point out (although it was pointed out before) that if you read the 2008 forum, people were calling the NSF and being told it would be "a few days" because they had to finalize the list -- while other people could log in and accept their award. The same calls/convos were still going on after someone posted the correct list of winners on this forum. Therefore, calling really does nothing (and yes I'm not even close to being the first person to say this). Instead lets keep posting funny videos and submitting to PhD comics the idea of using the humor of this waiting process for a cartoon.

You're right, we are certainly slacking at slacking off.

Ok I'll give you that sarcasm isn't the easiest to convey over text. Can we just all agree to make up and go get drunk somewhere? I thought we were having a simultaneous drinking night tonight? If we were can someone clarify what time we're starting and which time zone? I'm west coast, but I'm totally cool w/ drinking at 4pm my time if thats what ya'll east coasters decide. PS (as I believe someone 300+ posts ago wrote) If I was in the NSF I'd wait while taking pleasure in the knowledge that I'm torturing grad students and making their already miserable lives more miserable. Okay... so I am checking it after I respond to every 5 undergrad emails... and yes that does work out to every 10 min, but I do need a break from answering the "do we really need to do this?" questions. (NB: those last to lines were jokes)

Wow... I'm glad you have the people skills to appreciate a little bit of self-deprecating humor.

Sounds good to me. I really wish they'd at least send out the rejection letters to the "your application made us laugh" people so that I could get on with my life.

Fair enough, and I apologize for my misread. Before anyone sharpens their pitchforks... lets be honest and say someone was going to ask. Now we can maybe agree to go after anyone else who asks.

Okay, I'm going to be the first (or try to be) to ask how you were able to talk to the director of NSF?

I'm going to call Friday as the day they change from "early April" to just "April".