laura510

Ha, I felt the same way! My suggestion would be to drop by their office unexpectedly (when you know they'll be in) and have a quick informal chat (10-15min). Wow, 10-15 minutes in my department was like a huge time gift.

I think directorates would be the part of the organization under different directors, as in: "Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Scientific, Technological, and International Affairs (STIA), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Geosciences (GEO), Engineering (ENG), Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences (BBS), Science and Engineering Education (SEE), and Administration." "Divisions" seems fairly self-explanatory (google NSF division) So I believe they just mean that the GRFP is not the only recipient of ARRA funding and other NSF departments will receive some as well, so this all needs to be sorted out still before they get around to letting us know. I think the big piece for me is that they don't expect to offer many more awards. 900-1600 tops including the 950 already out. And unlikely to be near the 1600 end, so let's say 1200-1300, which means only 250-350 more awards. There's 2000 of us in limbo. These are not awful, but not great, odds. So take from that what hope you will, but I kind of doubt that EEBiology is a top priority, so I'm thinking I should be happy with an HM and apply again next year. In any event, if any of you do get an award, congrats and be sure to tell us. (and your field)

Here's the latest: Thank you for your interest in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). We regret that we still do not have any information about when applicants can expect to hear, other than saying that it is very unlikely that it will be anytime in the next few days. At this time, NSF is in the process of finalizing additional awardees. This is time consuming and more complex than one might think: different divisions and directorates may be able to offer different amounts of ARRA funding, and may have different criteria for distributing any additional GRFP awards they are able to make. The decisions are in the process of being made, but not all at once, and there is no real timeframe for all the decisions to be finalized. Until the decision process has been completed, we regret that we cannot offer a realistic estimate of when we will be able to send out notifications. We do know that many applicants are anxiously awaiting these notifications, and wish we could provide more concrete information. In the interests of letting applicants know as soon as we have any information re: a timeframe, we will update http://www.nsfgrfp.org when we receive news that the final decisions have been made; at that time, we should be able to provide a realistic estimate of how much longer the wait will be. When we receive word that decisions have been made, updating our site to let applicants know an approximate timeframe will be our priority; we will not keep the information to ourselves. If you continue to see the same message on http://www.nsfgrfp.org that is currently posted, it means that we really do not have any new information. The only other information that we have that may be of interest involves the total number of awards. Regarding the final number of awards, again, we don't have a set-in-stone number at this time. However, all the information we have so far suggests that the final total (including the current 950 awardees) will be within the 900 to 1,600 range specified in the program solicitation. We do not expect it to be at the higher end of that range, but there will definitely be some additional awards. If you have any further questions, please contact this office toll-free at (866) 673-4737, via postal mail at the address below, or via email at info@nsfgrfp.org Sincerely, GRF Operations Center

haha. i'm in the process of submitting a TA application for the quarter that i'll have to do that next year. i'm still assuming an HM and an award would just be gravy. . . . a really big, expensive pile of gravy.

Wow, BioMedSciMed, that just sucks. Sorry to hear about your situation. I wish I had advice. You can't decide on your own project if you go with another lab? I know zilch about your program, but in mine, if you have a good advisor, you come up with your own project which can be totally different, but related in some way, to their work. Of course, you can get into a lab where the professor wants you to basically research what they tell you to research, well, that happens too. Good luck hanging in there and I hope you hear really soon.

Sorry to be the bearer of gloom, but to be honest, I doubt that we can even consider June 1 the last day. If they haven't figured it out by then, they may just disburse funding at a later date for the 2nd round awardees. But I hope hope hope that we will know before June.

"Limbo, party of 2000. Your table will be ready in 2 weeks from 2 weeks from 2 weeks. . . ." i finally told my advisor this week. i wasn't going to say anything until i'd heard one way or the other, but i figured this has dragged on so long, he might as well know.

maybe we already have swine flu and these pages are just symptoms of our influenza-generated delusions .. . . :cry: :mrgreen: actually, i'm off to mexico in a couple weeks, so i'll answer the question: what's more likely? a final list from nsf or contracting swine flu? (sample size=1).

argh. rampant douche baggery has taken over our lovely little corner of purgatory! first mr. "i supposedly won an award but have alienated everyone who actually knows me so i'll go annoy people online as practice for annoying my entire cohort, program, advisor, committee and department" and then, for a double-scoop, we get homopho-bro. what next, Ann Coulter's gonna show up to top off the sundae of super assholery with a cherry on top? rant over. but it was fun! have a great weekend everyone. i'm going to go play in the ocean and "forget" about the NSF for a while.

ah, well, there's always a douche bag or 12 out there. keep your chins up fellow limboers! we will eventually find our way out of here . . .

Well, I'm in EEB and it's a good point that cookies may seem a little brown nosey (god, I hate that visual). I went with the notion that everyone likes to get thanked and everyone likes cookies. And true gratitude because these faculty were great to me and most people I know didn't even get in this year while I got recruited. In any event, I was too poor to get 'em anything else! My profs all seem to like expensive tequila. :roll: I think you're right that an email will do nicely whether I get an HM or . . . not.

So hey, here's a question for ya. If the NSF does bestow a glittering GRF on some stupendously meritorious/miserable wankers like us, does that mean we should write additional thank you notes or give booze to our recommenders? I sent 'em some thanks and homemade cookies at Xmas after my letters of rec were in. Anyone think another round of thanks is in order if you get an award? Is that just crossing the line into suck-up land? Seems like the letters are a huge part of the award process. What about HM's? Do you plan to publicize it if that's what you get? Opinions?

That's brave of you. I've just been keeping my head down and not telling anyone anything.

Even though it would just annoy overworked staffers . . I suggest taking a moment to indulge in the fantasy of copying this whole 168 page thread into an email and spamming the NSF with it . . .

When did the original two weeks start? I'm confused . . .

joining the limbo party avatar movement . . .it's strangely apropos to associate this process with bending backwards under a burning stick. i just wish there were more mai tais involved. :wink:

yes, but as it drags on, we become more zen-like. or just exhausted. at this point, i just keep checking back when i get bored at work. :|

we're not giving up, just don't have much to say at this point. how do you discuss waiting? "gee, it sucks" and "darn, i hope i get an award" about sums it up. personally, i'm enjoying spring and trying not to worry too much.

I sent them thank you cards & homemade christmas cookies back in December after my letters of rec were in. Do y'all think I should do something else now that I'm in, like wine? I feel like maybe there's a point where it's too much-- seems like sucking up. Now if I get an NSF (still in limbo!), then maybe bring by another gift? advice?

wait, i missed this "by the end of the week" thing. when did they ever say that? thought 2 weeks was the latest.

totally feeling more anxious, but I think in a good, but frustrating way. I'm pretty stoked to have gotten HM my first time applying (I didn't even have time to have anyone give me feedback on my proposal), so I'm considering funding to be an unlikely lottery win. But I still JUST WANT TO KNOW DAMMIT!!! :?

We believe in it in an artsy way, you know, think Dante. Tortured souls that we are.

having been a lurker until now, i can't hold it in any longer. ARGH! This is driving me nuts. And I don't really care anymore, I figure I didn't get an award but I just want this to be OVER. jeesh. anyone else want to indulge in throwing something very forcefully at the nearest wall? i suppose i'd better reconcile myself to feeling strung along for another week and rather more powerless than one might wish.

oh yay! I finally found the EEB contingent. Any news yet on where you're all heading? I'm going into the Phd program at UC Davis (Graduate Group in Ecology). Applied UCD, UCSB, Stanford. (Rejected from Stanford). How are your funding offers? I know tons of people who are still waiting to hear if they'll be funded or not. I luckily got a couple years funded, but still waiting to hear on some other potential fellowships.

My program has a field trip orientation week that I'm looking forward to. Most of the cohort goes. What about your graduate groups? The whole Department-vs-grad group is a little odd, but seems to work out. The profs, administrators, and students have all been really great. I hope it continues once we start and are lowly grad students!