What if I get an NSF and...

[breadandbutter2525]

I'm not going to grad school next year, either because I want to wait a year, or if I don't get in? Can I defer my fellowship? Beg a school to take me? What would my options be?

[kisu1492]

I don't think you can defer an NSF fellowship

I'm not going to grad school next year, either because I want to wait a year, or if I don't get in? Can I defer my fellowship? Beg a school to take me? What would my options be?

[spectralScatter]

I was under the impression that you could defer for a maximum of 1 year.

[Eigen]

I was under the impression that you could defer for a maximum of 1 year.

This is correct- you can defer for up to 1 year.

[breadandbutter2525]

OK thanks. What if my applications are not successful this year?

[purplesmoke]

I've been told that once you have funding you can essentially pick where you go, since you are basically free labor. I'm guessing you just email the schools and tell them the good news?

[kdilks]

I've been told that once you have funding you can essentially pick where you go, since you are basically free labor. I'm guessing you just email the schools and tell them the good news?

Not necessarily. Some schools try to place limits on how many people they take each year in specific subfields to keep advisors from getting overloaded. I think most schools would be happy to have an NSF fellow and accept you anyways, but I'm not so sure the very best schools would be impressed enough to go over their quota to accept you.

[lewin]

Not necessarily. Some schools try to place limits on how many people they take each year in specific subfields to keep advisors from getting overloaded. I think most schools would be happy to have an NSF fellow and accept you anyways, but I'm not so sure the very best schools would be impressed enough to go over their quota to accept you.

Exactly. One professor at my university said "If somebody is a good match for our department, we admit and fund them. Getting external funding doesn't transform a poor fit into a good fit." That said, many programs are more influenced by budgets (especially in the current climate) and having an NSF would improve one's chances a lot of places.

Also, a fresh grad student isn't "free labor". Advising students is a lot of work, and the resources they use are more than just salary, e.g., lab space, offices, study participant hours, conference funding.

[bolani]

I'm not going to grad school next year, either because I want to wait a year, or if I don't get in? Can I defer my fellowship? Beg a school to take me? What would my options be?

Ok. I have NSF. I read this very carefully too before I got it(was considering delaying grad school for a year).

Fact is:

1) You can ONLY defer for a year if you are a) a full time studuent getting other funding at the time, b)military service, or c) some special special situation, like family problems or something. They will not let you frolic the world, take a job, do something else, etc with your deferment. You can do this deferment for 2 years during a 5 year period. I am currently deferring because I'm on a "first year" PHD fellowship at my school, so I figured why not take the money?

2) You most likely will be able to beg a school(not ANY school, however) to take you. Some schools frankly don't care if you have your own funding. Obviously, it helps with regards to "keeping" you after you are trying to pass qualifying...why would they fail out a free student that shows a small amount of potential, but in my experience, it doesn't help you to get in to certain schools. They have their own criteria, and may not have simple things like space to have you there. So feel free to ask, but it will be ok.

3) If you get the NSF, it means you are a kickass writer(on some level). This means that you will write decent personal statements. So you'll get in somewhere (99% confidence).

Moral of the story: if you get NSF and don't go to grad school, you, by default, forfeit the NSF. Even if you intend to go within one year. This is clearly stated on the fastweb FAQ section.

[breadandbutter2525]

What kinds of schools can you beg/not beg? Top schools? Public schools that have trouble with funding? Schools you didn't apply to? Schools you applied to and got rejected from?

[lewin]

What kinds of schools can you beg/not beg? Top schools? Public schools that have trouble with funding? Schools you didn't apply to? Schools you applied to and got rejected from?

Schools one didn't apply to would be a bit silly, but the others: why not? There's nothing to lose in sending an email saying "I just wanted to let you know that I received an NSF Fellowship, and I hope that information can be considered when reviewing my application" (if you haven't heard) or, "...and I thought it couldn't hurt to write and see whether you would reconsider my application" (if you've been rejected).

[abb]

I also have an NSF fellowship and I disagree with bolani. The reserve years are there to give you (the recipient) flexibility in your program. There is no requirement to use it in your first year. From the Fastlane FAQ website:

"8. Can I put the first year on reserve of my GRFP fellowship?

Yes. Any 2 of the 5-year award period can be put on reserve. You can do this via NSF GRFP."

Source

Years ago fellows were required to use their funds immediately, and I understand that they built in the reserve years to account for unique situations that people might experience.

I have used two of my reserve years to do research/work outside of graduate school and found no trouble having these "adventures" approved. All it requires is a formal explanation/justification of why you are reserving your fellowship. I think that not getting into grad school is a perfect reason to use one of the reserve years... and NSF doesn't know whether you applied to schools or not.

From my experience an applicant is more appealing with the NSF but is not a shoo-in. The fellowship is a nice way to get your foot in the door of some nice programs, though.

Edited March 8, 2011 by abb

[coffeecoffeebuzzbuzz]

FYI - Yes you can defer for up to two years if needed (and absolutely necessary due to factors you cannot control like medical issues, personal emergencies, etc..). Would I recommend turning down acceptances for a year and applying to grad school with a NSF Fellowship? No No No. The deferment process sucks and was one of the most stressful experiences of my life (which compounded other issues that I was dealing with at the same time). Do not risk loosing the fellowship on a whim. Do everything in your power to be accepted the same year as the award is given. Call profs, beg for acceptance if you have to, etc...

[anthro.fish]

From the latest NSF GRFP Program Solicitation (found at : http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?WT.z_pims_id=6201&ods_key=nsf10604):

" In addition, fellowship awardees must be enrolled in an accredited US university, college, or non-profit academic institution of higher education offering

advanced degrees in science and engineering by Fall 2011. Confirmation of acceptance in an NSF- approved graduate degree

program is required at the time of fellowship acceptance, by May 1, 2011."

This seems pretty unambiguous - you've got to be enrolled to accept the thing in the first place.

[t_ruth]

I know few people who were accepted to programs very last-minute (like a month before start) because of extenuating circumstances (mostly people who met professors through roundabout ways). So, there are rare instances that it happens...