NSF GRFP 2013-14

[jmu]

So, I have some information that may be useful in figuring out what exactly is going on. It applies to past years and things may have changed but it might still be relevant. It comes from a geographer who sat on a number of panels in the past.

 

Each application is ranked against others in its same class and they are done in order. So no graduate work are compared with others with no graduate work, first year graduate students with first year graduate students, etc. Reviewers grab a stack of proposals, read through them, grade them (what you see) and apply a score ranging from 0-50 based on the grades and the others they read (you don't see this number.) Once reviewing is complete, each proposal is assigned an aggregate z-score based on the standard deviation and mean of all of the proposals it is rated against. From here they are sorted into four categories: funded, algorithm funded, honorable mention, and not funded. The two funded categories are broken up 50/50 with half going to the exceptional proposals and half going to those that are best based on their position relative to others. How many this is is based on how many applicants are in the pool. Committees and pools are made up of people from different disciplines (usually two) so in Geography, for example, you might be compared to economics (no one knows why) or anthropology applicants as well.

 

My guess would be that what we are seeing is the result of a new part of this system. Perhaps there is some overlap between the algorithm funded and the honorable mentions or honorable mentions and not funded. They seem to be in the sections where honorable mention is arguably more important (access to XCEDE, for example). This early on, it makes sense if these are from the applicants who are able to apply for the first time so the expectations are lower. Applicants further along are expected to be able to write more succinctly.

 

Anyway, I hope this is useful and doesn't cause anyone to panic more.

[guttata]

Anyway, I hope this is useful and doesn't cause anyone to panic more.

Nope, seems useful and seems to fall into my lock/questionable/hosed theory.

[BioBum]

Nope, seems useful and seems to fall into my lock/questionable/hosed theory.

Wouldn't it be great if you were in the "hosed" category for someone to let you know that you aren't in the running anymore? Would certainly help me move on with my life and stop thinking about the GRFP when reviewers have already decided I didn't get it. 

Edited January 27, 2014 by Tachycineta

[stmwap]

Wouldn't it be great if you were in the "hosed" category for someone to let you know that you aren't in the running anymore? Would certainly help me move on with my life and stop thinking about the GRFP when reviewers have already decided I didn't get it. 

Seriously, though.  How hard could it be?  They have to send out the rejections eventually anyway.

[jmu]

Seriously, though.  How hard could it be?

 

It's a bureaucracy. It could potentially be unbelievably difficult.

[fosgfp]

anyone posting here get one of the requests for more info? if so, could you post the full email?

[threnagyn]

These are my thoughts - Last year, I received honorably mention. Since then, my application has improved (publications, STEM outreach, refined proposal, etc) and the number of awards has gone from 2,000 to 2,700 for 2014. I don't think my odds can possibly be worse than they were last year, so I'm at least expecting another honorable mention. I did not receive a request for more info, so I don't think it means I've already been 'hosed'.

[jmu]

threnagyn - See my post. I think it could go either way (you're out or fine) but since you are obviously not a first time applicant I don't think it applies to you anyway. It would be interesting to know if additional information was only requested from not-yet-in-grad-school applicants or if it was more broad than that. Unfortunately it doesn't seem that any of them venture into the forums.

[guttata]

threnagyn - See my post. I think it could go either way (you're out or fine) but since you are obviously not a first time applicant I don't think it applies to you anyway. It would be interesting to know if additional information was only requested from not-yet-in-grad-school applicants or if it was more broad than that. Unfortunately it doesn't seem that any of them venture into the forums.

 

I'm curious why you think this only applies to first-time applicants.

[jmu]

It's speculation. I think the timeline make sense considering this happened likely around the first time committees met and first year applications are read first. It also makes sense to me that they would give first year applicants a chance to provide some additional information if things aren't clear because they aren't held to the same standards as later applicants. Having some time in grad school it is expected that you have a clear understanding of how to articulate your thoughts succinctly and that you will have (potentially) a bit more support and experience in drafting statements and proposals that first year applicants don't have.

[daykid]

Hi all,

 

New to this thread. Does anyone know what happens if you were to win the NSF or receive an honorable mention but not end up attending the university you listed in your application? It seems like a very embarrassing situation to me and I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or advice on the subject.

[Pitangus]

Hi all,

 

New to this thread. Does anyone know what happens if you were to win the NSF or receive an honorable mention but not end up attending the university you listed in your application? It seems like a very embarrassing situation to me and I'm just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or advice on the subject.

 

It happens frequently and doesn't matter at all. If you win the award, when you go to accept it on fastlane you will have the chance to change the institution if it's different than the one initially listed. The original institution will still be shown on the awards/HMs list, but again it's not uncommon and not a big deal. 

[pyroknife]

Any clue when results are out? I hear early April? 

[daykid]

Last year there was a press release with the winners on April 5th. my guess is around then this year too.

[guttata]

Awards have been announced around March 28-29 the last 2 years, well in advance of the official press release.

[brownlee0182]

Awards have been announced around March 28-29 the last 2 years, well in advance of the official press release.

Yet still so far away… 

[archaeo-nemesis]

You guys are killing me with these updates. And yet... I keep checking for them every day.

[dudewheresmycar]

For NSF, NDSEG, etc., do people actually contact them with news of getting accepted into the program you put on the fellowship application?

[Pitangus]

You mean call them up now and tell them? No, for the NSF GRF at least, if you win the award then you confirm which program you'll be attending on fastlane. 

 

Unless you received one of those emails requesting additional information and that's what they wanted (those emails are new this year, I think, so I don't know what they asked specifically).

[threnagyn]

Just throwing this out there for those that don't know - For the last few years, the night before the NSF GRFP results were announced, the fastlane website went under some strange maintenance ordeal that made the impending announcement obvious. The forums are always 'wide awake' those nights and the results arrived between 3-5AM. I am anticipating something similar this year. If you look at last year's forums, there were around 100+ posts in that 10 hour period leading up to the announcement.

 

Its usually last week of March or first week of April, and I think the announcement usually happens on a Friday (maybe so rejected students can cool down over the weekend?). Therefor, I would peg it on March 28th, April 4th, or April 11th at the latest. Again, we usually know the day before or so because of a maintenance announcement.

 

When FastLane comes back online, you can check your results on the website immediately, or you can wait for them to email you later on in the morning. They will also send an email to your advisor.

Edited February 15, 2014 by threnagyn

[anthro.fish]

Also, Grad Cafe usually crashes during that period, with hundreds of users cramming into this forum.  Great stuff!

[Monochrome Spring]

I will be in another country during that period, doing field work. I have no idea how much internet I'll have. Poop.

Edited February 15, 2014 by Monochrome Spring

[acasagra]

02/19/14  -  FastLane will be unavailable from 8:00PM ET, Friday, February 21 to 8:00AM ET, Saturday, February 22 for scheduled maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience.

[jmu]

Fastlane goes down all the time. It will say Fastlane/GRFP for us I think.

[guttata]

It does not say GRFP but it has an odd downtime of something like 1am-5am EST. The actual message is available in last year's thread around March 28th. Way too early, stop freaking out.