Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

So it seems that the minimum font for citations is 10. Is it necessary to have each citation start on a new line? That'd waste so much space if so. 

Posted

What is the difference between anticipated results and hypothesis? 

I thought hypothesis was stating what you think would result, which would make that the same thing as anticipated results?

Posted

Here's the post about the artifact:

The author never wrote back with more information.

 

I've seen essays with headers but I don't know if they were added after the fact when they were shared online. I wouldn't worry about not having headers with your name and the essay type on top. Plenty of people, myself included, didn't have those kind of headers (or any note which essay was which) and our application materials were understood. I'm sure they have a system for handling things that is pretty mature.

 

It's probably up to the specific reviewer. I had a header that showed the following information for each of my essays and I got the fellowship last year:

 

Name

NSF GRFP Research Proposal

13 November 2012

Posted (edited)

What is the difference between anticipated results and hypothesis? 

I thought hypothesis was stating what you think would result, which would make that the same thing as anticipated results?

 

In the sciences, generally speaking, a hypothesis is a testable/falsifiable statement that serves as a proposed explanation for some phenomenon or as a solution to a problem. The anticipated results refer to the outcome of an experiment/study designed to test a hypothesis.

So no, they are not the same thing. It is possible to form one hypothesis and then develop several experiments that could each test that hypothesis somehow and would each yield a separate set of results. It is also sometimes possible to design one "crucial experiment" that tests several competing hypotheses (a method known as "strong inference").

I don't know much about the process of hypothesis formation and evaluation in engineering, so I can't be more specific than that.

Edited by Pitangus
Posted

Looking for advice from former or current applicants to this program.

As all of you know, you only have five spots to list fellowships/scholarships/work experience/teaching experiences relevant to your field of study. So - determining which ones to list has turned into a battle for me..

 

I would like to list my involvement on a grant committee. However, is this something they would like in this section? Or should it only be briefly mentioned in my personal statement?

 

Posted

Has anyone else underlined key points in their personal statement/research proposal?  Or is that just tacky?  

 

Be careful to avoid using it too much, so that it loses its significance, but I have bolded important or key elements to make a point in this and other applications.

Posted

So it seems that the minimum font for citations is 10. Is it necessary to have each citation start on a new line? That'd waste so much space if so. 

 

I've seen plenty of winner runs theirs references in a continuous line instead of a new line for each one.

Speaking of which, how many references would people suggest? I'm pushing 12 on mine currently, thinking about seeing if I can cut them down.

Posted

This may seem like a silly question, but I can't find any place on the application where I can upload my CV. Are we allowed to submit our CV?

Posted

I've seen plenty of winner runs theirs references in a continuous line instead of a new line for each one.

Speaking of which, how many references would people suggest? I'm pushing 12 on mine currently, thinking about seeing if I can cut them down.

 

Keep it less than 10. You can cite review articles from big name journals that include the most current advancements in the field. Even a very theory-heavy proposal ive read cited 3. Doable.

And yes, the references can be in one line. All the winners I know did that. 

Posted

This may seem like a silly question, but I can't find any place on the application where I can upload my CV. Are we allowed to submit our CV?

 

If there is no place for a CV, then it's not needed. In fact, it is not needed. 

Posted

Do they actually check your references? I'm a couple of lines over and if I could delete a few references, that'd get me back under the page limit. 

Posted

Do they actually check your references? I'm a couple of lines over and if I could delete a few references, that'd get me back under the page limit. 

 

I dont know. Im not a reader. But rather than doing something shady, I would suggest you pick a review article to cite and that will help cut down the # of refs.

Posted

Does anyone know if you are suppose to put transcripts only from institutions where we received degrees from. Since between undergrad and grad school I went to med school for a semester and withdrew in the second due to medical conditions. I am not sure if I need to add this transcript, since I called them and they said only form degree granting institutions.

Posted

Does anyone know if you are suppose to put transcripts only from institutions where we received degrees from. Since between undergrad and grad school I went to med school for a semester and withdrew in the second due to medical conditions. I am not sure if I need to add this transcript, since I called them and they said only form degree granting institutions.

 

A "degree-granting institution" is a school that offers degrees, not necessarily one you graduated from. This is meant to exclude certificate programs and short workshops. You need to submit transcripts from each accredited school you attended, whether you withdrew, transferred, or successfully graduated.

Posted

I was awarded an Honorable Mention last year, and I want to include it in my application somewhere. I'm not sure whether to put it in the statements, or in the "scholarships" section.

 

Does anyone have an opinion on this? Where did you include it?

Posted

Hi folks! Question:

I am a second year full time graduate student. I took some graduate courses as an undergraduate. I read in the FAQ:

 

Q8. I took some graduate-level courses as an undergraduate. Do those count towards the 12-month limit?
A: Any graduate-level courses taken as an undergraduate do not count towards the limit of allowed graduate study. Only graduate-level courses taken after you completed your undergraduate degree would count

 

 

Should I list the graduate hours I took as an undergrad on the application?? Does that FAQ answer mean don't list them or still list them but they don't count?? (I understand hours don't matter for me anyway as a full time graduate student.)

Posted

Hi folks! Question:

I am a second year full time graduate student. I took some graduate courses as an undergraduate. I read in the FAQ:

 

Q8. I took some graduate-level courses as an undergraduate. Do those count towards the 12-month limit?

A: Any graduate-level courses taken as an undergraduate do not count towards the limit of allowed graduate study. Only graduate-level courses taken after you completed your undergraduate degree would count

 

 

Should I list the graduate hours I took as an undergrad on the application?? Does that FAQ answer mean don't list them or still list them but they don't count?? (I understand hours don't matter for me anyway as a full time graduate student.)

 

Are the grad hours listed on your UG transcript and do they count toward your undergrad degree? If so, they are actually UG hours that happened to be taken at the graduate level. Do not list them separately.

 

I'm basing this off of 4 years of working in a registrar's office during UG and the Q/A you listed here.

Posted

Graduate study (and the hours therein) are hours taken post- bachelors, or counted towards a graduate degree along with a bachelors (ie, 4+1 masters program). 

 

Taking graduate level courses as an undergraduate is not the same thing as graduate study, from NSF's point of view. 

 

Many schools (from a quick google) only count graduate level courses as graduate credit with special petition, and they are then shown separately on the transcript, and do not count towards your undergraduate degree. 

Posted

A "degree-granting institution" is a school that offers degrees, not necessarily one you graduated from. This is meant to exclude certificate programs and short workshops. You need to submit transcripts from each accredited school you attended, whether you withdrew, transferred, or successfully graduated.

 

Actually, NSF only asks for transcripts from which you were granted a degree, as long as the course work shows up on your undergraduate transcript. I've copied the below information from the application instructions on FastLane.  In regards to the original question though, it would seem that they may want to see that course work since it will not likely be showing up on your undergrad transcript.

 

If you attended more than one institution for your baccalaureate career (e.g., you attended a community college or another institution before transferring to your baccalaureate institution, you took summer courses or studied abroad, etc.), you need to only list the degree-granting institution, provided any transfer credits appear on your baccalaureate institution's transcript.

Posted

provided any transfer credits appear on your baccalaureate institution's transcript.

 

Which they often don't, or at least not in any detail greater than "24 credit hours."

Posted

Sorry all, asking another formatting question.

 

I couldn't find anything in the program solicitation on paragraph indentation size.  I'm thinking it'd be ok to do 0.25" instead of 0.5"?

Posted

I'll check my essays tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure I didn't do paragraph indents. Just a slight (1.2) line break between them. 

Posted

Sorry all, asking another formatting question.

 

I couldn't find anything in the program solicitation on paragraph indentation size.  I'm thinking it'd be ok to do 0.25" instead of 0.5"?

 

 

No strict requirement on indentation. Past winning essays some have indentations, some dont. 

Between paragraphs you can add an extra 4 pt (to the minimum "single spaced") to make it easier to read.
 
Source: Director of the Office of Grants and Fellowships at my school.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use