NSF Eligibility Essay, any success?

[takingmytime]

Did anyone successfully write an eligibility essay this year?

I am in my second year of grad school, but switched from physics undergrad to MSE grad and am wondering if I can apply again (would be my second time).

[deipnosophistry]

I wrote an eligibility essay this go round and won an award, although my circumstances were a little different. I didn't switch fields, but I did start taking grad classes while an undergrad, so I had technically been enrolled in the graduate program for three full terms by the time I applied. I feel you should apply next year, write the eligibility essay and explain your situation. If they deem you ineligible, they'll inform you sometime in February. It can't hurt to try. Best of luck!

[denidzo]

Did anyone successfully write an eligibility essay this year?

I am in my second year of grad school, but switched from physics undergrad to MSE grad and am wondering if I can apply again (would be my second time).

I wrote an eligibility essay, and I'm one of the limbo people right now. I have a master's degree already, and am in my second year of PhD. I switched from a liberal arts school to a research intensive R1 university for the PhD, and it seems at least they thought this had merit, since I'm still in the game.

[even_it_up]

You can apply as a senior, as a first year grad student, or as a second year grad student (but only if you have completed no more than 1 full year of graduate study). Since you will be in your third year next year I don't think you will be eligible again. But it might not hurt to check with the GRFP operations people.

[physics]

I wrote one and was rejected. (I am a high school physics teacher and have a master's in science education, and am planning to start a Physics Ph.D. in the fall with a focus in physics education research.)

[takingmytime]

Thanks for the replies. What I was basing my hope on are a few lines on the nsfgrfp.org webpage:

A significant change of field involves changing gross fields. The prior graduate study should be completely unrelated to the proposed graduate study. Examples of significant changes of field might include:

* going from an M.B.A. program to a Ph.D. in computer science

* changing fields from electrical engineering to sociology

Changing focus within the same general field is not considered a "significant change of field". If your previous graduate study and proposed research are both in the gross field of life sciences, for example, it probably would not be an extenuating circumstance.

I will wait a few weeks and ask them if Physical Sciences to Engineering can be considered a gross field change.