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Undergrads & new grad students - NOW is the time to start thinking about applying for the @nsf GRFP!
A thread of advice I've accumulated on how to write a successful application...🧵
#AcademicChatter #phdchat #NSFfunded #STEM #scicomm #sciencetwitter #NSFGRFP
1/20
A thread of advice I've accumulated on how to write a successful application...🧵
#AcademicChatter #phdchat #NSFfunded #STEM #scicomm #sciencetwitter #NSFGRFP
1/20
I applied to the NSF GRFP twice, & was successful the 2nd time; I chalk up that success to my advisors at RGGS, Carthage, & Marquette, & so most of the advice below comes from them.
2/20
2/20
Are you a grad student interested in applying for the #NSFGRFP? The deadline in October will come up fast! The NSF GRFP can be life-changing for grad students, here's a thread about the fellowship and tips for applying! @AcademicChatter
The NSF GRFP is a fellowship that offers 3 yrs of funding for grad students, covering tuition & fees as well as paying you a stipend of $34k. This is awesome because it allows you to focus on your research without being required to be a teaching assistant.
Tip #1: Find a group of applicants to workshop applications with! I absolutely would not have gotten my fellowship w/o help on my application from @DaHoodScientist. We had a group @sdsu who met weekly to critique each others' applications, and it was a huge help.
It's graduate fellowship application season. I won the NSF and NDSEG in Machine Learning last year, but never knew if I was "doing it right" and I felt underprepared and demotivated. To help fewer people feel that way, I've posted my application materials: drive.google.com/drive/folders/…
My biggest advice is to make every single sentence relate to the fellowship criteria. To help with this, I designed a new template for the NSF essay that makes it completely clear the Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts of each experience.
The equivalent to this for the NDSEG is to spend time at the beginning making it totally obvious why the DoD should care about your research. I spent almost a page on this, before even mentioning anything technical.
In case anyone was wondering, I was rejected from the #NSFGRFP both rounds I applied.
I remember that the reviewer feedback felt very personal at the time. Lots of folks will suggest using the notes as a learning experience right away, but I'd actually suggest otherwise. (1/3)
I remember that the reviewer feedback felt very personal at the time. Lots of folks will suggest using the notes as a learning experience right away, but I'd actually suggest otherwise. (1/3)
Right now prob isn't the best time to try and take in reviewer comments. After your initial debrief w mentors, set the feedback aside for as long as you need to process the disappointment - even couple months or more. By then, you'll be separated enough from the experience (2/3)
for retrospection to be more valuable.
Try not to feel discouraged, and DO NOT compare yourself with your fellow grad students.
Rather, think back to your very first day on campus and reflect on *how much* you've grown - the answer is a helluva lot. Good job! Keep it up! END
Try not to feel discouraged, and DO NOT compare yourself with your fellow grad students.
Rather, think back to your very first day on campus and reflect on *how much* you've grown - the answer is a helluva lot. Good job! Keep it up! END
OK this may seem weird but it’s actually really important.
#PhD-specific tax info coming your way!
@AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter
1/15
#PhD-specific tax info coming your way!
@AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter
1/15
@AcademicChatter This thread is for any US citizen/resident #PhD trainee on a 1-year+ external #fellowship (e.g., #NSFGRFP, #NDSEG), training grant (e.g., #NIH), internal fellowship, etc.
2/15
2/15
@AcademicChatter If your #stipend or salary is not reported on a W-2 at tax time…
(most universities use the term “fellowship” this way, but there are exceptions)
3/15
(most universities use the term “fellowship” this way, but there are exceptions)
3/15
Also I've been editing a ton of NSF GRFP statements this cycle. I could (should) probably write an entire series re some common writing pitfalls I see but for now I want to share just one thing I've noticed recently: language that disempowers you as an applicant
1/n
1/n
❌ "This allowed me to explore xyz"
✅ "I explored xyz"
❌ "I was being trained as"
✅ "I trained in"
❌ "I was able to conduct"
✅ "I conducted"
❌ "I was able to determine"
✅ "I determined"
❌ "The xyz courses available to me"
✅ "I took courses in xyz"
✅ "I explored xyz"
❌ "I was being trained as"
✅ "I trained in"
❌ "I was able to conduct"
✅ "I conducted"
❌ "I was able to determine"
✅ "I determined"
❌ "The xyz courses available to me"
✅ "I took courses in xyz"
Keep it declarative. Simple. Active. Don't undercut your own accomplishments. Don't sell yourself short. Don't narrate as a passive trainee. Own your story as a scientist. As a professional.
This is not bragging. This is not arrogance. It's owning your actions & accomplishments
This is not bragging. This is not arrogance. It's owning your actions & accomplishments
