This question has been coming up a lot lately, so I thought I would start a thread—plz add to it!
Your grant deadline is fast approaching and you are pretty behind schedule. You wonder: “Should I cram and submit now OR wait until next cycle?” 1/11
Your grant deadline is fast approaching and you are pretty behind schedule. You wonder: “Should I cram and submit now OR wait until next cycle?” 1/11
Have all of your co-Is and consultants had a chance to read it thoroughly and respond? Make there is enough time remaining to get their read on its readiness. If there isn't, then wait. 2/11
How is your funding situation? Will your job be compromised if you wait? If the clock says this has to be a hail mary pass, so be it. If there’s time on the clock, then don’t throw a hail mary. 3/11
Do you have a tendency to always feel unready for grant submissions (and manuscripts too)? Assess whether the feeling of unreadiness is about the state of the proposal OR is about the anxiety that is produced by all high pressure tasks. 4/11
Consider the risks of putting in a proposal that might not be 100% ready. For example, it might not generate enough enthusiasm among reviewers to make even a resubmission a success. Once they get grumpy, it can be hard to turn it around. 5/11
Consider that a grant that isn’t ready could create a bad impression/reputation for yourself in future submissions. This is especially true if you are sending it to a standing study section that is likely to see your work again. 6/11
Consider that the desire to submit when unready might be fueled by the desire to escape the stress of the process. If the thought, “I just want this off my back!” crosses your mind, this could be the case. Wait. Step back, catch your breath. 7/11
Will you have more data for next cycle that will really strengthen the application? Might be worth waiting to put a stronger application forward. 8/11
What sort of disruption to your life would be required to get it in with the time remaining? Even though it might be possible to cram, will it be worth the stress/disruption to your life? Will deadlines always be this way for you? 9/11
Make a list of the remaining tasks and send to a mentor or other experienced colleagues with the question: “I have these things left to do and X amount of time. Is this realistic? What would you do?” 10/11
Consider that if you truly thought it was ready, you probably wouldn’t be wondering if it is ready. 11/11
