NSF Graduate Fellowship: Overview for Beginners

[@brita9067]

Thank you for this video. This is so helpful! You’re amazing!

[@georgezakhia125]

Thank you so much for this video! Super helpful!

[@JACOBSAYONO]

Should I mention anywhere in my graduate application (to university programs) that I have applied to NSF GRFP? Would that alter their decision for admission or funding from their department?

[@bonchonjonjon]

It is not necessary to mention in your graduate application that you applied for a fellowship. It should not alter the decision in any way. I don't really think there is a place to mention it anywhere anyway.

[@AM-tu1rc]

How necessary is it to be funded by a fellowship to be accepted into a grad program? Does it significantly increase your chances? I am finishing my Master's and will apply for a PhD in a few years after working for a bit. Therefore, I don't think I'm eligible for the NSF GRFP since I've already done a year of school. Are there any other prominent fellowships you know of that don't require students to be in their first years? Are there any resources for a list of fellowships out there? I haven't found much other than random web articles, and my grad school advising office has been very unhelpful in giving me these resources.

[@bonchonjonjon]

There is no requirement to be funded by a fellowship to be accepted into a grad program. It might be helpful to have a fellowship to get into the lab you want though. There are other fellowships such as NDSEG, Hertz fellowship, which were the other popular ones that people applied to for engineering. I feel like there might be databases online that would have a list of fellowships as well. I am a little surprised your advising office isn't helpful though. Perhaps you can check your school website to see if there are any fellowships within the department which are very common in most schools.

[@hikarisai7755]

I feel for top schools it still be critical, cause ppl getting those fellowships are top candidate too who got in top schools