Site icon NSF Graduate Research Fellowships Program (GRFP)

Tips

Applicants

Helpful Tips

All applicants are expected to read the current GRF Program Solicitation before they start their GRFP application. The GRF Program Solicitation contains important information about application terms and conditions, eligibility requirements, application instructions, and the Merit Review Criteria.

Please carefully consider the application preparation instructions in the GRFP Application Module and the GRF Program Solicitation.

  • Start Early:
    • Read the NSF GRFP Solicitation thoroughly and follow the instructions.
    • Familiarize yourself with the application module.
    • Reference Letters are due prior to the application.
    • Two to four weeks before: Submit names and accurate email addresses of at least three reference writers.
    • About a week before: Remind reference writers to submit their letters on time.
  • Take Care in Selecting your Field of Study
    • Check the deadline for your Major Field of Study.
    • Your selected Major Field of Study must match your proposed graduate degree program – you will not be awarded if these do not match!
    • You cannot change the Major Field of Study associated with your application after submission.
  • Check Your Statements:
    • Include SEPARATE headings for Broader Impacts and Intellectual Merit in both Research and Personal statements.
    • Use templates in the application module.
    • DO NOT USE statements from previous applications; formatting requirements have changed.
  • Align Academic History to Transcripts:
    • The enrollment and degree dates on your application must match your transcript(s).
    • Joint Bachelor’s-Master’s program students must submit a letter from their registrar confirming enrollment in a joint program if their transcript does not indicate a joint degree.
    • Current graduate students are strongly recommended to submit official transcripts showing they have completed no more than one academic year of graduate study.
  • Submit Early:
    • Give yourself time to review your application materials and get feedback from others.
    • Do not wait until 4:45 p.m. (local time, as determined by your mailing address) on the night of the deadline to start uploading required documents; if something goes wrong and you miss the 5:00 p.m. local time deadline by even a few seconds, your application will be returned without review.
  • Communicate with your Reference Writers:
    • Make sure your reference writers are familiar with you and your application.
    • Consider selecting references who can comment on different aspects of your qualifications for the Fellowship.
    • Ask for reference letters early; you will want to give your reference writers time to write compelling letters.
    • See the “Reference Writer Helpful Tips” page for more information.
  • Consider Requesting up to 5 References:
    • You can list up to five reference writers; the three highest-priority reference letters submitted will be included in the application package for review.
    • Seeking four or five references gives you a fallback if one of your top three references is unable to submit a letter for some reason.
  • Remember the GRFP application is not a grant proposal:
    • The GRFP seeks to identify individuals with outstanding potential as future STEM research leaders.
    • The most effective reference letters speak to the applicant’s potential for future achievement in graduate school and beyond.
    • Competitive GRFP applicants demonstrate the ability to develop a strong research plan, succeed with their graduate study, and have broader impacts on society.
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