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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Eligibility:		You must plan to earn a research-based master's or doctoral degree in science, social science, mathematics or engineering. You must be a citizen or national of the U.S., or a permanent resident at the time of application.
Duration:		Three years of funding to pursue graduate work, which may be interrupted, if necessary, for up to two years.
Award:		A stipend of $30,500 per year (as of 2004) adjusted periodically plus a $10,500 cost of education allowance (tuition).
Holy Cross procedure:		You apply independently in early November, but the Graduate Studies Advisor is available for consultation. Application must include scores for GRE General and (if appropriate) Subject Tests.
Essay(s):		A two-page description of your research interests and a two-page description of your previous research experience.
Then what:		Graduate fellowship awards are announced after mid-March and rosters of new awardees and Honorable Mentions are available by accessing the NSF Home Page.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The purpose of these fellowships, funded by the federal government, is to assure the continued growth and progress of science, mathematics, and engineering in the United States by encouraging capable and qualified students to continue their education in these disciplines. It is the student who is supported, not the specific research project; the award represents a long-range investment of the taxpayers' money for the future of society. The award involves a stipend for the first year's living expenses plus a cost-of-education allowance for tuition. Each year about 900 new three-year fellowships are awarded; otherwise worthy applicants who could not receive awards are offered Honorable Mention. It is for work leading to a research-based master's or doctoral degree. Work for a research-based PhD in science education will also be supported if it requires sufficient competence in science itself. Complete details are found at the National Science Foundation home page: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=EHR

Often students wonder why they should go to the trouble of applying for this award, given the tendency of most scientific graduate programs to support all the students they admit. There are at least two compelling reasons:

It is a distinct honor, one that will add luster to your resume for the rest of your life.
It provides you with unusual flexibility in planning your graduate career. You will be a desirable candidate for admission and once at an institution, if it does not fill your needs, you can go elsewhere, taking your award with you.

Any discipline supported by the National Science Foundation is eligible. These include the life sciences, chemistry, physics, astronomy, mathematical sciences, computer and information science and engineering, other kinds of engineering, geosciences, psychology, and social sciences (anthropology, archaeology, economics, geography, history or philosophy of science, international relations, linguistics, political science, sociology, and public policy among others). The main exclusion is for disease-related or clinical studies, which are covered extensively by grants from the National Institutes of Health.

The application form, ordinarily submitted before early November, is available on the web and must be submitted electronically. It will be evaluated by panels of scientists in your discipline on the criteria of intellectual merit (your ability to work both independently and as a member of a team, to communicate, and to plan and conduct research; the strength of your academic record; your plans for graduate study; your prior experience; the opinions of your references; your GRE scores; and the appropriateness of your choice of institution) and broader impacts (contributions to your community, both scholarly and social; unique characteristics of your background). NSF is particularly interested in aspects of your application that foster integration of research and education, spreading excitement for science as widely as possible.

Awards are announced in March to begin that summer or fall. They may be deferred or interrupted for up to two years if you have alternative awards or choose to spend time on other activities than graduate study. (This is a good way to manage Peace Corps, Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Fulbright or Watson awards, etc.)

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