Check the complete guide on how to get the prestigious NSF fellowship and start research career of your dream. Quick tips and final to-do list are included.

1. www.ResearchFellowship.net
Full Guide on NSF Fellowships!
NSF is an independent federal agency established by the Congress in the
year 1950. The aim is to promote science progress, advancing national health,
welfare and prosperity. As said, NSF is National Science Foundation and it was
created in securing national defense. Annually, it has budget of $7.5 billion. The
fact is that, the agency is the major source for federal backing and it is a good help
for everyone. NSF has two major components: the director and the 24-member
board. The director is responsible for overseeing the NSF management and staff,
planning, day-to-day operations, merit review and budget. The 24 member meet six
times every year in establishing policies of their foundation.
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Types of Fellowships
• Life Sciences
• Geosciences
• Materials Research
• Engineering
• Computer and Information Science and Engineering
• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Mathematical Sciences
• Physics and Astronomy
• STEM Education and Learning
• Chemistry

2. www.ResearchFellowship.net
NSF Fellowship Application
The NSF graduate fellowship of the agency helps many people and here is a
quick overview about it:
• There is $34,000 annual stipend that is valid for three years and it can be
used for any graduate school.
• There will be $12,000 annual education allowance.
• The person will be given the chance to apply for the supplemental funding
when it comes to the international research projects.
• A chance to apply for the XSEDE supercomputing access
Eligibility Criteria: NSF Grants
• In applying, there will be requirements that should be met. In order to be
accepted, the requirements NSF graduate research fellowship must be
submitted on or before the deadline.
• Submit two pages of letter of reference. It is important to include the
department name as well as the institution. The applicant must need to tell
how long how he knows the person and what capacity. The reference letter
must have comments on the potential of the applicant. The statements must
need to be academic potential and it is prior to research experiences.
• Eligible applicants must be undergraduate seniors who are applying for
graduate school and it is enrolled in first year or enrolled in second year in
the first half of the 2nd year graduate school.
• Applicants must need to be enrolled or enrolling in the NSF supported
discipline. For more information, you can check out the programs
solicitations in the website of the agency.
• When it comes to deadlines, it will be vary depending on the discipline, but
typically, it will start on the late October for every year.
Another thing, to be eligible for the GRGP NSF scholarship, you need to be:
• United States citizen, permanent resident or US national
• Intend in pursuing research based PhD or Master’s in NSF supported field
• Must be enrolled in eligible program at accredited US graduate university
with US campus in Fall 2016
• Must have completed not more than 12 months of full time graduate study or
its equivalent as of August 1, 2015

3. www.ResearchFellowship.net
• Must need to meet all other requirements that was set forth in current
program solicitation
When it comes to general review criteria, the reviewers are instructed in
addressing two merit review criteria- the broader impacts and intellectual merit.
This means that applicants should include separate statements on broader impacts
and intellectual merit to give reviewers the information needed in evaluating
application when it comes to the criteria.
How to Apply
For past fellow or current fellow, it is important to know how you should
apply. The agency is inviting applicants to share their knowledge and experiences.
Applicants must need to register by filling out the form on the website. They also
need to promote GRFP through providing presentation at their institution or to
distribute program brochures. They also need to attend a presentation an NSF
personnel or GRFP operations center. For current fellows who have issues or
questions about their fellowship, they can contact the program office of the NSF.
For the GRFP, it encourages applications that come from underrepresented
groups, which include minorities, women, and persons with disabilities as well as

4. www.ResearchFellowship.net
veterans in broadening and diversifying applicants. When applying, it is essential
that you write two essays:
• Fellowship research statement (two pages)
• Research fellowship personal statement, future goals and relevant
background (three pages)
Tips for Research Fellowship Application
• It is important that you read the program solicitation carefully and thoroughly
• Be sure to make your personality stand out
• The broader impact as well as intellectual merit should be tangible in your
application
• Be sure that you will become unique with a unique view
• Do not hesitate to get in touch with people who are experts in the field to get
more information
• Avoid proposing something that you cannot do
• You can tell a story, but do not just give scientific facts. You need to let your
readers know who you are and what you do
• Make your application a great book that will attract the attention of your
readers in a unique way and will keep their attention throughout
• Be sure that you make the scientific areas interesting
• It is important that you have a clear view of your experiences, but it is also
essential that you have a clear plan on what you do in the future and how
your research will affect the society
• You must need to get a feedback from persons that you know and can help
you because you will know what you must do. It is a good way in improving
your research proposal
• Be sure to make your proposal memorable and unique that the readers cannot
forget about it
• Show that your paper will improve specific schools and that it can have broad
positive impact in the society
Typical Mistakes in Research Fellowship Application
• Ineligible proposal: The research falls outside the program guidelines
wherein the subject criteria are delineated.

5. www.ResearchFellowship.net
• Failure to persuade the readers: The common mistakes for the research
fellowship application are the person did not able to show what he can do,
why he is qualified and why the topic is meaningful.
• Deadlines were not met: To qualify and to meet the requirements, it is
essential that you meet the deadlines. Keep in mind that it is your
responsibility and not the committee to make sure that all the materials are
submitted.
• Instructions were not followed: It is important that you follow all the
instructions given. In here, you need to follow the page limit. For instance, if
the program asks to summarize the academic activities, then you should not
include other things or information.
• Lack of clarity: Your research fellowship proposal is too long or wordy.
Jargons are misused or overused.
How to Write a Great NSF Personal Statement
It is important that you know how to create NSF personal statement in order to
convince the readers that you are the person they are looking for. If you want to
know some tips in writing the personal statement, here is what you must know.
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• Be yourself: You can write about your family, passions, talents or education;
but it is better if you write something that is significant in your life such as
events or places. You can write about books that you have read or people that
you met that shaped you on what you are today. It is also important that you
display your best qualities and you will not pretend.
• Show diversity: The personal statement is your chance to differentiate
yourself from others that is why you need to show diversity. The program
wants to see how you are different from other applicants, most especially
when it comes to diversity. In here, you need to show what makes you unique
from others.
• Follow directions and be concise: It is important that you read all the
directions carefully. You should not give the program a reason in throwing
out your application. If you need some help, you can always ask the program
office.
For general advice, keep in mind that each essay must address both
intellectual merit as well as broader impacts. You also need to make sure that you
follow the new suggestion wherein you need to place the explicit headers on the
broader impacts or intellectual merit with subheadings for every point. If you need

6. www.ResearchFellowship.net
a help, then ask. Do not be shy because there are people that can help you in
having the personal statement that you are looking for.
Final Application Checklist
• Application fee must be paid
• Application must be submitted
• The letters of recommendation must be submitted
• The personal statement must be submitted
• All other requirements should be met
There you have the important information you need to know about NSF. If
you want to apply to the fellowship program, you need to meet the requirements.
You are provided with the criteria that you should meet and make sure that you
meet all. Do not also forget about the deadline submission for your application to
be considered. If you are having a hard time in writing your personal statement,
you are lucky because you have given some tips on how you can get started and
what you must do in writing.
Start applying in the NSF fellowships today!