PhD. Hub | Graduate Research Fellowship Program Checklist
Fellowship Opportunities

Graduate Research Fellowship Program


The GRFP of NSF is one of the premier graduate fellowship programs in the United States of America (USA). In support of its federal mandate to advance science and engineering in USA, NSF created the GRFP with a goal of nurturing and growing a dynamic and diverse talent pool for the US engineering and scientific community.

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Checklist

Timeline Task ✔
Summer Review program announcement
Determine eligibility
Develop an outline for proposed research
Early September Meet mentor or adviser to discuss proposed research and review the outline
Obtain electronic transcripts from every university or college
Contact the reference writers to check if they'll be willing to write the letters
Send the request emails to reference writers through the GRFP application portal
Create the draft for proposed plan of research
Late September Create an outline for personal statement
Get feedback for research statement from mentor or adviser
Create the draft for personal statement
Get feedback for personal statement from peers
Complete the personal information section in the GRFP application portal
Early October Revise research and personal statement based on the feedback received
Get the statements reviewed from a reader having exceptional communication skills
Prepare and send recommendation request letters to the finalized reference writers
Verify that official transcripts have been uploaded or sent
Mid / Late October Meet mentor or adviser to review all the components of the GRFP application
Finalize all the statements
Upload all the documents in the GRFP application portal
Print and review the completed application before submission
Submit the application
Deadline Make sure NSF receives the recommendation letters by the deadline
Wait patiently and enjoy the fruit of your efforts upon selection!

* Now that you have gone through the preparation and submission of the GRFP application, if relevant, it may be worthwhile to consider applying for other fellowship opportunities as well.

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