applying for funding before getting in

[buzzworm]

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I've applied to a couple programs recently that ask, in the application, whether I'm applying for any fellowships. Specifically, they ask about NIMH Predoctoral Fellowships and NSF Graduate Fellowships. Assuming that it didn't make sense to apply to these things before knowing where I was going, how much funding my grad school would offer, or exactly what my research topics would be, I have not applied for anything like this yet. That was apparently naive of me, because I just checked the NIMH website, and the application date for their fellowship is already past.

So, did I just shoot myself in the foot? Or do most people not apply to these things before they actually get into grad school?

 

[Ollie123]

If you are referring to an NIMH F31, it would be kind of an exercise in futility to apply before being accepted somewhere so I have no idea why they would ask that. People typically don't get them until their last year or two of graduate school - its basically a dissertation grant now, as I understand it. It seems a weird question. Although in the past I think it was more common to get them early on so perhaps its just a relic that they haven't bothered removing from the app.

I wouldn't worry about it. VERY few people, even at top programs, will bring funding with them.

 

[clinicalpsyapp]

I looked into that as well because one my programs specifically said that they look highly on applicants who already have funding. However, I found that for the most part those fellowships are for non-Clinical students. I emailed my POI at the program I was talking about (Duke) and they said to just worry about getting in first and worry about the funding later.

 

[buzzworm]

Thanks guys, that makes me feel a lot better. I thought I had somehow missed an entire very important step of this process.

 

[cheeze]

I looked into that as well because one my programs specifically said that they look highly on applicants who already have funding. However, I found that for the most part those fellowships are for non-Clinical students. I emailed my POI at the program I was talking about (Duke) and they said to just worry about getting in first and worry about the funding later.

thats what i've heard too. since you have to submit some sort of a proposal, it might even limit the number of faculty you can work with even if you did get the grant

 

[PsychPhDone]

You shouldn't apply for an F31 from NIH before grad school, and NSF...not compatible with all research topics. Don't worry about it.