Congratulations! It’s November 5th, and if you’re anything like me last year you just submitted your NSF application about 15 hours ago. Take a breath, do something fun, you deserve it!

What? You didn’t apply?! Why not? A lesson I learned the hard way: If you don’t apply, you’re guaranteed not to get it. A lot of people have something called Imposter Syndrome, and end up thinking they’re not good enough to win national fellowships or to get into top schools. Well, it’s worth repeating: If you don’t apply, you definitely won’t! Writing fellowship applications can seem like a lot of work when you’re already applying to a bunch of schools, but having a fellowship in grad school gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to choosing an advisor and research topic. It’s also a great recognition for all your hard work!

It’s too late for the NSF and the Hertz (at least for this year… never to early to get a head start on an application for 2009, though) but the NDSEG isn’t due until January. A lot of companies also offer fellowships based on the field you’re in, sometimes with the added bonus (restriction?) of a summer internship. Writing fellowship applications is also a great way to “practice” for your actual grad school applications — those are the ones that really matter, since you can’t use a fellowship unless you get in Do your homework; tons of people have written up their experiences applying and have lots of tips and advice.

Just think — this time next year you’ll be slaving away (er, having fun) in the research lab of your choosing. The application process is something that you should get comfortable with as soon as possible — though you might think there’s no more school after grad school, you’ll have lots of opportunities to apply for things as you continue your education.