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NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Bootcamp

Location

Administration : 101

Date & Time

October 26, 2025, 9:30 am4:00 pm

Description

First year graduate students: Getting ready to submit your NSF GRFP application due November 10th - 14th? The Graduate School & GSPD are offering a GRFP & FELLOWSHIP BOOTCAMP!

This in-person workshop, facilitated by Dr. Michael Westrate, will guide you through tools and tactics to refine your NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) application before submission. You'll also learn strategies that apply broadly to other fellowship applications. Winners of this fellowship get more than $159,000 total (3 years of funding) towards their graduate education. Competition is steep, but UMBC has a proud history of several undergraduate and graduate students winning this prestigious fellowship, and we are committed to helping more students achieve this success!

This hands-on session is designed to help both senior undergraduates and first year graduate students prepare strong, competitive applications.

 Sunday, October 26, 2025
 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
 Administration Building, Lecture Hall 101

Pizza lunch will be provided. 

Come ready to polish your statements, get feedback, and strengthen your materials before the GRFP November deadlines!

About Dr. Westrate: Through similar Boot Camps each of the last six years, Dr. Westrate and his team have assisted over 500 student applicants to major national awards. Of those applicants, more than 100 won the prestigious NSF GRFP award or received Honorable Mention, and over 200 others won similar awards (e.g. Fulbright). The program will consist of interactive workshop sessions, and will cover everything from finding fellowship opportunities to leveraging fellowship wins with graduate school admissions.

Please click "going" below if you plan to attend so we can ensure there is sufficient food and send you reminders and resources to succeed.

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