I won the NSF GRFP as a senior at Pitt. I had initially applied because I had been told every application gets feedback. I was eager to share my research ideas and get this feedback – I did not think I would win. When I did win, it was a really exciting surprise and it made me feel validated as a researcher; it was a great confidence boost. I took this confidence into my PhD program and pursued the research I had described in the NSF application.
The application support you get through the Frederick Honors College is really developed. They have numerous past successful applications to look over and staff that have spent years helping students win this award. The summer workshop series goes into great detail and the one-on-one attention you can get for your essays is really valuable.