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What Your Score Means

As stated under the Summary Statement section, applicants should get their summary statement and priority score through the NIH Commons  (see NIH Policy ).

If you have questions after you have read your summary statement, contact your Program Officer. You may be required to submit Just in Time (JIT) information; however, this does not imply anything about the ultimate funding status of your application. JIT information should not be performed unless requested by appropriate NIMH staff.

Priority Score and Percentile

What makes an application competitive?
The distinction between a competitive and noncompetitive application is dependent on several factors and can vary from one review cycle to the next. The ranges of scores and percentiles suggested in this section, as those in which an application may be considered or not considered for funding, are general ranges that will differ between types of grant mechanisms. For more information on NIMH considerations for making grant awards in the current fiscal year, please see Funding Strategy for Research Grants.

If your application received a percentile ranking between 0.1 and 20.0: While generally competitive, the ranking order of your application is only one of the factors considered in making funding decisions. Call your Program Officer for further guidance and refer to the box to the right and link for further information.

If your application received a percentile ranking above 20.0: You are encouraged to contact your Program Officer.

Priority Score and No Percentile
Scores range from 10 (highest) to 90 (lowest). There may be significant variation in the range of scores that are likely to receive funding. Call your Program Officer for further guidance and refer to the box to the right and link for further information.

Unscored

If your application did not receive a score: Your application is unscored because the initial review committee believed that its scientific merit placed it approximately in the lower 50% of the applications under review. Your current application is not likely to be competitive for funding. Should you wish to consider resubmission, you are encouraged to contact your program officer after reviewing your summary statement.

Not Recommended for Further Consideration: If your application was not recommended for further consideration, this is an indication of serious concerns about your application. Applications in this category usually are not reviewed by the Council and are not eligible for funding. Contact your program officer after reviewing your summary statement, for further information.

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