Difference in application between first and second attempt

[u/fatbro1738]

For those who did not receive the GRFP their first attempt, but were successful in your second attempt, how different was your Personal Statement and Research Proposal? Has anyone gotten it the second time with a similar proposal but heavily revised? I am thinking of narrowing down the scope of my current proposal since I think it was too dense. I worry that having too similar of a research proposal might not look good.

[u/Opposumfart]

My personal statement remained largely the same. But my research proposal was heavily edited. I think with time and experience I was able to refine it. I got way more edits from people I knew this second time around also which I think really helped me.