The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

currently a first-year biomedical engineering phd student at Duke. undergrad GPA was 3.97, grad GPA: 4.0. have not been contacted by any facilities, possibly due to asking for 5 years of funding (oops).

I'm a Junior at Penn State, double majoring in Software Design & Development and Information & Cyber Security. I've got a 3.44 cumulative and a 3.70 in both majors. I don't exactly have any research experience however I completed an internship with a defense contractor last summer. I currently hold a TS/SCI with a full scope polygraph clearance so I figure that just might help my cause. I applied for a one-year award but if I'm accepted, I will probably apply for a follow-on award to get a Masters in Information Assurance from Hopkins. It's out of our control until next week so we'll see how everything plays out from here.

Best of luck to everyone!

guest wrote:Wow Jefff, you have impressive credentials. I'd be surprised if you don't make finalist! good luck.

Thanks! That certainly lifts the spirits. Good luck to you, too.

Jefff wrote:I am a 4th year Aerospace Engineering major working on a blended BS+MS focusing on propulsion and minor in Physics with a GPA of 3.81. I come with some research experience (and the promise of much more by the time I graduate), and I have a few summers of engineering work experience with a really good recommendation. I am applying for 2 years of scholarship, and my top choices were Pt. Mugu Naval Base, Edwards AFB, and Wright-Patterson. I have not been contacted.

Wow Jefff, you have impressive credentials. I'd be surprised if you don't make finalist! good luck.

Corsair wrote:Wondering...how many applicants there are to the aerospace engineering field, and have any been contacted?

I am a 4th year Aerospace Engineering major working on a blended BS+MS focusing on propulsion and minor in Physics with a GPA of 3.81. I come with some research experience (and the promise of much more by the time I graduate), and I have a few summers of engineering work experience with a really good recommendation. I am applying for 2 years of scholarship, and my top choices were Pt. Mugu Naval Base, Edwards AFB, and Wright-Patterson. I have not been contacted.

Hey,

I'm a freshmen with a 3.8 GPA majoring in Biology, with a double minor in chemistry and history. I don't have any research experience unfortunately, and I'm only 19, so I don't think that will help :/
I applied to Ft. Detrick, and Ft. Belvoir, and I honestly can't remember the last one haha
I have lots of work experience (just part time jobs though) and some pretty good letters of recommendations... Keeping my fingers crossed!

Thanks for the attachment posted, it definitely gave me a better perspective on the number of awards available per major. I was really glad to see that Georgia Tech was the leading university in terms of students that were awarded the scholarship, Go Jackets!

Both schools are in Virginia--UVA or Virginia Tech.

Thanks and good luck to you as well. The most crucial call is the week before award notification as it seems that you cannot be awarded the scholarship without this final screening. I agree, information on the number of applicants per each sub category would give a better understanding of the proportional odds. Just saying that the top 50% in each category go on does not offer as much information as it would seem without knowing the breakdown. As you mention, EE majors are the most selected but this comes as no surprise in this day in age. I suspect that some facilities feel sufficiently confident in their selections enough to not feel the need to conduct interviews. All we can do now is wait and keep on living. Out of curiosity what university do you intend to transfer to? I am likely headed to UIUC or UMichigan.

Thanks. It would be interesting to know what percentage of applicants vs those picked were CC transfers, mechanical, or aerospace engineering students. Some of the facilities list a disproportionate amount of EE's compared to other fields. Good luck to you, and hope you get that call next week!

Although not an aerospace student, I am a cc transfer student in mechanical engineering with an interest in propulsion and have yet to be contacted. While this is not exactly what you are looking for I think it may provide some insight. http://www.me.vt.edu/academic_programs/ ... 0AWARD.pdf
On page 16 there is a breakdown of award recipients by major and level of study. Over the course of the program, 31 undergraduate aerospace engineers have been selected out of a total of 872 for the scholarship.

Wondering...how many applicants there are to the aerospace engineering field, and have any been contacted?

Hey all,

I'm kind of late to the thread. I'm a 20 yr old Biology/English major and Chemistry minor. Applied with a 3.610 GPA and am only seeking funding for one year. I have about 1.5 years of research in an animal facility and presented at a local conference. Looking forward to how this cycle works out and best of luck to everyone else!! :D

Just wanted to tell the site admin (probably Chris) thanks for editing my post. I was actually hoping it could be edited rather than deleted!

I am also a semi-finalist - have not yet been contacted otherwise. I graduate in the fall, so I'd only need one semester of funding. I'm a double major in math and physics, overall GPA 3.7 with a 4.0 in math and physics classes. 2 years of research experience in experimental physics, 1 year of experience in theoretical physics (with a publication in progress) (and I'd rather not say which subfields to keep myself a tad anonymous). I have a fair amount of graduate level coursework in mathematics. I expect at least one of my letters of recommendation to be very strong. I interned for a DoD contractor for a summer and so I have secret security clearance. Probably my biggest weak point is that I emphasized wanting to do research in mathematics (and mentioned that I plan on pursuing a PhD in math), and I'm not terribly sure that that is what they are looking for.

Guest wrote:

rattlehead wrote:

xkcd13 wrote:
Also, I think I am one of the younger applicants at 20. Who knows how that affects my chances?

I hope age doesn't have much impact on decisions ... I'm 19! :?

I'm a semifinalist at 17...heavily research qualified though.

I'm 20 and a semi in Computer and Computational Sciences. No real research but I worked for Cisco Systems Inc last summer and would like to do research in networking.

How much research could you possibly have at 17? What field are you applying for?

Sorry, it just blows my mind that you are 17, lol.

rattlehead wrote:

xkcd13 wrote:
Also, I think I am one of the younger applicants at 20. Who knows how that affects my chances?

I hope age doesn't have much impact on decisions ... I'm 19! :?

I'm a semifinalist at 17...heavily research qualified though.

Congratulations to all Semi-Finalists!

I am a Civil Engineer currently working for USDA and seeking for 3 semesters of funding for a Masters Degree in Structural Engineering. I hold a BS in Civil Engineering (Structural Emphasis) from Georgia Tech, GPA is 3.38 (High Honors). I applied to three graduate schools but I have not heard from them yet, they are taking longer than usual to process applications since they had to shut down a few days due to winter storms. As far as research experience, I only have a summer research experience with the NASA USRP Program, but no published papers. I am applying for a position with the Army Corps of Engineers and I am willing to go to any location they offer. I am also a veteran, 5 years of service in the Navy as an Electrician's Mate, with an Honorable Discharge.

Good luck to all of you in the next round!

Good point! I actually wasn't even thinking about the infosec due to the fact that TAP classes recommend you put your clearance on your resume. And of course, I've never been in the situation before

Can my prior post be deleted?

Mike, I think what tacoman is trying to say is be aware of OPSEC & INFOSEC.

Removed
--Chris

Hi Everyone,
Congrats to all,
Applied as a 4.0 Computer Science Major with a minor in Math-- technically a Junior, but a freshmen in my field, so I requested 3 ½ years—I added cushion. Have no research experience in my field, but wrote extensively about my interests- most of which revolve around combatting cyber-terrorism and sim games. I am a single mom, but have no clue if that will help or hamper my chances.

At this point I am so nervous, I am checking the boards everyday. Last night I even read all the old ones. It seems like they are looking for folks who want to have a career rather than using the scholarship as a "jumping board." Also, if no one needs people in the SMART field, then no scholarships are given. So there is really no way we can figure it out before hand, as we have no clue what they need.

Thanks to everyone who writes on the boards-- I am enjoying it tremendously, and it helps knowing that everyone is in the same boat that I am in. Waiting.

xkcd13 wrote:
Also, I think I am one of the younger applicants at 20. Who knows how that affects my chances?

I hope age doesn't have much impact on decisions ... I'm 19!

touche' Mike.... good luck

I got the email; I'm a semi-finalist!

I am a sophomore, have 3.76 GPA, and currently have a non-research internship. I am a Computer Science major. I have not seen anyone else post with that major...
Also, I think I am one of the younger applicants at 20. Who knows how that affects my chances?

BTW, Birkhead, very well said.