Award Acceptance Hesitation

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Re: Award Acceptance Hesitation

by guest123445 » Mon Apr 15, 2019 8:50 pm

Yeah, I moved from West to East Coast without knowing anyone on the other side. It's a huge change but the experience has been pretty enjoyable; the culture is completely different and it took some time to adjust. My award was only 3 years and it passes by pretty fast. Personally, having school paid for, a decent monthly income as a student, and guaranteed employment was a pretty good deal for me. I don't know if I'll stay at my SF for the rest of my life but, weighing all the pros and cons for me, it was a good choice at the time.
Also, the site visit helps quite a bit. If you don't like your SF you can decline the award and apply the following year, or not; whatever you are comfortable with. I'd recommend waiting to make a decision until after you've visited your SF.

Re: Award Acceptance Hesitation

by Guesty » Sat Apr 13, 2019 7:59 pm

Your SF site visit, which is a requirement, will give you the opportunity to see what you are getting yourself into. You can accept the award now and go on the site visit before July 15 (it's listed as August 1 on the website, but I'd go by the official handbook). You have nothing to lose - if you're located between 50-200 miles, you will receive $500 compensation for travel. And if you're over 200 miles away, you will receive $2000 compensation. See the below from the handbook:

"Site visits offer SFs an opportunity to orient the awardee with the facility and prepare the awardee for future internships and employment. The site visit is an opportunity for awardees to ensure personal suitability with the SF prior to the start of the award. Recruitment awardees submit a site visit report to the SMART Program detailing the awardee site visit experience within 5 days of the conclusion of the site visit. After completion of the site visit, awardees who do not feel comfortable with their placement will have the option to withdraw from the SMART Program without penalty, via the Site Visit Report."

I was hesitant when I accepted last year, but once I went on my site visit and met the people I would be working with, found out more about my position, and toured the area, I was encouraged and thrilled to be a SMART scholar!

Re: Award Acceptance Hesitation

by GuEsT0102 » Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:45 pm

Guest1 wrote:Hi All,

I just received a Smart Scholarship award offer and at first I was really excited and happy for this new opportunity. Now I am unsure and scared of the future that seems to be all laid out before me. I am a sophomore studying CS and my SF is in a different state. I would have to move there after graduation and I've never been there. How do I know if this is right for me? I wanted to reach out to all the recipients to get their perspective on things. Did anyone have second thoughts on this award and how did you deal with all the fear and hesitation? This is a life changing opportunity and I would really like to know what you've thought of the program so far.
I definitely had second thoughts about the award. I'm graduating this December so I'll have to pack up my things and move from Florida to a less exciting state, Alabama. But after weighing things out, giving up a couple years of my life living in a city or state I don't care for is worth the financial stability while in college, and a job with good experience. The way I look at it is, I've dealt with a lot worse for a lot less. What's a little more to set up my career for the rest of my life?

Re: Award Acceptance Hesitation

by Guest » Tue Apr 09, 2019 10:10 am

I agree with the other reply, and I would recommend that you spend some extra time during the site visit to explore the surrounding area. I also had never been to the location of my SF, but I ended up loving the city it is in.

Best of luck!

Re: Award Acceptance Hesitation

by codeToad » Mon Apr 08, 2019 10:53 pm

I am in a similar boat, but this is one of the reasons they have site visits. If you go there and don't like what you see, you would be able to decline the award with no penalty. I still suggest listening to other people with actual experience in the SMART program, but I hope that this is at least a little helpful.

Award Acceptance Hesitation

by Guest1 » Mon Apr 08, 2019 5:51 pm

Hi All,

I just received a Smart Scholarship award offer and at first I was really excited and happy for this new opportunity. Now I am unsure and scared of the future that seems to be all laid out before me. I am a sophomore studying CS and my SF is in a different state. I would have to move there after graduation and I've never been there. How do I know if this is right for me? I wanted to reach out to all the recipients to get their perspective on things. Did anyone have second thoughts on this award and how did you deal with all the fear and hesitation? This is a life changing opportunity and I would really like to know what you've thought of the program so far.

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