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!
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. [b][color=#BF0000]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.[/color][/b]"
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!