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any experience with this?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2019 3:28 pm
by graduating_early
hello- has anyone graduated with their degree in December? I originally received my scholarship with the intent of graduating in May but I am eligible to graduate early (in December). I know that the only requirement is that we must at least complete one internship period which I will do this summer. Has anyone else had experience with this? THanks!

Re: any experience with this?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2019 5:39 pm
by Guest1234
graduating_early wrote:hello- has anyone graduated with their degree in December? I originally received my scholarship with the intent of graduating in May but I am eligible to graduate early (in December). I know that the only requirement is that we must at least complete one internship period which I will do this summer. Has anyone else had experience with this? THanks!
So, there are a few potential issues with this. The biggest is, if your SF isn't ready to hire you until your original grad date, you have to live from graduation to hiring without any SMART stipends. On top of this, you still owe your orignal commitment even if you graduate early. I stayed and took more classes towards a PhD, because it was "free" at that point.

Re: any experience with this?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2019 8:30 pm
by graduating_early
So, there are a few potential issues with this. The biggest is, if your SF isn't ready to hire you until your original grad date, you have to live from graduation to hiring without any SMART stipends. On top of this, you still owe your orignal commitment even if you graduate early. I stayed and took more classes towards a PhD, because it was "free" at that point.[/quote]

That makes sense to me. Did you ask SMART to graduate early and they told you that info and then you decided to stay? What was that process like for you? It would be great if I could leave early but if not its not a big deal. I just would rather know my options and if I have to stay and take extra classes or do more research I am fine with that.

Re: any experience with this?

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2019 11:23 pm
by Guest1234
graduating_early wrote:That makes sense to me. Did you ask SMART to graduate early and they told you that info and then you decided to stay? What was that process like for you? It would be great if I could leave early but if not its not a big deal. I just would rather know my options and if I have to stay and take extra classes or do more research I am fine with that.
The latest handbook has it clearly spelled out as to what happens. SMART will let you graduate early without any complaints but your stipend ends not very long after degree conferral. It's up to you and your SF to discuss how quickly they can hire you on, if they could even hire you early. SMART basically stated to me what is in the latest handbook (when I was a Phase 1 SMART scholar, none of this process was in the handbook and now I'm currently phase 3).

Re: any experience with this?

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2019 11:31 am
by Guest35
I had this exact scenario. I got in touch with my SMART liaison to let her know, and I filled out an amended award document which eventually got approved. Therefore my award (and service time) was reduced from 2 years to 1.5 years. The only tricky part is trying to start working before my degree is conferred, because I finished in December and won't officially graduate until March. I had to supply my SF and SMART with a letter from my registrar office stating I have finished all requirements for my degree. I also have received stipends while waiting for my SF to officially hire me. There could be a delay while waiting for your SF to hire you, but if you give them a heads up this early it may not be a problem.

Re: any experience with this?

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2019 11:42 pm
by AnotherGuest
Guest35 wrote:I had this exact scenario. I got in touch with my SMART liaison to let her know, and I filled out an amended award document which eventually got approved. Therefore my award (and service time) was reduced from 2 years to 1.5 years. The only tricky part is trying to start working before my degree is conferred, because I finished in December and won't officially graduate until March. I had to supply my SF and SMART with a letter from my registrar office stating I have finished all requirements for my degree. I also have received stipends while waiting for my SF to officially hire me. There could be a delay while waiting for your SF to hire you, but if you give them a heads up this early it may not be a problem.
Depends on your cohort year, probably. The latest handbook explicitly states your commitment won't be reduced for graduating early, and mentions dropping the stipend shortly after graduating.