The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

[quote="kbl2017"]Well first of all. You have nothing to lose by applying. Second of all, your GPA is higher than mine was (3.1) and GRE scores are about the same as mine were. I think the fact that you want to work at the DoD and probably wrote that convincingly in your app as well as the fact that you feel you match with your chosen SF and hopefully expressed that well is a really good thing.

Idk what your two jobs are, but if they're semi-related to engineering that'd help you a lot. Being involved on campus also helps a lot.

I would also look at the award data [url]https://smart.asee.org/program_stats/2017_award_data[/url] and keep in mind that civil was 5% of the applicants, but 7% of the awardees. So that's a decent sign that they needed civil engineers. Also note the GRE average scores are a lot lower this year vs. last year. Which means there's got to be a good number of people with scores like yours who don't post here! The GPA average is also a 3.6 now. So again based off of everyone posting here with 3.9, 3.8...etc..clearly plenty of people applied with lower GPAs. Once you're in the program you're required to maintain above a 3.0 so my guess is that's their cutoff on applications.[/quote]

Thank you for the insight! I never thought about looking at the applicants to awardees and you bring a great point. As for the jobs, one is a research position at my university for the type of research I would be doing at my SF of interest. My professor had an opening in his lab and is really fighting for me to get the scholarship which I couldn't be more thankful for. I have everything I need, I am just hung up on the GPA and GRE since thats all I read about on here. I figured it would weigh more in the DoD's mind. I'm glad to hear you received the scholarship! Hope you are enjoying your SF and time with the DoD.

Well first of all. You have nothing to lose by applying. Second of all, your GPA is higher than mine was (3.1) and GRE scores are about the same as mine were. I think the fact that you want to work at the DoD and probably wrote that convincingly in your app as well as the fact that you feel you match with your chosen SF and hopefully expressed that well is a really good thing.

Idk what your two jobs are, but if they're semi-related to engineering that'd help you a lot. Being involved on campus also helps a lot.

I would also look at the award data [url]https://smart.asee.org/program_stats/2017_award_data[/url] and keep in mind that civil was 5% of the applicants, but 7% of the awardees. So that's a decent sign that they needed civil engineers. Also note the GRE average scores are a lot lower this year vs. last year. Which means there's got to be a good number of people with scores like yours who don't post here! The GPA average is also a 3.6 now. So again based off of everyone posting here with 3.9, 3.8...etc..clearly plenty of people applied with lower GPAs. Once you're in the program you're required to maintain above a 3.0 so my guess is that's their cutoff on applications.

Hi guys,

I know this is probably one of the most asked questions, but it's one I've been stressing over for some time.

What are my chances of getting the scholarship?

I am a civil engineering student trying to get graduate funding for a master and Phd in composite structure research. I am graduating this year with my undergrad and I am currently in a BS to MS program where I will be continuing on for a masters degree in structural engineering and Phd in composite structures. My current research will appeal greatly to my SF of choice, but my GPA and GRE scores are not as impressive as some of the recipients on here. As of now, my GPA is at a 3.5 which is also my technical GPA since I've transferred straight into engineering. My GRE scores are a 156 for quantitative reasoning and a 146 for verbal reasoning.... very low. I am worried the panelists wont see through these credentials. I work 2 jobs and was captain of my university's bridge team. My resume is good and my responses are crafting to be fairly strong as I truly want to work within the DoD when I graduate and believe I have a niche I can fill. I know its just another one of those "What are my chances?" questions but this one has been a hair puller for me.

Any words of encouragement or brutally honest realisms are welcome!

Thanks in advance!