The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

phdpoor wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 30, 2023 7:16 pm

I GOT THE AWARD NOTIFICATION TODAY!!!

AND THEY INCREASED THE AWARD STIPEND TO 46000 FOR PHD STUDENTS. POORPHD NO MORE!!

hdibene wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 30, 2023 7:30 pm

If we didn’t get awarded in the first week how likely is it that we will get an award as the weeks go on? When do the award weeks end?

Tyger_Billy wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:22 am

hdibene wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:48 pm

Has anyone else here heard absolutely nothing? I haven't gotten a single email from the SMART scholarship since the webinar and I haven't heard anything from any SF's. I mean that's probably not a good sign but I'm hoping I'm at least not alone y'know?

Honestly, same here. I haven't heard anything either, but I'm still holding out hope. The semifinalist email did say that no emails doesn't mean you're not getting an offer. I imagine though that if we're offered anything, it may not be something on our preference list.

hdibene wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:48 pm

Has anyone else here heard absolutely nothing? I haven't gotten a single email from the SMART scholarship since the webinar and I haven't heard anything from any SF's. I mean that's probably not a good sign but I'm hoping I'm at least not alone y'know?

leejv2 wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 27, 2023 12:24 pm

So I am a semi-finalist and I tried to get back into the application portal just to see if that had any additional information for this stage of the process, and I was unable to get in. This was more or less expected, but what wasn't expected was that it let me log in and then just had a ball bounce break the blocks game with the block forming a 404. Does anyone have any idea what that's about? Just some cs guy having a good time at work and throwing that in there?

ihatewaiting wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:25 am

So I got this email on Friday:

Subject: SMART Scholarship Application-Follow-up requested

Hello SMART semifinalist-

The SMART Program is in the process of reviewing and validating semifinalist application information. We will be attempting to contact you via the telephone number listed on your application either Monday-Wednesday (20-22 March), to clarify some of your application information. If we do not connect on the first attempt we will leave a voicemail message on how to return our call. We will also follow up with another email if we do not reach you by 5PM Eastern, Wednesday 22 March.

Please note - this email and eventual phone call are in no way an offer of an award with SMART. That said, we look forward to connecting soon to further discuss your application packet.

Thank you!

I know I'll find out exactly what this means soon, but just curious if others got this or previous SMART people can tell me if this is a good sign?

Subject: SMART Scholarship Application-Follow-up requested

Hello SMART semifinalist-

The SMART Program is in the process of reviewing and validating semifinalist application information. We will be attempting to contact you via the telephone number listed on your application either Monday-Wednesday (20-22 March), to clarify some of your application information. If we do not connect on the first attempt we will leave a voicemail message on how to return our call. We will also follow up with another email if we do not reach you by 5PM Eastern, Wednesday 22 March.

Please note - this email and eventual phone call are in no way an offer of an award with SMART. That said, we look forward to connecting soon to further discuss your application packet.

Thank you!

formerscholar-2010 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 17, 2023 9:28 pm

Did any former scholars receive an email? I was in the 2010 cohort and received an email today stating I’m a semi finalist. This is an obvious error.

Guest wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 10, 2023 4:45 pm

smart_guest_1234 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 09, 2023 11:18 am

I just want to say that reaching out to facilities is not suggested by SMART. SMART frowns upon bias and if they think the facility has any bias towards you then SMART will deny your application even if a facility selects you. You reaching out to the facility could put bias on your name and SMART does not want to be associated with that. This came from a SMART liaison.

That doesn't make sense. People with previous internship experiences at a DoD facility appear to have a much higher chance of getting the award. Additionally, if contact (i.e. sharing of personal or professional information outside of the application) was considered bias, then the facilities shouldn't be allowed to interview anyone. To be clear: I'm not saying you're lying, but there is no logic to that whatsoever.

smart_guest_1234 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 09, 2023 11:18 am

I just want to say that reaching out to facilities is not suggested by SMART. SMART frowns upon bias and if they think the facility has any bias towards you then SMART will deny your application even if a facility selects you. You reaching out to the facility could put bias on your name and SMART does not want to be associated with that. This came from a SMART liaison.

guest23984 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 03, 2023 1:22 am

Guest wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:58 pm

hi so interesting update. I was getting panic-y because I haven't heard back for any interviews. So I was looking at some recent published research from a sponsoring facility and emailed the lead author just to let them know I like their work and that I current semi-finalist in the SMART. They then set me up an interview for next week!

I think the lesson here is: be the master of your own destiny

This was probably the best advice I have read. I emailed one of the branch leaders for a sponsoring facility that I was interested in, and we just had an interview. The interview was incredible, and they said they are planning on recommending me to work for their facility. They said that the facility was new to SMART so they didn't really know how the process works, and if I didn't contact them, they probably wouldn't have even seen my application.

THANK YOU FOR THIS POST!!!!!!

Guest wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 22, 2023 8:58 pm

hi so interesting update. I was getting panic-y because I haven't heard back for any interviews. So I was looking at some recent published research from a sponsoring facility and emailed the lead author just to let them know I like their work and that I current semi-finalist in the SMART. They then set me up an interview for next week!

I think the lesson here is: be the master of your own destiny