The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

[quote="Three Point One Four"][quote="guestUF"]So does anyone know if you accept the award, and then back out before support payments start, is there a penalty?[/quote]

Last year at the end of orientation they gave everyone the opportunity to back out penalty free. Since there is no orientation this year, I don't know how they will handle things.[/quote]

They just REMINDED everyone you have the opportunity to back out.

Remember...the only penalty for leaving the program is having to pay back the funds. They potentially could have made you pay back travel costs for the orientation, but that is a moot point as there is no more orientation.

If you haven't received funds, there is no penalty. Regardless of whether or not they notify everyone of this fact (as they did at orientation), it is still a fact.

Feel free to back out anytime before you receive the first support payment without any penalty. After that...you've gotta pay it back if you want out.

[quote="guestUF"]So does anyone know if you accept the award, and then back out before support payments start, is there a penalty?[/quote]

Last year at the end of orientation they gave everyone the opportunity to back out penalty free. Since there is no orientation this year, I don't know how they will handle things.

So does anyone know if you accept the award, and then back out before support payments start, is there a penalty?

I talked someone at SMART Friday, they said there will not be a formal orientation this year. I also talked to the individual at my SF who mentors many of the previous years recipients. He said that orientation will most likely be done as a broadcast event or online.

I was told the orientation this year has been canceled due to budget cuts. We will be notified of all info via email or telecom.

I don't see anything about orientation (or the lack of) in any of the contract paperwork. I figure they won't respond until at least Monday, so I figured I'd post it here and probably get my answer before they even respond. What do people know about it for this year?