SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

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Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by Larry » Mon May 19, 2014 8:30 pm

Can you give a ballpark estimate of when award announcements will be made?


I'd love to give a firm fixed date... Can't. I will say that the selections have been made and now "Leadership" is looking over the recommendations. I see nothing in the way of a quick announcement. The SPO is well aware of the need to get these out.

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by guest123 » Sat May 17, 2014 5:11 pm

If you picked an office as your first choice, how likely is it that if you get a SMART award you'll go to that office?

Worried that I made the wrong choice, but it's probably too late to ask SMART to let me change my preferences.

In my case I'd be interning for 3 years and then working for 3 more, so it's kind of a big life decision... granted I would be happy to get a SMART award to work anywhere...

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by geee4 » Fri May 16, 2014 5:12 pm

Larry wrote:Being phoned/emailed earlier this week to rank your choices means that two locations/services both wanted you.

Only folks who selected multiple locations, or were selected by multiple sites were contacted. Those aren't the only people who are under consideration.

I'm impressed with the odds this year - somewhere over 20% will get picked up.

I'd love to say when the announcement will be made but don't control it. I will say that the folks who do control it are finished with 99% of the process and are committed to making the announcement sooner rather than later.
Can you give a ballpark estimate of when award announcements will be made?

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by Larry » Fri May 16, 2014 5:03 pm

Being phoned/emailed earlier this week to rank your choices means that two locations/services both wanted you.

Only folks who selected multiple locations, or were selected by multiple sites were contacted. Those aren't the only people who are under consideration.

I'm impressed with the odds this year - somewhere over 20% will get picked up.

I'd love to say when the announcement will be made but don't control it. I will say that the folks who do control it are finished with 99% of the process and are committed to making the announcement sooner rather than later.

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by Waiting123 » Fri May 16, 2014 2:07 pm

So if you have been contacted to rank your preferences what is your chances at this point? Should those that have been asked to rank preferences expect to get awarded?

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by hopeful » Fri May 16, 2014 12:33 pm

I got contacted to rank my preferences too!

But... it was so hard to choose!!! I would be happy with any of them!

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by jjm390 » Tue May 13, 2014 12:00 am

sarah wrote:jjm390

That is an impressive resume! Congrads.
I hope there is room for less qualified applicants.
Well, I can't be in 5 places at once, so there should be plenty of room. <grin>

Seriously though, I am pretty sure my case is not the norm.

Good luck!

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by sarah » Mon May 12, 2014 11:51 pm

jjm390

That is an impressive resume! Congrads.
I hope there is room for less qualified applicants.

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by jjm390 » Mon May 12, 2014 9:13 pm

sarah wrote:jjm390

Impressive. 5 SFs recommended you.
Would you mind summarizing your credentials? major, degree, university, gpa
Sure not sure if all is relevant, but here is what was on my application:

Degree pursuing: PhD in Computer Science: current GPA: 3.48 at CU Boulder
Already have MS, BS in computer Science
Have US Navy/DOE nuclear power plant operator certificate
Have already held Secret clearance.
I am a disabled veteran: 10 point preference

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by sarah » Mon May 12, 2014 8:57 pm

jjm390

Impressive. 5 SFs recommended you.
Would you mind summarizing your credentials? major, degree, university, gpa

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by hopeful » Mon May 12, 2014 2:45 pm

Thank you!

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by jjm390 » Mon May 12, 2014 1:22 pm

Guest wrote:Thanks so much jjm390.

I did 2 interviews, one said they would recommend me, but I wasn't sure if they were just telling me they would...

Who asked you to rank your preferences?

I'm just getting worried that no office recommended me, because I haven't heard anything post-interviews, at all. I haven't gotten any notifications of a recommendation, haven't had to rank offices, etc....

-hopeful
It was the SMART program office NAVY liaison that contacted me. He called last Thursday (May 8th).

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by Guest » Sun May 11, 2014 11:12 pm

Thanks so much jjm390.

I did 2 interviews, one said they would recommend me, but I wasn't sure if they were just telling me they would...

Who asked you to rank your preferences?

I'm just getting worried that no office recommended me, because I haven't heard anything post-interviews, at all. I haven't gotten any notifications of a recommendation, haven't had to rank offices, etc....

-hopeful

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by jjm390 » Sun May 11, 2014 11:07 pm

hopeful wrote:Will we get an email saying that a SF has picked us, if they really have picked us?

Is it possible that a SF picked us but we won't get an email notification?

Thanks,
-hopeful...
It is my understanding from talking to the SMART program rep that called last week that it is entirely possible that a facility can recommend you for sponsorship without ever talking to you. I had 4 interviews, but was asked to rank 5 in my order of preference. I was only told by 3 of the facilities that they would recommend me. I never heard from one of them, and never had any further contact with the 5th after the interview. Of course being recommended does not necessary guarantee anything either. The SMART program office makes the final decisions, likely based on the needs of the sponsoring services.

Again, this is all my interpretation of what has been going on in my individual case. I am happy to share the information in hopes that you may find it useful!

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by hopeful » Sun May 11, 2014 7:33 pm

Will we get an email saying that a SF has picked us, if they really have picked us?

Is it possible that a SF picked us but we won't get an email notification?

Thanks,
-hopeful...

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by ktran » Fri May 09, 2014 4:32 am

Thanks RF_EE. This still gives some of us hope in this waiting game.

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by RF_EE » Wed May 07, 2014 9:55 pm

ktran wrote:Has there ever been an applicant that received the award but did not go through the phone interview process?
I was selected by my Sponsor Facility without an interview. They just called me one day and asked if I was interested.

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by neuRAO » Mon May 05, 2014 12:50 pm

Received the following email from SMART:

Check this out from the other thread.

"Hello,

Sponsoring Facilities do not always interview individuals they are interested in funding. Some facilities choose to conduct interviews and others do not, so whether or not an applicant is contacted is not indicative of whether or not they can expect an award. Currently, it is expected that interviews will be completed this month, and award notices will also go out this month.

Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Thank you,

ASEE"

I'm unsure which sites interview and which do not but I guess this gives anyone who has not yet received a call some hope!

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by ktran » Mon May 05, 2014 12:41 pm

Has there ever been an applicant that received the award but did not go through the phone interview process?

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by Guest22 » Sat May 03, 2014 7:48 pm

DoD123 wrote:Can you guys post your stats? Gpa?

Ultimately I believe it's up to the SMART forum to choose participants. So although you have a better chance of being awarded by being recommended I believe the SMART forum has the final say.

For example a Freshman who was recommended needs 4 full years of funding while a Senior only needs 1 year of funding. It's all about how much bang they can get for their buck.
This is not how it works at all. A committee will rank all applicants. The top 50% will be sent to all sponsoring facilities, who then make selections. Each is allowed to pick a number of people, or perhaps a dollar amount of people.

Then they just start going down the list until they are out of money. In my experience, if they want you, they get you - how expensive the school you are at or how long you are there isn't as large a factor as you think it is.

At the end of the day, the person picking you is the SF - and they see it as a free hire. They aren't spending any money at all. SMART is the one dishing out the cash, and they aren't the ones making the final choice. SF's make the final choice.

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by Guest22 » Sat May 03, 2014 7:45 pm

jjm390 wrote:
DoD123 wrote:Can you guys post your stats? Gpa?

Ultimately I believe it's up to the SMART forum to choose participants. So although you have a better chance of being awarded by being recommended I believe the SMART forum has the final say.

For example a Freshman who was recommended needs 4 full years of funding while a Senior only needs 1 year of funding. It's all about how much bang they can get for their buck.
Sure: Computer Science PhD, GPA 3.47, Navy Veteran, 3.5 years requested.

Have had interviews with:
AFRL Munitions Directorate at Eglin AFB
SPAWAR Atlantic in Charlston
NAWCWD at China Lake
DFSC in Atlanta

Plug for AFRL/RW at Eglin. We (the SMART people) like it here as far as I know.

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by HopefulWaiting » Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:59 pm

MaterialWorld:

I am interested in the SMART fellowship because my end goal (after graduation) is to work at a national/military research facility. SMART is the perfect segue from graduate school into a government research facility. Yes NSF or NSDSEG are great independent funding opportunities but for me they are ONLY funding. SMART is both funding AND an entrance into a government research facility.

raero:

I have not heard anything officially from Robins AFB. My interview went well, but I feel my educational background is not a perfect fit for the position available there.

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by raero » Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:19 pm

HopefulWaiting,

What was the consensus you got from the interview with Robins AFB in regards to recommendations for award or not?

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by MaterialWorld » Wed Apr 30, 2014 9:04 pm

Fellow PhD applicants:

Why do you want the SMART award? I'm genuinely interested because I felt like my interview went well (although I don't know how ASEE decides how to allocate funds) and if I'm accepted, I don't know what I'll do. I feel like I have a fairly decent resume and could win NSF or NDSEG, even though I didn't this year. I can apply next year, but if I won SMART I don't know what I'd do. I wouldn't want to leave that money on the table, but I also wouldn't want to give up the chance to win an NSF or NDSEG award and not have to commit a few years of service to the government.

I wouldn't mind working for the government as long as I'm doing meaningful research (and really wouldn't mind providing a service to my nation), but I have read other PhD awardees express discontent with the SMART program. Either the pay is not competitive or the research is too basic or technical to be a useful experience. I read the post that says "don't take it if you don't need it", but I would really want some sort of independent funding. So what motivates you PhD students to pursue a SMART scholarship?

Re: SF Recommendation - SMART Award Probability

by HopefulWaiting » Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:49 pm

DoD123 wrote:Can you guys post your stats? Gpa?

Ultimately I believe it's up to the SMART forum to choose participants. So although you have a better chance of being awarded by being recommended I believe the SMART forum has the final say.

For example a Freshman who was recommended needs 4 full years of funding while a Senior only needs 1 year of funding. It's all about how much bang they can get for their buck.
Yeah, I am a Biomedical Engineering PhD student, GPA: 3.3. I have 4 papers published thus far and have requested 3-4 years funding. So far I have interviewed with Aberdeen and Robins AFB.

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