The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

Guest wrote:

keithhworth wrote:I was called abruptly today from someone at a sponsoring facility I had on my list of preferences. I was so surprised, I had already denied my chance of being contacted by anyone. The "interview" was very informal, we talked about some of my background growing up with the military overseas, which I had mentioned in my application, we talked about what they do at Hanscom Air Force Base that's related to computer science. He asked me if the work sounded like something I was interested in doing, and, coincidentally, it was something that I think would be ideal, in any case.
The guy made no mention of the SMART program, but left me his number to call back if I had any questions... He let me know he was going to make a few more phone calls and then call it a week.
I'm planning on going to some professors tomorrow for advice and pointers, ask about good things to talk about, then call on Monday with some follow-up questions.

What does this mean? Does this make my chances to be selected any higher, or does the lack of mentioning the SMART program mean I am not a good candidate? >.<

Hanscom is where I got accepted when I applied! They said they get a short list of 50 people or so then narrow it down to like 10 to do interviews with and from those 10 they pick the person(s) they want. If I'm remembering correctly, so if that is true then you've made it pretty far. My interview was more fornal, but it was still a very comfortable atmosphere.

keithhworth wrote:I was called abruptly today from someone at a sponsoring facility I had on my list of preferences. I was so surprised, I had already denied my chance of being contacted by anyone. The "interview" was very informal, we talked about some of my background growing up with the military overseas, which I had mentioned in my application, we talked about what they do at Hanscom Air Force Base that's related to computer science. He asked me if the work sounded like something I was interested in doing, and, coincidentally, it was something that I think would be ideal, in any case.
The guy made no mention of the SMART program, but left me his number to call back if I had any questions... He let me know he was going to make a few more phone calls and then call it a week.
I'm planning on going to some professors tomorrow for advice and pointers, ask about good things to talk about, then call on Monday with some follow-up questions.

What does this mean? Does this make my chances to be selected any higher, or does the lack of mentioning the SMART program mean I am not a good candidate? >.<

keithhworth wrote:

abm guy wrote:2011: 6900 application, 293 Awards, 4.3 Percent Acceptance Rate
2010: 3400 application, 298 Awards, 8.8 Percent Acceptance Rate
2009: 2200 application, 263 Awards, 12 Percent Acceptance Rate

Following that trend, and that 50% get eliminated on the first and second stage, then the remaining 50% get interviewed(possibly). Some of those interviewed will be recommended for review for the SMART program. That 12% is the percentage of people who were offered awards, given that they were recommend for review. This is my understanding of it, correct me if I'm wrong.

I highly doubt that the remaining 50% get interviewed. From my understanding, having read the posts on previous years with the SMART application process, the sponsoring facilities may or may not contact a candidate, so that is another hurdle to pass in itself. Check out the leading post in the General Questions and the Application index, it gives the breakdown of the selection process and the different stages.

abm guy wrote:2011: 6900 application, 293 Awards, 4.3 Percent Acceptance Rate
2010: 3400 application, 298 Awards, 8.8 Percent Acceptance Rate
2009: 2200 application, 263 Awards, 12 Percent Acceptance Rate

Following that trend, and that 50% get eliminated on the first and second stage, then the remaining 50% get interviewed(possibly). Some of those interviewed will be recommended for review for the SMART program. That 12% is the percentage of people who were offered awards, given that they were recommend for review. This is my understanding of it, correct me if I'm wrong.

Brandon wrote:

abm guy wrote:

groot wrote:I think abm guy might be a little confused- 12% is the percent accepted out of everyone who applied, not just out of those who were interviewed. 2/3 sounds about right.

Heres the source on my 12% figure. It says 12% of those reviewed, so from interview to acceptance might even be lower than 12%.
https://smart.asee.org/program_stats/2016_award_data

I'm pretty sure that's 12% out of the people who applied, since all if the applications have been reviewed one way or another, by the SMART board and/or my sponsoring facilities. It wouldn't make sense for them to provide statistics on just a single review process in the SMART program.

abm guy wrote:

groot wrote:I think abm guy might be a little confused- 12% is the percent accepted out of everyone who applied, not just out of those who were interviewed. 2/3 sounds about right.

Heres the source on my 12% figure. It says 12% of those reviewed, so from interview to acceptance might even be lower than 12%.
https://smart.asee.org/program_stats/2016_award_data

groot wrote:I think abm guy might be a little confused- 12% is the percent accepted out of everyone who applied, not just out of those who were interviewed. 2/3 sounds about right.