The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

Yes, you can work until then.

The SMART Program can instruct you as to when you need to separate from current federal employment, if that's necessary. It's not required that you not work as a SMART Scholar, but there are hoops to jump through if you are employed or take other outside funding to ensure you are beholden to SMART first and foremost.

Thanks for that info - any idea when we have to separate from our current employment? I know you're not allowed to work while on scholarship (especially for me - apparently being a federal employee can cause problems with the pay system if you're still employed by the government), but if it doesn't kick in until August, could I work until then?

You will get notified about the scholarship in the late spring/early summer. If you accept, you will start getting stipend payments in late august, 2013. You will attend school fall 2013 and spring of 2014 and then be expected to be at your internship SF for the first time in the summer of 2014.

Good morning,

I'm curious as to what the schedule for the first summer after being accepted to the program is. I'm an applicant for this coming school year, and I need to figure out housing fairly soon for this summer as I need to start looking for houses/apartments now, due to the very high chance of not getting this. Do we work for our SF this first summer, or does that not start until next year?

Thanks