The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

Hired this year. Army. PhD $83k. Moving expenses paid. 3 year commitment.

I'm a 2010 cohort. To my knowledge, all of the SMART students at my facility are brought in at the same rate, regardless of degree level. SMART is really seen as a "free labor" program, where the facility maximizes return for very little investment. When it comes to salary, everything I have ever been officially and unofficially counseled on has never materialized. SMART students don't really have any bargaining power, and even once hired, are still 'conditional' hires and on 'probation'. We were all told that we would receive a raise at 6 months, and that never happened. We were all told that we would receive a raise at a year and that didn't happen either.

Here's the break down of what SMART looks like at my facility:
2 guys are really happy (Ph.D & BS)
2 have left the program early or at the end of their contract
1 was terminated
1 person was told to start after graduation and wasn't compensated for their past time, and didn't officially get on payroll until 3 months after they started initially working for free (time worked did not count towards SMART payback)
1 in limbo that works sometimes, but not often (very dissatisfied w/ SMART)
1 that never showed up, but supposedly filed an extension to finish Ph.D (18 months ago)

This seems to be a great program for individuals with no experience, and a single degree. Everyone else that is in, has completed graduate school,l or has military experience will find it wanting. PM's and Branch Chief's really could give a 'rat crap' about how many publications you have, or the impact factor of your last peer reviewed paper, or your patent. SMART is considered low-cost labor, and that is it. Not everyone's situation is the same; however most of my colleagues are in similar positions. Most SMART students leave as soon as their commitment is up, or return to school. My advice to folks thinking about committing to SMART is to ask "what will my job be?" followed by "what is the description of my position?" If you get a straight answer, it might turn out okay. If you get a "ho-hum", "we don't know yet", or "we can't tell you until we look at your transcripts", you should probably pass on SMART.

In terms of salary: A co-worker of mine with 6 years of military service and 4 years at the facility is paid $83k a year. That's a pretty good salary bench mark for 10 years of federal service. Most folks come in around $50k-$65k depending on locality (GS-11), with very slow and minor pay increase increments.

As a couple other posters have mentioned, what your advisor/mentor says and what you end up getting paid are likely two different things. My mentor gave me a high-GS12 pipe-dream while I was interning, and when it came down to it, he had to petition to get me from 12-1 to 12-3 when I joined.

Also, from my experience, HR won't give you a salary offer in writing until after your degree posts. Others may have different experiences, but that is how it worked for me at ARL. At any rate, best of luck to you.

Guest wrote:With PhD they told us GS13.

Just got hired to my SF and we definitely do not get a GS13 for a PhD. I have a GS11/12 position. My boss tried for a GS 11/12/13 but those just do not exist, so I guess I'll have to compete for that 13 in a few years. If they've told you that you get a 13, definitely get that in writing, from HR, not your advisor.

Guest wrote:With PhD they told us GS13.

Yeah, I have never heard of that happening. The group at my SF has been told GG-11, and that is in fact what the two previous SMART hires there got.

The DB scale is great. I'm not on SMART but I started with my BS at GS-12-4 because of the scale. You aren't fixed to steps and the annual raises are bigger.

Lurkish wrote:I'll be starting in June 2014 with a masters degree. My SF told me I'll be on the GS-9 pay grade. Does this sound the same for other masters students?

Yep, that's what a new Masters student should expect, as I have observed on my base at least. Having a master's doesnt bump you at all, but if you have start with one youll come in as a 9 as opposed to a 7

I'm pretty sure all SMART BS/MS hires on the GS pay scale should end up with a 12-tracked position (7-9-11-12 or 9-11-12)

Guest wrote:With PhD they told us GS13.

I'd suggest you get that in writing and frame it on your wall. You may end up needing proof.

With PhD they told us GS13.

Lurkish wrote:I'll be starting in June 2014 with a masters degree. My SF told me I'll be on the GS-9 pay grade. Does this sound the same for other masters students?

Is that a GS-12 track position? I started as a GS-7 with a Bachelors, and every year I bump up a grade or two until I hit GS-12. The sequence for me was 7-9-11-12. When it comes to the final pay grade, my SF doesn't really care what you have over a BS, so a MS doesn't net any higher pay. I'm finishing up my MS now outside of the SMART program and I know it's not going to net me any benefit until I go looking elsewhere.

I'll be starting in June 2014 with a masters degree. My SF told me I'll be on the GS-9 pay grade. Does this sound the same for other masters students?

If you don't mind me asking what SF is it that is using the GB payscale?

Congrats on the six-figures. Hopefully it's not due to being at a super expensive SF (like DC area).

I don't know about your location, but ours brings PhDs in at a DB3... while that runs up to six figures, I personally don't expect to start there...

I did, and while I was disappointed with what I was told, my mentor assured me that he'd work to get me an 11/12/13 position so I could get right to GS-13 and not mess around for too long at a GS-12.

Then about a year before I was supposed to be hired I forwarded the email to an HR rep who informed me OPM didn't allow for the possibility of such a position, and that it was important to always speak with HR specialists, because oft-times mentors don't know what they're talking about. It was almost as though she was in a turf war with my mentor. Anywho, she tells me she was submitting a job for an 11/12 for me. That never happened either, and it was a rotten end and something that "doing my homework" never really prepared me for.

Have you guys done the suggested summer homework of talking to your future bosses about payscale? I was monumentally happy to learn that my SF goes by the DB pay scale, bring Ph.D's in at six figured. Now just got to *finish* that PhD ....