The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

I was offered the scholarship at the end of May and visited my SF in June. I accepted the award and started the clearance process in August. That included being fingerprinted. They didn't begin interviews for my background check for 11 months after that. I was never drug tested, just interviewed by an agent for 2 hours. The whole process from submitting my SF-86 to being approved for clearance took 20 months (28 months from SMART application to clearance approval).

[quote="physicsgirl123"]Hi,

I am a 2nd round acceptance. I was curious as to what happens at the site visit, and when does security clearance begin? Should I expect to be drug tested/ fingerprinted/ interviewed for clearance at the site visit? I am looking for info on the timeline.[/quote]

For me, the site visit was mostly to get a feel of the facility you will be working for and if it will be a good fit before you formally accept the award. Security clearance didn't begin for me until a few months before my first summer internship took place (a year into the program), this included all the tests, prints, etc.

Hi,

I am a 2nd round acceptance. I was curious as to what happens at the site visit, and when does security clearance begin? Should I expect to be drug tested/ fingerprinted/ interviewed for clearance at the site visit? I am looking for info on the timeline.