Search found 58 matches

by human234895
Sat Mar 05, 2022 9:02 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Grad TA outside employment
Replies: 3
Views: 1500

Re: Grad TA outside employment

I don't think so, but SMART will most likely approve that. I have an SAAR to up my outside employment to 20 hrs/wk for exactly that reason. Somebody on the discord said they've changed the rules such that it might not even be required anymore, but I haven't seen that. Am looking to become a grad TA ...
by human234895
Fri Jan 28, 2022 9:11 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Withdrew - how do I get the $ I paid in taxes back?
Replies: 6
Views: 6228

Re: Withdrew - how do I get the $ I paid in taxes back?

The SMART debtors' Discord is probably the best place to look for an answer: https://discord.gg/MEhgRRC
by human234895
Tue Nov 09, 2021 2:14 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Lawsuit? Vaccine news from SMART
Replies: 12
Views: 3933

Re: Lawsuit? Vaccine news from SMART

Edit: Original had incomplete information regarding EO 14042. Sorry if my wording was confusing. There is not a universal vaccine mandate at this time. The Administration has not discussed issuing such a mandate and based on prior comments, it seems not to believe it has the authority to do so. Such...
by human234895
Tue Nov 09, 2021 12:47 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Lawsuit? Vaccine news from SMART
Replies: 12
Views: 3933

Re: Lawsuit? Vaccine news from SMART

Please reference Sections 2, 7, and 8 of the Service Agreement, which broadly indicate the obligation to fulfill a service agreement and comply with all program policies and procedures. The legal application of these clauses would be the same as is the case with denial of clearance. SMART interprets...
by human234895
Mon Nov 08, 2021 8:37 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Lawsuit? Vaccine news from SMART
Replies: 12
Views: 3933

Re: Lawsuit? Vaccine news from SMART

The service agreement obligates you to accept employment with the SF, including compliance with lawful conditions of employment handed down by the executive branch. You can file whatever lawsuit you like because that's how our civil courts work, but I'm not sure on what grounds you would do so. The ...
by human234895
Thu Nov 04, 2021 3:41 pm
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Do they contact everyone under the “Experiences” section?
Replies: 2
Views: 3163

Re: Do they contact everyone under the “Experiences” section?

As a courtesy, I inform anybody I list as a reference for any type of application. I don't recall SMART contacting anybody I listed.
by human234895
Thu Nov 04, 2021 3:40 pm
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Resume Questions
Replies: 1
Views: 1097

Re: Resume Questions

I'm a late-stage PhD student, and I now allow my resume/CV to reach 3 pages and even then I'm sometimes uncomfortable with that length. I maintained it at 1 page all the way through undergrad. It sounds like the person at your SF is probably in the minority regarding what they're looking for in resu...
by human234895
Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:04 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Applying again for next degree
Replies: 1
Views: 2120

Re: Applying again for next degree

I do not personally have experience, but I have a colleague in my field that was a SMART scholar all the way through a BS and a PhD for a cumulative service agreement of eight years. I don't see what it would hurt your chances. If anything, you're a known quantity that has managed to stay compliant ...
by human234895
Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:01 pm
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Graduate research during school semesters?
Replies: 3
Views: 1801

Re: Graduate research during school semesters?

My SF doesn't touch my research in any way. I continued the project I was working on at the time I accepted the scholarship.
by human234895
Fri Oct 29, 2021 11:58 am
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Do we have to send updated Transcripts this spring too?
Replies: 1
Views: 1337

Re: Do we have to send updated Transcripts this spring too?

Yes, if you are offered a scholarship, you will be asked to submit an official transcript after the Spring 2022 semester and all following semesters until you graduate.
by human234895
Mon Aug 23, 2021 10:18 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Leaving Grad School as a Retention candidate
Replies: 8
Views: 3571

Re: Leaving Grad School as a Retention candidate

I've never seen any language indicating that SMART cares whether or not your SF is okay with you leaving. Best I can tell, it would be a violation of the service agreement and they would likely pursue repayment. Your SF could explore using its money to pay the debt or working through the OUSD R&E to...
by human234895
Sun Aug 01, 2021 9:17 am
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: PSA for applicants: Weed is illegal
Replies: 0
Views: 3383

PSA for applicants: Weed is illegal

The SMART Scholarship application opens today! This is a friendly reminder to all applicants that marijuana is a Schedule I substance in all jurisdictions of the United States. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will be held to the full standard of federal law during clearance adjudication even i...
by human234895
Fri Jul 30, 2021 10:45 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Stipend of Graduate Student
Replies: 2
Views: 1806

Re: Stipend of Graduate Student

$33k/yr
by human234895
Fri Jul 30, 2021 10:32 pm
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Some thoughts for awardees
Replies: 11
Views: 6749

Re: Some thoughts for awardees

I do find it interesting that you mention the "sexual" side of things because I knew someone in DHS agent who was into a ton of crazy stuff that had no trouble maintaining clearance. It's a blackmail issue. There's is a deep history of our key adversaries using sexual blackmail to recruit spies. My...
by human234895
Thu Jul 29, 2021 5:23 pm
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Work Restrictions
Replies: 1
Views: 1555

Re: Work Restrictions

It's 16 now

(Original response had typo saying 13... 16 hrs/wk outside employment is allowed)
by human234895
Thu Jul 29, 2021 5:20 pm
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Some thoughts for awardees
Replies: 11
Views: 6749

Re: Some thoughts for awardees

I applied a few years ago during my Bachelors. Made it to semifinals and was told I was top 6 for the SF. Didn't get picked because my school wasn't top tier, so I didn't stack rank well. Things changed drastically for me the next year and I got a FAANG offer. I came back out of curiosity because I...
by human234895
Thu Jul 29, 2021 5:02 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Extending to a Graduate Degree
Replies: 2
Views: 1898

Re: Extending to a Graduate Degree

Follow-on funding is outlined in section 3.1 of the handbook but the short of it is that you can't "extend," you have to apply.
by human234895
Sat Jul 24, 2021 11:48 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Looking for a new SF
Replies: 5
Views: 3301

Re: Looking for a new SF

It sounds like some applicants had luck sending cold emails to SFs and asking to be put in touch with the SMART program contact in HR. Other than that, you could join the discord and ask for other scholars in your field to put you in touch with contacts at their SFs. You probably have already, but m...
by human234895
Thu Jul 15, 2021 8:43 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: SMART or Start Work
Replies: 10
Views: 4330

Re: SMART or Start Work

So I would explicitly advise AGAINST contacting SMART to provide any detail on this matter. They don't need to know and they probably won't care. Bureaucracies generally don't hold grudges unless you are remembered by the people in them - they just follow their policies and procedures. If you have a...
by human234895
Fri May 28, 2021 5:39 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Repayment Waivers and Reviews
Replies: 3
Views: 2139

Re: Repayment Waivers and Reviews

Get in touch with Sisyphus on this forum and make your way to the debtors' Discord . They can offer more guidance, but it also may be worth trying to rope in one of your Senators. Many Senate offices have a "help with a federal agency" option in their contact form. I believe past dismissed scholars ...
by human234895
Fri May 28, 2021 5:36 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: change my Award length?
Replies: 8
Views: 3180

Re: change my Award length?

Does anyone know if I can still request Smart to change my award length to 3 years scholarship only?
I suggest doing this in a couple years after you know you'll graduate faster. Reducing funding is always easier than requesting more.
by human234895
Sun May 09, 2021 11:17 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Security clearance process
Replies: 2
Views: 2040

Re: Security clearance process

SCI screening includes a polygraph. I thinking technically a poly could be allowable for base TS screening but it isn't at all common, as far as I know. A poly will not be part of the processing for an S.
by human234895
Sun May 09, 2021 11:15 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Security Clearance Timeline
Replies: 13
Views: 9852

Re: Security Clearance Timeline

If someone were to be completely truthful on the SF86 form and is denied a clearance, do they have to pay SMART back? Lots of discussions going on about this and I’m just curious. Failure to obtain a security clearance will result in a violation of your service agreement and likely termination from...
by human234895
Sun May 09, 2021 11:09 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: stupid mistake and clearance
Replies: 6
Views: 4760

Re: stupid mistake and clearance

21 times over 3 years is a choice, not a mistake, and you need to make sure the language you use reflects that you have taken responsibility for that choice rather than passing it off as some sort of childish oopsie. You made a clear choice to become a semi-regular user of an illegal substance. It w...
by human234895
Tue May 04, 2021 11:01 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Clearance question
Replies: 4
Views: 2841

Re: Clearance question

Shouldn't be a problem. Don't lie about it. Your investigator(s) aren't the moral police and they aren't cops. They're investigating your reliability as a national security asset and their reports will be assessed by a panel with the same objective. The federal government typically doesn't appreciat...