The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

I’ve wrote references for 5 SMART applicants over the years, and each one of them has gotten it. I always get flooded with questions about the scholarship, working for the DoD, and process of it all. I am a 2011 scholar, and I got together with a 2016 Scholar and a 2019 SemiFinalist to create this o...

I believe in my year 2011. 4000 people applied and they accepted 300.

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the update, I was a 2011 cohort, so its been a while.

I will make sure to add those changes.

Hello fellow Smart Recipients, I recently made a post detailing the SMART Scholarship on my blog. I was hoping I could get some feedback on it; if I missed anything? if anything is incorrect or outdated? http://www.famvestor.com/smartscholarship/ Anyway let me know. I write very positively about the...

6%? I just went from a GS-9 Step1 to a GS 11 Step1

Just got a new SF-50 this morning saying I would be promoted to the GS-11

I just spoke with my supervisor and co-worker, apparently the pay period before a Grade increase - they give you a step increase? Anyway I guess I will find out if this is true next pay period.

Good morning, I am currently in phase 2 working for my Sponsoring Facility. I started last year at a GS-9 since I had my masters, its been 1 year and I figured I was supposed to automatically move to a GS-11, but according to my SF-50 that I just saw I am just being increased a step, GS-9 Step2. Is ...

I have not either.

I was just wondering if anyone if anyone working in phase II is receiving some kind of SLRP benefit from their branch of the military or sponsoring facility? I'm in the Army Branch working at Picatinny, and I've heard of people getting anywhere from $10,000 to $4,800 a year towards their student loa...

Hi I just started this September as a GS-9, I was wondering if anyone knew the typical raise schedule for us engineers.

I've heard a GS-7 engineer, will typically move to a GS-9 in 6 months, and than GS-11, one year after that. Anyone know if it the same schedule for someone who starts at a GS-9?

Okay so apparently my CPA made a mistake, he added AMT (Alternative Minimum TAX) to my taxes by mistake. This essentially doubled my taxes, so now its a much more reasonable number. Around 3k total.

Just curious if anyone has had taxes as high as mine. I made about 42,000 (Stipend + internship Support Statement), but have to pay $6,500 federal and $800 NJ State tax. Does this sound reasonable? I feel like its especially high, especially considering those others posting on this forum saying they...

I'm graduating in May, I contacted my POC at my SF today about been hired in May and this was my POC's response At this time we're in a complete hiring freeze, to include those in the SMART program, so we're waiting on further guidance before proceeding with bringing you on board permanently after y...

Has anyone else not been paid for september yet?

So I just got my CAC card this morning. I started work on Monday(two days ago) so really not too long a wait. Its a Contractor CAC.

Just checked mine, and yep no deposit either...

Hey guys this might seem like an obvious question, but I just wanted to make sure... We are not supposed to fill out the Fafsa, correct? Because that would be accepting other forms of aid from the government, 'double dipping'. And I cna see no other reason to, I mean if you didn't fill out the fafsa...

Saving it until I graduate and then using it to pay off student loans I have accumulated prior to receiving the award. I'm not sure about all facilities, but I know at my facility (and I think it is just a government program) every year you work there, they pay back a certain amount (I remember hea...

So just kind of wanted to take a poll as to what they are going to do or are doing with their money. Just let it sit there? Invest it? If so, how are you investing it?

I was just wondering when ASEE pays the Tuition Payment to the school. My Tuition is due August 8th, so should I let them know payment is coming? Also I plan on filling the 'Outside Funding request' form for the additional $5000, but the only scholarships I have are from Merit Based Scholarships I w...

Yes I had a similar question, because currently I am a federal government employee/intern under the STEP program, and I know that right now I get 4hrs vacation and 4 hrs sick time per pay period, but after two years from the startign date of my first internship I get 6hrs each... I am a year and a h...

When I signed-up for the SMART scholarship I put that I was going for my bachelors in Mechanical engineering, but now I am thinking I can squeeze in a Masters as well, while keeping the same graduation date. I have a couple questions: *Do people doing a joint bachelors/masters program receive a bigg...

Hi I go to school at Stevens Institute of Technology, and it is about 50 miles from Picatinny Arsenal(My Sponsoring Facility) depending on the way you go. The way I would normal travel it, it would be right around 51 miles. Any idea how they calculate this, like do they just throw it into google map...