The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

Also - I just got done fetching mail. (I have a PhD, btw.) Also - I'm getting ready to sign my furlough notice which will cut my (already uncompetitive) pay by 20%. Wasn't part of the agreement that the SMART program would provide me with a [full-time] job during phase 2? I guess that was just yet a...

The Smart scholarship is the most unprofessional organization I have ever seen. Based on my experience, you can expect it only to get much worse when you move into phase 2. The lack of professionalism is a systemic problem at my SF, also. I generally put it this way. In high school, I worked for Mc...

I was looking over my handbook, and it states, "Upon degree completion, the SSO will promptly hire Participants as full-time federal civilian employees." That seems pretty clear-cut to me. I would like to look more into either making a case that I shouldn't be furloughed or that I should be released...

@2010Recipient: Getting out of the program is fairly easy. Do you know this from reports of others' experiences, or is this just speaking in theory? ...If that's the case then you are SOL. You knew exactly what you were getting into. It's my opinion that this wording is actually at least a little un...

I guess there might be some small lab out there with government workers not contractors doing research, but I have not seen one. Posters in the thread linked below have suggested they are doing research at large government organizations: http://thesmartforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=453&p=4411&hilit...

I know what my responsibilities because I have my service agreement on hand. They have been changing the agreement every year. According to the emails they have been sending out, all cohorts are obligated to abide by the changes. I have no idea how it could possibly be legal to force someone to fol...

Also, I'm assuming by "at the lab you are assigned" you mean to say the site in general, not a specific research group? No, I mean there is interesting work being done on the resources located in the rooms in which I am physically present every day, but all of this relevant work is contracted out t...

I have chosen my two SFs ... but I also believe that just because that choice is made doesn't automatically mean I will be working on what I want to do. Exactly. It isn't as easy as just saying that, "Something is going on somewhere in the DoD that is related to my research, so surely they will let...

007, I appreciate your advice in the link. You're welcome. I should say a couple of things about the idea of planning to just go to your SF and do research on your own that hasn't been assigned to you - "going rogue," so to speak. Although this is a possibility, there are many problems with such a p...

007, In a previous thread to another applicant in a similar position, I offered the following advice: I am a recipient who is currently in post-graduation employment who has had a very negative experience. Based on my experience and those of others I've read on this forum, I have come to the conclus...

My experience with salary has been similar to that described by guestivusMaximus and CMMMM. Prior to my signing, the SMART Program Admins referred nebulously to the idea of salary negotations with the SF upon Phase I completion. When it came time for the SF to hire me, they gave me a salary number a...

@fish_ My statement shouldn't be taken as a claim that I think I know that this is how the majority of the participants feel about the program. I understand that it may or may not be the case that this is how the majority of the participants feel. I don't know that I would agree that a poll would an...

I'm with you, but I'm not optimistic that the program is that reasonable. ... the DoD pays everyone to show up and surf the internets. Depressing, really...Accepting the SMART scholarship was mos def the worst move of my career. SMART couldn't give two craps about what you do. I would love to get r...

Thanks for the update. It looks like in the most recent version of the handbook, they took out the section about prorating the amount owed in proportion to the length of Phase II remaining. Given this removal, I am suspecting that they are reserving the option to require payback of the entire amount...

Bump.

Does anyone have any updates on experiences with negotiating leaving Phase II early?

The whole situation is ridiculous. I agree completely. I am in favor of the proposal. Great job on putting this together. Thanks. However, one problem with this is that I (as I suspect are many others who would be in favor of this) am late in phase 2 of my commitment. I am putting in a lot of effor...

Thank you for the response and the advice. The SMART Program would like to build a relationship of trust and understanding with the participants. If you are basing this on your personal experience with the Program, then I wager that you have had a different experience with them than I have had. "Sch...

In the handbook revised email, it said the revised handbook apply to ALL cohort years. I noticed this statement in that email also, and I've seen this point mentioned in other threads. It appears to me to be yet another case of the program administration being unfair to the participants. I don't se...

Thanks for sharing the information about the possibility of a reduction in penalty for leaving early in Phase II. I had assumed that all money was owed back if you leave even one day early. From these posts, it looks like there is doubt about which policy they are enforcing for all cohorts now. From...

I'm in phase 2. My work is almost all contractor oversight with very little engineering, so needless to say I'm disappointed. As an added bonus, I have a Ph.D. in an engineering field which is pretty much going to waste. I've read at least one research paper out of the Army Research Lab and it looks...

Also, if you have made agreements regarding anything (salary or otherwise) prior to signing, and you are counting on them holding their end of the agreement, I would strongly suggest that you get it in writing. Expect them to throw curveballs.

Joe Mama:

Based on my experience, those numbers are much higher than what I would expect for an M.S. But, it is always possible that you are getting a much better deal.

I am a recipient in post-graduation employment with a Ph.D. Maybe others have had different experiences, but based on my experience, it would be completely unrealisitic for someone with an M.S. degree to expect to make anywhere near $89k with the DoD in the first two years - at least based on my exp...

I am a recipient who is currently in post-graduation employment who has had a very negative experience. Based on my experience and those of others I've read on this forum, I have come to the conclusion that the SMART Program is really suited for students who either: 1) Do not have any other option t...

I am a recipient who is in post-graduation employment right now. Based on my experience and those of others I've read on this forum, it is indeed possible that you will receive a low salary offer for post-graduation employment. Before joining the SMART Program, I was working for a DOE lab as an inte...