The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

I check the site more often than that, I just don't login. Not sure about another forum. There aren't that many posts as it is, and the search works somewhat decently. Everyone is free to try to start a thread for their cohort or transition year; I'd be happy to sticky something like that. I think a...

Larry,

I wanted to thank you for joining the the board. It has been years since someone from the program office has posted anything.

I'm also interested in how the retention number is calculated. This is the first time I've heard an actual value.

Chris

This is fairly common. No need to worry about it yet. Schools expect this sort of thing with commitment letters, and give a lot of leeway to late payments.

The dates are perpetually wrong and the sequester will only make it worse.

In the past they have extended the application deadline and even given out awards after orientation. April seems right, but it's not worth worrying about.

Your best bet is to handle things as they come.

My salary was written in package that I received at orientation. Without the LA County COLA adjustment it would have been a fair amount below industry, but with it, it was higher than industry. The area I lived in was actually really cheap to be in too.

...I guess things change over the years

2013 Budget is Here: http://comptroller.defense.gov/defbudget/fy2013/budget_justification/pdfs/03_RDT_and_E/Defense-Wide_PB_2013_1_FINAL_RDTE.pdf I could not find the scholarship in it :/ in 2011 and 2012 searching for scholarship brought it up The site is: http://comptroller.defense.gov/defbudget/f...

I did this and didn't have any issues. I was a few days over the requirement.

Also check out General Electric's graduate leadership development programs (EEDP, OMLP, IMLP...). They have great opportunities for graduating students interested in earning master's degrees in engineering, information science, and supply chain management. (Also great co-op opportunities in R&D and...

You guys are just getting more neurotic as time goes on

Hey everyone, I think there's a name for today..it's something along the lines of "Tipsy Tuesday."
Relax a little

Cheers
Chris

The current application period is for the Fall 2012 school year. You should apply now.

1) You are expected to graudate in 4 years for BS. Pretty sure they can be flexible for 5 year masters. 2) Definitely do not state that he only wants to stay for a few years. In fact, he should not be applying if that is his plan. 3)Past experience is always good. Scholarships are weighted towards t...

I think this was discussed at some point.

You can try to negotiate salary, but they're going to be fairly fixed on their base salary+COLA adjust. If you already have the scholarship, you won't be punished for asking, but don't expect much.

For the 2009 cohort year, the $5k was described as something that was yours and could be used however you wanted. The handbook should have a clear description. ASEE was very late in paying my tuition; however, they somehow notified my school that they were going to pay it. I asked the bursar about i...

TSP: If you have >$200 vested in TSP, you can keep it in, get a cash withdraw (must pay taxes), or roll over everything into a new plan. You can also continue to make contributions to TSP. Under a certain number of years (I think 3), you will not be vested in the automatic 1% contribution. Therefore...

I'm pretty sure that past federal service counts towards the 3 years required to get 6hr/pp of vacation. Sick time always accrues at 4hr/pp.

Vacation and Comp time get paid out
Sick days get banked for future federal employment
Credit hours disappear

I'm sure everyone received the paperwork stating the we should plan on the orientation going 8:00-14:00. I believe I've heard that the orientation typically ends earlier than scheduled. Has anyone else heard this or past recipients can you corroborate/refute this? My SF is in the area and I am tryi...

xkcd13 wrote:btw, we set a new record...

"Most users ever online was 35 on Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:02 pm"

lol guys, don't you have homework or something to do

1) You will be handed a full job description, including salary, at orientation if your POC does not give you one beforehand. You will be able to back out without consequence once orientation is over. 2) The program office is full of nice people and is not out to screw you. If you are not happy where...

There have been many CC transfers. I don't think it matters much.

If you already have an offer, not really.

I would call smart and ask if you can change your profile without telling them who you are at first.

If the degree completion time changes, they will have to a) take summer classes or b) take a payback penatly at a 2:1 rate. This means that one extra semester of school = an entire extra year of required civil service.

It's 5k/yr. They've been working on getting it changed, but I haven't seen anything recently. I know it's not up to them.

It's in the handbook. I know the link is floating around here, but you should be able to find it in the recipients area of the smart website somewhere.

The cash award is paid out during the entire time that you are in the program. It will probably start in August after orientation and end in June or July depending on when you finish school and your facility can hire you. The payout is also prorated, so if the payout start date is August and you sta...