Search found 101 matches

by malarious
Fri Apr 03, 2020 1:02 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Should I accept a job offer?
Replies: 8
Views: 5130

Re: Should I accept a job offer?

Just for one data point to imply that if your clearances are taking that long there is SOMETHING weird going on somewhere (might have to do with the bureaucracy, and not you) and backup plans might be advisable: I was extended an offer by one of the major national defense contractors and submitted ...
by malarious
Fri Apr 03, 2020 1:00 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Should I accept a job offer?
Replies: 8
Views: 5130

Re: Should I accept a job offer?

Arbiter wrote:
Thu Apr 02, 2020 12:34 pm
So you've been waiting 2 years and haven't had to repay any debt?
Correct. I am being paid my stipend to wait now.
by malarious
Thu Apr 02, 2020 5:49 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Should I accept a job offer?
Replies: 8
Views: 5130

Re: Should I accept a job offer?

So, your mileage may vary but I have been waiting on Clearance since September of 2017. I graduated in December and have heard nothing so far on clearance or, obviously, start date. I do not know, at this juncture, how long clearances take overall. If you take an offer and it is over 16 weeks, you w...
by malarious
Mon Nov 04, 2019 4:07 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Looking for a phase 2 who finished negotiations
Replies: 5
Views: 6045

Re: Looking for a phase 2 who finished negotiations

They didn't talk about student loan repayment, continuing education, rate of step changes, or anything else? Did they give an offer letter or just tell you what the job was? Lack of at least an attempt to use longer term service agreements is unexpected. They'll tell you about all the other informa...
by malarious
Mon Nov 04, 2019 9:07 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Looking for a phase 2 who finished negotiations
Replies: 5
Views: 6045

Re: Looking for a phase 2 who finished negotiations

You don't "negotiate" coming in. Barring a facility operating very differently from the norm, you come in at the GS pay level standard per your education with the corresponding salary + cost of living locality pay and that's it. They didn't talk about student loan repayment, continuing education, r...
by malarious
Sun Oct 20, 2019 2:05 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Looking for a phase 2 who finished negotiations
Replies: 5
Views: 6045

Looking for a phase 2 who finished negotiations

I am looking for someone who has entered phase 2 and finished their negotiations.

What could you negotiate?
Did they seem receptive?
What degree level did you get?

I am basically wondering what I can look at negotiating and what I can't.
by malarious
Sun Sep 15, 2019 12:21 am
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Questions for You Kind Individuals
Replies: 1
Views: 3866

Re: Questions for You Kind Individuals

Hey everyone, I have several questions that I would greatly appreciate if you could help me answer. I apologize for any redundancy, and feel free to answer any part or none of the questions, I just want as much helpful information as possible. Is there a general consensus about which facilities are...
by malarious
Thu Sep 05, 2019 6:06 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Dilemma - Need Advice
Replies: 12
Views: 13599

Re: Dilemma - Need Advice

You are not alone.

I have been told no on interim clearance the last two semesters. Now the first one I was in Japan, so I figured maybe that contributed, but took classes this last summer too.
by malarious
Wed Aug 21, 2019 3:40 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Time between Graduation and Start Date
Replies: 9
Views: 9035

Re: Time between Graduation and Start Date

I believe I am the poster you are referencing that graduated the past May and got a September start date. Although I don't know if this is typical for other SFs, I do know for sure that SMART continues to pay your stipend for the time between graduation and your start date (I was paid for May, June...
by malarious
Tue Aug 20, 2019 7:33 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Time between Graduation and Start Date
Replies: 9
Views: 9035

Time between Graduation and Start Date

I saw someone in another thread say it took months after graduation (Graduated May start September I believe) for job to start. Is this the normal for most or is it very sf dependent? Wondering if I should plan my finances to still be SMART stipend for some months after.

Thanks!
by malarious
Sun Jun 30, 2019 3:24 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Phase 1 report
Replies: 3
Views: 4151

Re: Phase 1 report

Noncompliance is usually probation. They will send an email saying you are in noncompliance and tell you to get back in compliance. Send the form to the e-mail and note that site was not functioning.
by malarious
Thu Jun 13, 2019 2:30 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Failed class - Yep, mistakes made
Replies: 0
Views: 5003

Failed class - Yep, mistakes made

I was just wondering if anyone has failed to complete a class and how SMART reacted. I had gone on probation last Winter with a GPA just under 3.0, but fixed it in fall. I am at 2.88 and failed a class, wondering what I should expect from SMART.

Anyone have any experience with this?
by malarious
Mon Apr 22, 2019 12:39 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: GPA below 3.0 Awardee
Replies: 6
Views: 4117

Re: GPA below 3.0 Awardee

Hi all. My GPA was under 3.0 after last winter.

They will put you on probation and give you a semester to fix it. "Semester" means Fall or Winter, Summer/Spring is free. They do not consider Summer/Spring, because they specifically define their year (in the handbook) as Fall and Winter semesters.
by malarious
Sun Mar 17, 2019 9:31 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: TARDEC Electrical Engineering Salary
Replies: 9
Views: 6274

TARDEC Electrical Engineering Salary

Hey all, I am supposed to start in TARDEC when I graduate, but the information on pay is always a range. Anyone have information on the starting salary as a Bachelors of Electrical Engineering? Failing that, any higher degrees?

Thanks!
by malarious
Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:34 pm
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: How much does gpa matter?
Replies: 5
Views: 3747

Re: How much does gpa matter?

Is your GPA college or high school?

I had a 3.3 college GPA in engineering courses. I think the strong background in leadership and club activity was a motivating factor for my approval though. It isn't all about grades, they look for different things.
by malarious
Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:33 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Site Visit Question
Replies: 5
Views: 4236

Re: Site Visit Question

For my site, they let us know the day. Everyone came on the same day, we didn't schedule it ourselves. The SF will likely contact you, but can't hurt to reach out.
by malarious
Mon Mar 11, 2019 9:31 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Summer classes
Replies: 3
Views: 2843

Re: Summer classes

I got denied clearance for my SF and they said I have to take summer classes. What if I just dont register/take any summer classes? I know they CAN remove me from the program but what will they PROBABLY do? I believe they may remove you. Your other option would theoretically be to work, but per the...
by malarious
Sat Feb 23, 2019 1:04 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Facilities that Pay on Non-GS Systems
Replies: 11
Views: 8780

Re: Facilities that Pay on Non-GS Systems

TARDEC uses a DB scale for SMART scholars. Also has an 18 month pay ladder. Oh another TARDECian! What degree did you start with and what DB was that if you do not mind my asking? I will be graduating with a bachelors in Electrical Engineering and am wondering what I should expect to be a reasonabl...
by malarious
Thu Jan 31, 2019 6:49 pm
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Transfer
Replies: 4
Views: 3222

Re: Transfer

I disagree with the above response. I had no idea what school I was going to go to for my grad program when I applied. It ranged from public universities to private (stanford included which is one of the most expensive) and when I was awarded the scholarship, I was able to pick whatever school I wa...
by malarious
Thu Jan 31, 2019 6:37 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Suing SMART
Replies: 5
Views: 4054

Re: Suing SMART

You already heard back on your interim clearance for summer? Or was your full clearance denied?
by malarious
Sun Jan 20, 2019 3:40 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Summer Class
Replies: 3
Views: 3250

Re: Summer Class

Applicable parts of handbook: (7.5) Under rare circumstances, requests for additional tuition and/or enrollment can be made. Enrollment and/or completion of coursework during summer and/or condensed winter terms, whether taken online or at a physical location, requires prior authorization from the S...
by malarious
Sat Dec 29, 2018 8:40 pm
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Transfer
Replies: 4
Views: 3222

Re: Transfer

What school did you report on the application? That's the one you go to. You can request a transfer after acceptance, but if they reject the request you will be stuck at auburn.
by malarious
Sun Aug 12, 2018 12:17 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Is the 3.0 GPA requirement cumulative or by semester?
Replies: 6
Views: 6634

Re: Is the 3.0 GPA requirement cumulative or by semester?

Cumulative. Your grade point is only calculated by your own schools grades. So if you transferred in with other credits, those all have no impact on the GPA that SMART (and your new school) will use. Even if you have 120 credits when you transfer in, you have 0 credits and 0 grade points coming in. ...
by malarious
Sat May 26, 2018 12:06 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Adding years to pay off debt?
Replies: 2
Views: 2775

Re: Adding years to pay off debt?

My understanding is that is a benefit of DoD, not SMART, so you will still have it.
by malarious
Thu Apr 26, 2018 10:09 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Contact Info for Smart Higher Ups?
Replies: 9
Views: 6189

Re: Contact Info for Smart Higher Ups?

You can often find contacts for people you are not supposed to. The thing is, we don't really have someone between her and a SMART advisor. So it limits our options on what we can do when these things happen. If they wanted us to have it, they would have included it in our handbooks. Are you claimi...