The Unofficial SMART Scholarship Forum

Just want to specify that this may have been the case, but when doing a SF transfer now SMART actually emails the scholar and specifies that they are not to talk to other facilities while a transfer is being worked out (this is if your SF is not deemed a fit for you). They give you the generic emai...

Different people have had different results, and many who were lined up to pay are now in limbo pending the SMART debt review so it might all be subject to change, but some common parameters to those who left/were dismissed a while ago from the program for whatever reason are: No grace periods. 1-3 ...

I've been following all of the dissidence towards SMART for a while. While I respect that all of you have problems with the program, and they are probably justified, I just want to pipe in and break up some of the groupthink.... Maybe I was raised differently... Your post doesn't read like you're t...

As part of my efforts organizing resistance to SMARTS draconian debt collections and mistreatment of participants, I compiled a detailed report (as detailed as I could given the reticence of many participants to go on the record in detail with their stories at any rate) and submitted it to various o...

They're just carrying on the tradition of every organization put in charge of this program being incompetent wastes of oxygen, which to be fair definitely IS on brand for the program.

Because more people still trickle in every day or two...keeping this visible...

You should NOT extend for a PhD with SMART under any circumstances. The average length for a PhD in any STEM program at most universities is going to be ~5-7 years barring insane luck, and a good portion go easily past that. SMART won't give a shit and will throw you on LoA after 5 years to finish i...

Hello everyone, In dealing with/organizing everyone currently in default there have been some developments that everyone should be aware of even if you haven't joined the Discord and been keeping up with the internal discussion (although it would be in your best interest to do so). After getting con...

Having gone through it first hand and collected numerous other stories even worse than mine, when I see SMART being given the benefit of the doubt on general repayment I get...just a lil bit salty.

Still, SMART doesn't exactly make it easy to see any of its failures, so no hard feelings.

Why don't yall face the punishment for leaving early? You had MULTIPLE warnings before accepting the scholarship and still agreed with the terms and conditions. Quit being babies, crying to attornies, and just suck it up buttercups Not just don't know how graduate school does (or doesn't as the cas...

Hello everyone, As several weeks have gone by and more of the slow roll of debt letters will have gone out from DFAS I have been working on a detailed report about the design and operations of the SMART program, including various participant stories highlighting the…significant issues with and in so...

Just a quick update that might be useful. I just got off the phone with DFAS and they did NOT have an account/case for me yet. I mentioned specifically that I was inquiring about SMART and it appears it's a more gradual roll out and not an "all at once" operation with letters and terms for everyone ...

What it says on the tin. This is just a general survey form to start gathering data about the statistics related to the causes of people being in default with SMART for use in discussions with congressional representatives or other political officials, and if you're willing more detailed elaboration...

Yeah considering how low the % of posts from registered users are seems to be using PM's seems futile.

https://discord.gg/MEhgRRC

Is the current permanent link. If access issues arise getting in let me know in this thread.

As the rather messy thread about the SMART payback letter can attest, it's clear the debt reclamation process has begun and with essentially no delay for any of us to prepare for it (especially those of us who have been put in default recently at the hands of LMI). As a result I think it's essential...

When I called last week, DFAS said to request a full explanation of debt under "Miscellaneous miscellaneous" request category. I agree, we should all be asking for such a letter before paying anything. I am trying to find a lawyer to help and don't plan on paying anything until I get legal advice. ...

Could someone who has called DFAS and gotten in touch with someone about the repayment process for SMART post the # they used here (which I assume is what was included in the letter)? I mean maybe the letters didn't go out all at once but I haven't received mine yet and we all know the issues of the...

Is it a fair amount? For a good chunk of people I doubt anything would register as "fair" in the grand scheme of things... Given that SMART's address keeping has been known to be terrible would someone who does get one of these letters mind posting a screenshot of it (personal information blocked o...

Given how many views this thread has with nothing posted about it that doesn't seem likely... Something that occurred to me the other day though; that "30 days" could be the point when THEY start their own internal machinery going NOT when we actually would be hearing things. Would kind of make sens...

Around 2 months tends to be the norm in my experience both pre and post LMI. They ain't exactly quick... Not to try and scare you either but whether it's approved or denied you'll literally just get an email in your inbox with their decision; they seem to be allergic to asking for additional informa...

Hopefully that goes well. I haven't heard anything yet (though I only sent a few feelers out as this seems like one of those things where "until they formally start the process we're just SOL" sort of deals and it appears no one has actually gotten their "component" notification as per the email...)...

Maybe the email was just a scare tactic. Otherwise; why send it to everyone? I'm starting to miss ASEE. I definitely miss ASEE and I'm sure most of the other PhD students do too. For all their faults at least ASEE had experience with the PhD process from managing other fellowships and was (relative...

All- Both attorneys recommended that I begin writing letters to Congress. Apparently our Congresspeople can do whatever they want to both the contracts and the debts (including negating them or setting up terms for repayment), and short of that there is not much to be done. I do agree that for thos...

The shortest summary is (according to someone else who posted here but I have no idea where they got the info so take it with a grain of salt) apparently LMI now has a new limit of two years LoA max post funding for you to finish before they just throw you in default. I have not seen this documented...

I just want to add on this this... If you are considering doing SMART for a PhD and you are not 100% sure you can complete things on time (i.e. have a good topic, good advisors and basically already know what the hell you're doing) do NOT do this program. The new LMI management seems perfectly okay ...