Semi-Finalists

[kholddagger]

Today I got an email about being a semi-finalist. I guess this gives me and those others about a 1 in 5 chance. Hooray for SF-87s.

Anyway, does anyone know if we can still get internship/summer job offers from the DoD organizations that look at our resumes? Has this happened to anyone in the past?

[Chris Moulder]

You will not have an internship the first summer. The paperwork and clearances take too long. I'm not aware of anyone who as gotten around this.

[jslaurin]

Very bummed out...

Thank you for your interest in the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program. This email is to inform you that you were not selected as a Semi-Finalist for an award under the SMART Program. As in past years, there were many more applicants than possible award slots. This year over, 3,300 applications were received, of those, 1,300 have been named Semi-Finalists. From this group of Semi-Finalists, approximately 250-300 awards will be made on or about March 31, 2010. Due to the high volume of applications received we are unable to provide feedback regarding your application.



We wish you well in your academic endeavors and encourage you to apply again during our next application period starting August 1, 2010.

It would be great if before the August 1 2010 period they could let me know why I wasn't accepted, so I can know if I am simply an unacceptable candidate or if I just wasn't ready.

Good luck all!

[Guest]

Got the congrats message, can't tell you how nervous I was opening that email, though it really just means that I've got another month and a half to wonder if I can get excited yet or not

[Guest]

Wait, so let me get this straight, If I am a junior and I receive the award this year, then I will not have an internship this summer, right?

[Guest]

Correct, the summer internship is for the summer after your first fall semester receiving the award.

[klfh1981]

It has been great having this website as a resource to follow other peoples experience with the application for SMART. My husband is actually the one who is in the running for the scholarship, Thank God he is a semi-finalist. Nerve-wracking all of this waiting! I will have an ulcer by April wondering where the next couple of years will be taking my family, but excited. Best of luck to all of you!

[CG]

As far as security clearance goes, I was informed early on that the current clearance I had was able to bypass the need for an sf-86 but not enough to fulfill the needs of the semi-finalists part of the deal. Basically I have a secret clearance because of my Air Force occupation, but if I'm not mistaken, isn't a secret clearance all that one needs to be accepted into this program?

Anyhow I did recieve the email that I wouldn't be one of the finalists, but as " jslaurin" said above, we probably wont know the reasons why.

[Guest]

Does anyone know the typical starting salary out of college for the DOD for someone with only an undergraduate degree.

[PhysGuy]

As far as security clearance goes, I was informed early on that the current clearance I had was able to bypass the need for an sf-86 but not enough to fulfill the needs of the semi-finalists part of the deal. Basically I have a secret clearance because of my Air Force occupation, but if I'm not mistaken, isn't a secret clearance all that one needs to be accepted into this program?

Anyhow I did recieve the email that I wouldn't be one of the finalists, but as " jslaurin" said above, we probably wont know the reasons why.

Actually you don't need a security clearance to be accepted. This is why many of us had to fill out an SF-86 and now an SF-87. You will need a clearance eventually, but certainly not prior to acceptance.

I'm fairly confident this round of cuts was based on academic achievement and strength of application. I don't think having a security clearance automatically qualifies you.

[DoD Guest]

I would say typically one would start from a GS-7 to a GS-9. The actual numbers are at http://www.opm.gov/oca/10tables/index.asp based on the location of your facility. There are internship programs can facilitate faster promotions and additional training but may involve additional service commitments.

[PhysGuy]

Does anyone know the typical starting salary out of college for the DOD for someone with only an undergraduate degree.

I think BS is an automatic pay grade of GS 6. I think masters is GS 8 and Ph.D is GS 11. (I'm not positive of the Masters and Ph.D levels)

[Guest]

Now for some phone interviews!!!!!

[Pat]

I didn't get any emails... no rejection or confirmation. Any idea why?

[Chris Moulder]

Does anyone know the typical starting salary out of college for the DOD for someone with only an undergraduate degree.

I think BS is an automatic pay grade of GS 6. I think masters is GS 8 and Ph.D is GS 11. (I'm not positive of the Masters and Ph.D levels)

Okay, here's most of the stuff regarding pay:

There are two systems that engineers use right now, YD and GS. GS is the old system, YD is the new one that congress just killed.

GS has 15 grades and 10 steps within each grade. Under this system, starting salaries for engineers are almost universally lower, and you get step increase every certain number of months. There are also QSI, Quality Step Increases, within your grade for performance. To receive a higher pay grade, you either need a more advanced degree, have to work an ungodly number of years, or receive a promotion. Unfortunately, you can't just be promoted because you deserve more money, there has to be an available position. Most BS right out of college engineers enter as a GS-8, which will pay somewhere between $45k and $70k.

YD is a pay band system with 3 grades and some number of steps in each grade covering a wide pay range. Increases are merit based. You will not get a step increase because you have worked some number of months. Under this system, most BS engineers right out of college will be YD1 target 2 or YD2.

To put it bluntly, pay will vary greatly. If you're an engineer on the GS system, I feel very sorry for you. If you're lucky enough to get on the YD system (none of you will because new hires are frozen sometime in May). There are a few bases that are the exception. For instance, at Edwards, going back to the GS is unacceptable, however, because they piloted the YD system (on a slightly different scale) they might be able to switch back.

In my case (Edwards AFB), my starting salary will be between $62,000 and $68,000 depending on my GPA. I have a friend who will be making ~$45,000 on the GS scale (sorry, forget the base).

Basically, it's the luck of the draw. But regardless of what happens, most of you will only be required to work 1 or 2 years. After this point, you can either move to the private industry and have more experience than any of your peers, or you can start shopping around on www.USAJobs.gov for a base willing to bring you in at a higher grade.

[notsemi-finalist]

Yes I was not a semi-finalist either. Although they did not mention why I wasn't selected I think I know. I was going to wait to apply next year if I have to retake the GRE. I am currently working on a Master's and applied for a year of funding. My college did not require a GRE score. I am looking into PHD programs and some do require a GRE scores so I may have to retake it. I am a little confused though about whether I should apply again. Do they usually select candidates from certain schools or are more apt to select candidates from certain majors? I think there are probably too many ifs to apply again and I wouldn't apply for too many years since I don't want to commit myself to that many years of service. Good luck to everyone selected. Sour grapes.

[Mike Birkhead]

Does anyone know the typical starting salary out of college for the DOD for someone with only an undergraduate degree.

I think BS is an automatic pay grade of GS 6. I think masters is GS 8 and Ph.D is GS 11. (I'm not positive of the Masters and Ph.D levels)

To add on to what Mr. Moulder has stated, There are several entry programs in the GS field.
If you have a BS, there are certain places that have performance program called 7-9-11 (seven nine eleven). This is NOT referring to July 9th of this year. This is saying that you can be temporarily entered as a GS7 and go up to 9 the next year and then GS11 on the third year (based on merit and performance).

There are many different pay possibilities. They goverment typically tries to stay just above the median and just below the mean annual income in the private sector. This insures they have a large pool of people as possible employees, but they still save some money.
With that said, your odds of getting a government job that pays better than private sector are good, unless you're well networked and highly recommended.

I also don't know if the 7-9-11 program is available in every field. It is available to the DoD employees that I work with as long as they have an undergrad degree, but I work with accountants from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). This may be an incentive that was created to get highly qualified accountants in a short period of time.

[Guest]

I have to agree with some of the post here. That I do not like how SMART does not notify why you are not a semi-finalist. Last year I got that email then two weeks later I got an email that I was a semi-finalist since they screwed up on the clearance since I already had a clearance. I guess that is what you expect from all govt agencies. I am sure that is a reason for not being a semi-finalist this year for people here, but you would still like to know so you do not waste your time next year.

My opinion the process is like a random black box.

[fish]

Two of my kids submitted for SMART and SCEP, both take compsci. The boy with 3.3 GPA and two years work experience did not make the cut for SMART, but was called for a prelim interview under SCEP. The girl with a 3.9 and no real work experience made the first cut for SMART, and was already called by the second choice Navy facility. We have heard nothing from the first choice facility for SCEP or SMART. It appears that some DOD faciltities are more active in their recruiting than others.

[Guest]

Was it SCEP or SMART that called?
I got a call from a California area code this morning (where my top two choices are from) and my heart almost stopped. Turned out to be a telemarketer.

[fish]

[quote="Guest"]Was it SCEP or SMART that called?

Naval facility called the boy for SCEP
Naval facility called the girl SMART