Re: 2012 Applicants
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2012 1:39 pm
As perplexing as that is, the true mystery is why some people seem to take it personally.Why don't people read?"
Science, Mathematics & Research for Transformation
https://thesmartforum.org/
As perplexing as that is, the true mystery is why some people seem to take it personally.Why don't people read?"
I definitely know what you mean. I feel like giving up on the thought I will nail this scholarship. At least then if I happen to, I can be happily surprised but if I don't I will have gotten used to the idea. Only a little over a week until we can be sure at least. Good luck to everyone!totolin3 wrote:I am checking this forum, my email, and my phone constantly for updates. I think I am going to go crazy.
daGhost wrote:I definitely know what you mean. I feel like giving up on the thought I will nail this scholarship. At least then if I happen to, I can be happily surprised but if I don't I will have gotten used to the idea. Only a little over a week until we can be sure at least. Good luck to everyone!totolin3 wrote:I am checking this forum, my email, and my phone constantly for updates. I think I am going to go crazy.
They have already said that they will be sending out notifications around April 9th. And from previous years, they typically run late, meaning after April 9. We are still looking at over two weeks...Guest2 wrote:Last year I got my acceptance on April 2nd. Most went out on the 1st/2nd. Just give it another week or so.
That's right. Well, soon enough. Just gotta find ways to pass the time!Guest 2012 wrote:
They have already said that they will be sending out notifications around April 9th. And from previous years, they typically run late, meaning after April 9. We are still looking at over two weeks...
You guys don't want this award anyway. Go look at the recipients pages to see how badly life is after you get it! Back out now! Apply for other scholarships, or just take out loans, it would be better on your future!daGhost wrote:That's right. Well, soon enough. Just gotta find ways to pass the time!Guest 2012 wrote:
They have already said that they will be sending out notifications around April 9th. And from previous years, they typically run late, meaning after April 9. We are still looking at over two weeks...
Is it possible for those that want to debate whether or not SMART is worth it due policy change create another thread or use the one in the Recipients side. This thread was intended to update on the application progress. I feel for those upset at the recent changes but it is starting to get off topic and covers up people using this thread for the original intent.
EDIT: Posts relating to the merits of SMART were moved to "Is SMART Worth It?"
My original post was relevant. I was just responding the quote above that encourages applicants to not accept award offers. :( I don't know why my post was removed and this one wasn't.You guys don't want this award anyway. Go look at the recipients pages to see how badly life is after you get it! Back out now! Apply for other scholarships, or just take out loans, it would be better on your future!
If the SFs pay anyone a dime I'll eat my hat. They have no money.In_Stitches wrote:In general, I'd love to get the SMART fellowship, but it is only one of five that I've applied for. Luckily, I'm still in my 2nd year in grad school, so I was able to apply for the other DOD award (the NDSEG), both of the DOE ones (SCGF and CSGF), and then NSF. Naturally, if I get any of these others which don't have strings attached, I probably wouldn't take the SMART fellowship.
But, if it's the only one I get, it's a lot better than no funding, and a little better than the funding my adviser has (he is only funded for experiment, and I want to do simulation). I'm rather curious about how the sponsoring facilities are going to respond to the reduction in summer funding in regards to new appointees. I feel that summers doing unpaid research projects in another state without any support for relocation, etc, etc, is so bogus that it won't stand -- the SF's will have to pick up the slack or everyone will reject the award. My guess is that this will mean that the sponsoring facilities will be more selective of their applicants, since it will be coming out of their budget, and everything will be right with the world.
If the SFs pay anyone a dime, then GREAT! Those scholars are covered for their summer internships, and SMART becomes desirable again.Guest wrote:If the SFs pay anyone a dime I'll eat my hat. They have no money.
I believe SMART is a lot less competitive compare to NSF or NDSEG and some other no-string-attached fellowships. Some people (like myself) are not competitive enough and only have a shot at SMART. No summer funding sucks, but it still beats having no support.In_Stitches wrote:In general, I'd love to get the SMART fellowship, but it is only one of five that I've applied for. Luckily, I'm still in my 2nd year in grad school, so I was able to apply for the other DOD award (the NDSEG), both of the DOE ones (SCGF and CSGF), and then NSF. Naturally, if I get any of these others which don't have strings attached, I probably wouldn't take the SMART fellowship.
Go into this process with both eyes open, and understand that while you are held to a standard of trust, the DoD is not.veryanxioussssss wrote:I may be the only one who feels this way, but even with the changes to the scholarship, wouldn't you guys be more than willing to take the scholarship regardless? Okay, so summer internships might not be paid, but the experience is invaluable, no? Money is only a tool, and if loans are needed then let it be. Don't let the shortage of money stop you from getting an otherwise unmatched offer. Now for those of you who have applied to other scholarships and have other pending opportunities, more power to you. You have options. Myself, I only applied to this one. I put all my eggs in one basket, which yes, was not smart, but I poured my heart into the application.
When I received it, I was notified by email. Make sure you check your spam box.veryanxioussssss wrote:On another note, I have been SO anxious to hear from the DoD. Much like everyone here, I have heard nothing and have been glued to my phone, e-mail, and this board. What line of communication should I expect to hear from them--phone/e-mail? I would assume it's too late for phone interviews from the sponsoring facilities, right? I was nervous with that because with being at work for specific times, I feared not being able to answer. Is this a fear that can diminish at least?
Has anyone heard ANYTHING? I don't even know if I made it past the third round of cuts, which was March 15th. The fourth cut is this week, but from the sounds of it from other posters, we're really not looking at anything until on or around the 9th.
I'm glad someone else still feels this way. I alternate between school and work year-round, living on 10k for housing, food, everything. Total. The money I make during work semesters, I have to budget out just to make sure I have enough to make it through the year. This schedule has severely delayed my graduation, as I need to keep these alternations up just to continue funding my stay at school. I can understand the financial hardship on people with families, but undergrad students have no right to complain about making 25k with a free education. Sure, the breach of contract sucks, but it still remains that the program more than handsomely PAYS to go to school. I've sat reading these forums since I applied in December and it's appalling how ungrateful some of these kids seem. EVERYONE is taking pay cuts. Most people are losing their jobs. You'll have no student loans and guaranteed employment. That's more than most kids can say after school.veryanxioussssss wrote:I may be the only one who feels this way, but even with the changes to the scholarship, wouldn't you guys be more than willing to take the scholarship regardless? Okay, so summer internships might not be paid, but the experience is invaluable, no? Money is only a tool, and if loans are needed then let it be. Don't let the shortage of money stop you from getting an otherwise unmatched offer. Now for those of you who have applied to other scholarships and have other pending opportunities, more power to you. You have options. Myself, I only applied to this one. I put all my eggs in one basket, which yes, was not smart, but I poured my heart into the application.
On another note, I have been SO anxious to hear from the DoD. Much like everyone here, I have heard nothing and have been glued to my phone, e-mail, and this board. What line of communication should I expect to hear from them--phone/e-mail? I would assume it's too late for phone interviews from the sponsoring facilities, right? I was nervous with that because with being at work for specific times, I feared not being able to answer. Is this a fear that can diminish at least?
Has anyone heard ANYTHING? I don't even know if I made it past the third round of cuts, which was March 15th. The fourth cut is this week, but from the sounds of it from other posters, we're really not looking at anything until on or around the 9th.
veryanxioussssss, I am a current participant (2011 Cohort) and I do not plan on leaving the program. The summer internships will be a valuable experience, but paying all of the fees related to the internship will be difficult with no additional support. Most of us who have complained about the lack of summer payment have taken issue with the fact that they have taken away a resource that was promised to us, and one we were assured we did not have to worry about, we were told that our funding was already put aside, and that even the cancellation of the program would not affect our funding. And for many who accepted, the program was matched, but the extra summer support was the reason they chose SMART. It is very frustrated being held to an incredibly high standard and having the threat of dismissal waved around if we step a toe out of line, when none is applied to the group running the program and they are free to make any changes they wish.Guest wrote:I'm glad someone else still feels this way. I alternate between school and work year-round, living on 10k for housing, food, everything. Total. The money I make during work semesters, I have to budget out just to make sure I have enough to make it through the year. This schedule has severely delayed my graduation, as I need to keep these alternations up just to continue funding my stay at school. I can understand the financial hardship on people with families, but undergrad students have no right to complain about making 25k with a free education. Sure, the breach of contract sucks, but it still remains that the program more than handsomely PAYS to go to school. I've sat reading these forums since I applied in December and it's appalling how ungrateful some of these kids seem. EVERYONE is taking pay cuts. Most people are losing their jobs. You'll have no student loans and guaranteed employment. That's more than most kids can say after school.veryanxioussssss wrote:I may be the only one who feels this way, but even with the changes to the scholarship, wouldn't you guys be more than willing to take the scholarship regardless? Okay, so summer internships might not be paid, but the experience is invaluable, no? Money is only a tool, and if loans are needed then let it be. Don't let the shortage of money stop you from getting an otherwise unmatched offer.
My apologies for not citing sources. I had a discussion with my POC at my facility and just gave the information that he gave me. I did not qualify that other bases may be doing things differently and was not trying to cause people to panic. I removed that part of my response in hopes that I won't cause anyone to freak out and because the information may not hold true across the board.3262012 wrote:That's actually not how it works at all. It is stated and emphasized all over the place that some facilities request interviews while others do not, and that when reviewing recommended candidates, SMART has no record of whether or not these candidates received interviews with the facilities or not. You can definitely get recommended without an interview and still be under consideration.
Don't make statements like that with no backing, you freak people out.
You're completely right. Maybe the summer stipend really was "too much" in some sense. That shouldn't matter - even if a person bought a $1 lottery ticket and won a million dollar lottery, he would be absolutely right to object if the lottery suddenly decided they were only going to pay him a thousand dollars. It is a violation of the original agreement, and such a violation is doubly galling in the SMART context because a SMART scholar would have the full force of the federal legal system arrayed against him if he decided that his own commitment was "too much".RPI CSE wrote:Someone has the right to complain when they are promised something and given something else. If your boss handed you a check for half the amount you had earned and told you he needed to hire and pay new employees, would you complain?