Been Contacted?

[xkcd13]

I was told today that I was recommended for review by the SMART Program Office! That is the next real milestone, right? According to the SMART site, approximatively 2/3 of all recommended candidates have been selected. This is the first time I can honestly say that I think I have a shot at being selected!

[Guest]

Were you notified by email?

[xkcd13]

No, it was a phone call.

[Jim M]

I contacted my first choice today and they politely informed me that they where not looking for BSEE majors this year. They did say they had not yet finalized their choices.

[guest]

I received notice today that I was accepted into my first choice for graduate school. I still haven’t heard anything from any of the sponsoring facilities about the scholarship. I guess I will be TAing a lot of classes next year to pay for graduate school.

Looking at some of these comments I can see there are things I should have done differently. I should have been more proactive in trying to find out which facilities were looking for my major/interests and tilted my essay in that direction. Oh well. Live and learn.

[Jim M]

Just the opposite I am concerned that tilting my essay and focusing on a facility may have caused my loss of this scholarship.

[dafix]

I contacted my first choice today and they politely informed me that they where not looking for BSEE majors this year. They did say they had not yet finalized their choices.

Which facility was that?

[jim M]

SSC-Pacific San Diego

[dafix]

SSC-Pacific San Diego

Wow, that's unfortunate. I just checked the SMART Sponsoring Facility list and they've got EE listed as a STEM field. You'd think if they weren't looking for EEs they wouldn't list EE.

Makes we wonder about my choices (EE too)...

[guest]

SSC-Pacific San Diego

I put them down as my first choice. I haven’t heard anything. Did they say what majors they were looking for?

[Guest]

SSC-Pacific San Diego

They were my first choice as well (ME here). Haven't heard for any facilities yet, though. Crossing my fingers! Good luck, everyone!

[Jim M]

The exact phrase he used was BSEE so I am not sure if it was exclusive to the major or the educational level or any combination in between.

I am pretty bummed... Now I am concerned that other facilities will pass me by because I did not select them.

[jramcam]

Come on guys, don't take yourselves out of the game yet, the recommended candidate list is not coming out until March 15th, we still have little over two weeks of waiting time for the next cut and anything can happen! Besides, from what I read from previous posts, some candidates never got a interview and were selected for the scholarship. Also, a lot of candidates were selected to work in sponsoring facilities that they did not list on their preferences. Try to stay positive and wait for the official announcement from the ASEE SMART Scholarship Team.

[Jim M]

I am still hopefully... Just bummed about San Diego. The average temperature year round is 74 degrees!

They did say they are still reviewing candidates so that should be pretty positve for non-BSEE applicants looking at that facility.

[xkcd13]

Jramcam is right. Like i said before, the only facility that has contacted me was one I did not apply to.

[Mark T]

I agree with everything from jramcam, spot on!

[jim M]

Any new interviews?

[Guest]

I got contacted yesterday asking for a phone interview. I am a junior EE. I believe it is from a subordinate command of the Army Material Command. Their contact information was Fort Monmouth but I assume they are one of the many relocating to Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD since I requested all places in Maryland.

[Guest]

I just received an email today from SSC Pacific requesting an interview tomorrow! (ME undergrad). Any tips on how to prepare? I'm nervous. I've never done a phone interview before and really don't know what to expect.

[rattlehead]

Are any of you community college transfers?
I haven't been contacted yet, and I fear the reason is because I am a CC student (although I will be transferring to a university for Fall 2011).

[Corsair]

I am also a CC student--transferring to a four year for aerospace engineering. I haven't been contacted either, but still keeping my fingers crossed.

[dafix]

I'm a CC transfer. Just got an email requesting a time for phone interview. It wasn't one of my 3 choices but who cares! I'm just happy somebody wants to talk to me!

[wilsoneri]

Just got a phone call from Lackland AFB to set up a phone interview for Friday morning. He said he would email me with the confirmation of the time, but the phone call was the first contact.

[guest]

I am also a community college student transferring to a 4 year university for an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and have yet to be contacted. I am a returning student and don't see why they would be biased against cc students especially if they are excellent candidates for the program. Our applications should stand on their merits alone without bias. Many cc students have a lot of different things to offer that many university students don't. I wouldn't be concerned, especially if you feel confident in yourself.

[Chris Moulder]

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