Hello,
I'm a high school senior graduating this June who is trying to figure out my college plans. I got into MIT, but with 4-year costs upwards of $220,000, I need some serious scholarship money to be able to go there (despite what the financial aid office gives me).
My prospective majors are Chemical Engineering and Spanish (double), so I would be eligible to apply for the SMART Scholarship.
I just read the topic "Does anyone else feel duped?" and am worried that those testimonies represent the majority of SMART Scholars' experiences post-graduation.
Is it a good idea to look into this any more? Or would it be a waste of my time? I would appreciate any insight you guys have.
Thank you.
Any advice to a prospective applicant?
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recipient99
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Re: Any advice to a prospective applicant?
I am a recipient who is currently in post-graduation employment who has had a very negative experience. Based on my experience and those of others I've read on this forum, I have come to the conclusion that the SMART Program is really suited for students who either:
1) Do not have any other option to pay for school, or
2) Expect to be desperate to find a job after they finish school.
Based on what you've stated, you might be in the first category. However, given that you are planning to attend MIT, I suspect that - assuming you graduate with an engineering degree - you will have no trouble at all finding an interesting job with a good salary.
To determine your best option money-wise, it would probably be good to figure out what the average salary is of engineers who graduate from MIT. I imagine that this number will be much higher than what the DoD will pay you. (My current salary with the DoD is not competitive at all. I have a PhD, and some colleagues with whom I worked in graduate school are making around 50% more than I am with other employers.)
However, if you really have no other financial assistance and will be $220k in debt after you graduate, the tuition alone is a major consideration. On the other hand, since you were accepted to MIT, I imagine that you are highly motivated and want to be using your education when you get a job. I can say that most of the work I've done with the DoD has been a waste of time. I am not looking forward to the time when I look for another job and have to explain to prospective employers why I've been working on tasks unrelated to my field for 3 years. Obtaining a job in which you are working on projects in which you are interested should be a serious consideration for a highly motivated individual such as yourself.
If I were you, I would definitely make an effort to talk to current students at MIT and also MIT alums for their advice on comparing your options. I would definitely consider options other than the SMART Program. I would hate to see an engineer from MIT waste a quality education doing paperwork and menial tasks for four years after graduation.
And, of course, I have to be honest and say that there is a chance that you may have a completely different experience from mine and others on this forum. The DoD might be able to put you in a position where you are working on exactly what you want and are making a very high salary. However, I would advise you not to draw this conclusion based on what they tell you prior to signing - unless it is given to you explicity in writing. Looking back, I think that the scholarship program made some very misleading claims prior to commitment.
Best of luck.
1) Do not have any other option to pay for school, or
2) Expect to be desperate to find a job after they finish school.
Based on what you've stated, you might be in the first category. However, given that you are planning to attend MIT, I suspect that - assuming you graduate with an engineering degree - you will have no trouble at all finding an interesting job with a good salary.
To determine your best option money-wise, it would probably be good to figure out what the average salary is of engineers who graduate from MIT. I imagine that this number will be much higher than what the DoD will pay you. (My current salary with the DoD is not competitive at all. I have a PhD, and some colleagues with whom I worked in graduate school are making around 50% more than I am with other employers.)
However, if you really have no other financial assistance and will be $220k in debt after you graduate, the tuition alone is a major consideration. On the other hand, since you were accepted to MIT, I imagine that you are highly motivated and want to be using your education when you get a job. I can say that most of the work I've done with the DoD has been a waste of time. I am not looking forward to the time when I look for another job and have to explain to prospective employers why I've been working on tasks unrelated to my field for 3 years. Obtaining a job in which you are working on projects in which you are interested should be a serious consideration for a highly motivated individual such as yourself.
If I were you, I would definitely make an effort to talk to current students at MIT and also MIT alums for their advice on comparing your options. I would definitely consider options other than the SMART Program. I would hate to see an engineer from MIT waste a quality education doing paperwork and menial tasks for four years after graduation.
And, of course, I have to be honest and say that there is a chance that you may have a completely different experience from mine and others on this forum. The DoD might be able to put you in a position where you are working on exactly what you want and are making a very high salary. However, I would advise you not to draw this conclusion based on what they tell you prior to signing - unless it is given to you explicity in writing. Looking back, I think that the scholarship program made some very misleading claims prior to commitment.
Best of luck.