2012 Applicants

[GT 2012]

I listed a Navy SF in my top 3, but was only contacted by 2 AF facilities. It was weird though, when the AF POC called, he kept asking "So you haven't been contacted by ANY Navy facilities?" Oh well.

This was really helpful to me, statistic wise. Its from last year:
http://www.me.vt.edu/academic_programs/ ... 0AWARD.pdf

[NUWCengineer]

I had a phone interview with the navy SF NUWC and they mention that they will recommend me at the end of the interview. My impression for the lab was pretty good from what they told me about what they do there. Hopefully I will get the fellowship.

Hey, cool! I'm a retention applicant - I currently work at NUWC. I'm in the sensors and sonar division. Do you mind if I ask who you interviewed with? FYI, in the past, NUWC has gotten about 5 SMART scholars/year, so it's a well-know SF to the SPO.

[gatsby]

I had a phone interview with the navy SF NUWC and they mention that they will recommend me at the end of the interview. My impression for the lab was pretty good from what they told me about what they do there. Hopefully I will get the fellowship.

Hey, cool! I'm a retention applicant - I currently work at NUWC. I'm in the sensors and sonar division. Do you mind if I ask who you interviewed with? FYI, in the past, NUWC has gotten about 5 SMART scholars/year, so it's a well-know SF to the SPO.

I'm thinking the only Navy SFs are NUWCs and NSWCs. I'm a rentention applicant currently working at one of the shipyards, and I can attest that the shipyards do not participate in the SMART program even though they are listed as SFs on the SMART website. I'm very interested in getting picked-up by one of the NUWCs... but haven't heard from anyone.

It just makes me think that the list of SFs is somewhat deceptive; there are far fewer facilities that actually participate in the program than what are listed on the SMART website.

[4132012]

Actually you can't attest to that because it's not true, I know of a shipyard that has had SMART Recipients the last 2 years and actively sought more this year. Everyone needs to stop throwing out speculation as fact, no one has a concrete grasp on why the delays are occurring. We're all in the same boat.

[gatsby]

Actually you can't attest to that because it's not true, I know of a shipyard that has had SMART Recipients the last 2 years and actively sought more this year. Everyone needs to stop throwing out speculation as fact, no one has a concrete grasp on why the delays are occurring. We're all in the same boat.

Interesting, that means that there has been some kind of misunderstanding. My department and HRO made it very clear that we (our shipyard) does not participate in SMART and that I shouldn't expect to have an opportunity at another shipyard... because none of them are SMART SFs. hmm

[BNI_Neuro]

I know this is somewhat off topic but I thought there would be a better chance of getting a response here. Is there anyone that can login to the NDSEG award system?

I noticed they reset it earlier today, since awards are expected soon and I was curious if anyone has had any luck logging in or if they were informed of an award.

I'm still waiting to hear back from SMART just like all of you as well! Good luck attempting a relaxing weekend everyone and thanks for your input.

BNI_Neuro

[smart_hopeful]

All right, it's time to go to way too much trouble to analyze something that we have absolutely no control over!

Here is last year's National Defense Education Program (NDEP) budget and projections for 2011. Dollar figures in millions:

2009: 67.108
2010: 79.333
2011: 109.911
2012: 122.947
2013: 125.068
2014: 127.441
2015: 129.874

And here is this year's version of the same budget table published for 2012:

2010: 75.323
2011: 119.911
2012: 101.591
2013: 93.310
2014: 83.438
2015: 86.925
2016: 87.400

Notice the difference? It ain't subtle.

The SMART program is the biggest single part of NDEP, but SMART-specific budgetary figures are not available for such a wide range of years. Nonetheless, SMART-specific budgetary figures are available for a smaller range. In the older budget, the 2011 SMART funding was $53 million. In the newer budget, the 2011 SMART funding was $45 million. The older budget statement includes a goal summary that mentions increasing the number of SMART scholarships awarded, the newer budget doesn't.

That's the data. Now here's my completely uninformed speculation. During the recent federal budget battles, DoD really took it on the chin. When DoD money gets tight, it's a lot less immediately damaging to cut stuff like NDEP than it is to cut the fixed costs of keeping soldiers fed, tanks maintained, and so forth. Thus, NDEP got nuked. The folks at NDEP thought "Holy crap a quarter of our budget is gone - what can we do?" So they held an emergency meeting and decided "Maybe we can slash the summer stipends and save enough money to fund the planned number of new scholars, or at least most of them." This was duly done, and the current scholars very justifiably raised a ruckus and pointed out that contracts are contracts, and you can't screw someone financially because it's convenient. The decision was revoked, and the NDEP folks had another emergency meeting. "That list of awardees we were about to send out? Better hold off while we take some industrial scissors to it."

So they sent out an email: "ASEE has been notified by the Department of Defense that the 2012 SMART Scholarship award announcements have been delayed..."

I hope I'm wrong. I really hope I'm wrong.

[ndseg]

yes, the ndseg awards have been posted, good luck

[Guest22]

All right, it's time to go to way too much trouble to analyze something that we have absolutely no control over!

Here is last year's National Defense Education Program (NDEP) budget and projections for 2011. Dollar figures in millions:

2009: 67.108
2010: 79.333
2011: 109.911
2012: 122.947
2013: 125.068
2014: 127.441
2015: 129.874

And here is this year's version of the same budget table published for 2012:

2010: 75.323
2011: 119.911
2012: 101.591
2013: 93.310
2014: 83.438
2015: 86.925
2016: 87.400

Notice the difference? It ain't subtle.

The SMART program is the biggest single part of NDEP, but SMART-specific budgetary figures are not available for such a wide range of years. Nonetheless, SMART-specific budgetary figures are available for a smaller range. In the older budget, the 2011 SMART funding was $53 million. In the newer budget, the 2011 SMART funding was $45 million. The older budget statement includes a goal summary that mentions increasing the number of SMART scholarships awarded, the newer budget doesn't.

That's the data. Now here's my completely uninformed speculation. During the recent federal budget battles, DoD really took it on the chin. When DoD money gets tight, it's a lot less immediately damaging to cut stuff like NDEP than it is to cut the fixed costs of keeping soldiers fed, tanks maintained, and so forth. Thus, NDEP got nuked. The folks at NDEP thought "Holy crap a quarter of our budget is gone - what can we do?" So they held an emergency meeting and decided "Maybe we can slash the summer stipends and save enough money to fund the planned number of new scholars, or at least most of them." This was duly done, and the current scholars very justifiably raised a ruckus and pointed out that contracts are contracts, and you can't screw someone financially because it's convenient. The decision was revoked, and the NDEP folks had another emergency meeting. "That list of awardees we were about to send out? Better hold off while we take some industrial scissors to it."

So they sent out an email: "ASEE has been notified by the Department of Defense that the 2012 SMART Scholarship award announcements have been delayed..."

I hope I'm wrong. I really hope I'm wrong.

You aren't. That's clearly what happened.

[Guest]

Actually you can't attest to that because it's not true, I know of a shipyard that has had SMART Recipients the last 2 years and actively sought more this year. Everyone needs to stop throwing out speculation as fact, no one has a concrete grasp on why the delays are occurring. We're all in the same boat.

Interesting, that means that there has been some kind of misunderstanding. My department and HRO made it very clear that we (our shipyard) does not participate in SMART and that I shouldn't expect to have an opportunity at another shipyard... because none of them are SMART SFs. hmm :?: :?

Sounds like a classy employer you got... Willing to lie to you to retain you, rather than facilitate you obtaining your dreams...

[BNI_Neuro]

To "NDSEG"

So when you say "posted" you mean everyone got the email notifying them of the result? Do the people that are awarded get to know earlier than those that do not get the award?

Just curious because I haven't received an email from them yet so I'm assuming that's a "no" on their front.

Thanks

[stephaniedean07]

These notifications need to be sent out already. I'm sick of waiting.

[NDSEG]

To "NDSEG"

So when you say "posted" you mean everyone got the email notifying them of the result? Do the people that are awarded get to know earlier than those that do not get the award?

Just curious because I haven't received an email from them yet so I'm assuming that's a "no" on their front.

Thanks

To clarify, if you got an award, you should be able to log in into the ndseg.asee.org/award and see your award letter, if you can't log in, I'm not sure what that means, but if you can log in and see your letter then you got it, 99% sure

[Guest1001]

I can see my award letter at ndseg.asee.org/award.

I haven't received an email yet though.

[timboslimbo]

I was wondering what happens after the emails for the SMART. Say someone gets an award, does the internship start this summer or next. Its getting kinda late in the semester and I'm sure a bunch of people of summer school plans and what not. Does anyone know the process after the awards get sent out. Pretty sure I didn't get it but still wanted to know the process if I am pleasantly surprised.

[mrbill333]

I was wondering what happens after the emails for the SMART. Say someone gets an award, does the internship start this summer or next. Its getting kinda late in the semester and I'm sure a bunch of people of summer school plans and what not. Does anyone know the process after the awards get sent out. Pretty sure I didn't get it but still wanted to know the process if I am pleasantly surprised.

Internship would start next summer. You would have to attend a short orientation this summer. The award would start fall semester/quarter.

[timboslimbo]

Thanks :)

[totolinb]

Mary with 2 more ppl.

I had a phone interview with the navy SF NUWC and they mention that they will recommend me at the end of the interview. My impression for the lab was pretty good from what they told me about what they do there. Hopefully I will get the fellowship.

Hey, cool! I'm a retention applicant - I currently work at NUWC. I'm in the sensors and sonar division. Do you mind if I ask who you interviewed with? FYI, in the past, NUWC has gotten about 5 SMART scholars/year, so it's a well-know SF to the SPO.

[In_Stitches]

Here is a question: does anyone know the usual pay scale during the program? The website says $25k - $41k based on prior educational experience (likely subject to change because of these budgeting issues), but does anyone have any anecdotal info?

[guest111]

Yes, I am in the program. The stipend is 25K when working on Bachelors, 33K with Bachelors and working on Master's, 44K if you have passed quals for PhD. All this is explained pretty well in the handbook which is posted on SMART's official website.

[guest111]

*41K for passed quals and working on PhD, not 44k.

[In_Stitches]

*41K for passed quals and working on PhD, not 44k.

Holy crap, thats what I wanted to hear! I'm a passed-the-quals Ph.D. student and $41k sounds just fine to me. Now I just have to get past that small step of getting the award!

Do you have a link to that part of the website? I can't find it and don't want to ask silly questions.

[Guest]

Here is a question: does anyone know the usual pay scale during the program? The website says $25k - $41k based on prior educational experience (likely subject to change because of these budgeting issues), but does anyone have any anecdotal info?

I don't think it's likely to change. I think less of you are likely to get the award.

[Guest]

*41K for passed quals and working on PhD, not 44k.

Holy crap, thats what I wanted to hear! I'm a passed-the-quals Ph.D. student and $41k sounds just fine to me. Now I just have to get past that small step of getting the award!

Do you have a link to that part of the website? I can't find it and don't want to ask silly questions.

Just so you are clear, SPO's version of "passed the quals" means you have advanced to candidacy. So usually you already have defended your research topic (not final defense) to your committee and have done a reasonable amount of your research. You have to get your school to provide official documentation that you are officially a PhD candidate...not just passed your coursework exams. It's $38000 if you are not a candidate and $41000 or $41800 afterward...the website suggests $41k but in the past they just gave a 10% raise to $41.8k. That's what I get.

[In_Stitches]

*41K for passed quals and working on PhD, not 44k.

Holy crap, thats what I wanted to hear! I'm a passed-the-quals Ph.D. student and $41k sounds just fine to me. Now I just have to get past that small step of getting the award!

Do you have a link to that part of the website? I can't find it and don't want to ask silly questions.

Just so you are clear, SPO's version of "passed the quals" means you have advanced to candidacy. So usually you already have defended your research topic (not final defense) to your committee and have done a reasonable amount of your research. You have to get your school to provide official documentation that you are officially a PhD candidate...not just passed your coursework exams. It's $38000 if you are not a candidate and $41000 or $41800 afterward...the website suggests $41k but in the past they just gave a 10% raise to $41.8k. That's what I get.

Thanks for the clarification! When you say "afterwards", are you suggesting that you'd get a raise once you achieve candidacy?