Pre-emptive SMART Interview E-Mail Discussion

[Guest]

A buddy of mine just got his interview for Thursday, and he is undergrad too. Seems like they're only interviewing people with one to two years left. Has anyone with longer then that gotten an interview?

A person above said he was a freshmen with 3 years.

[Guest]

Any PhD grad students get a phone interview with more than 1 or 2 years left?

[RUchemE]

Has anyone who didn't get an interview from a facility gotten an interview scheduled this week?

Yupp, me.

[Guest]

Just go an regarding my security clearance status... no phone interview so I guess that it was just a mass email

[guest]

Any PhD grad students get a phone interview with more than 1 or 2 years left?

Yes, I have 3 years left and got an interview request for tonight. (3/23)

[Guest]

No interview yet for me unfortunately, I'm a grad student with one year left. Anyone get an interview request today?

[rmw228]

Nothing yet here either. I'm a PhD student in Materials Science with 2 years left, passed candidacy and comprehensive exam.

Still hoping, but it's fading. Undergrad in Mech E, three internships and a graduate fellowship from my top-10 institution while working on a body armor project. Figured it would be a good fit, but perhaps not.

[Matthew]

No interview yet for me unfortunately, I'm a grad student with one year left. Anyone get an interview request today?

During my interview with a DoD facility the person interviewing me told me that he likes to chose people who will have at least 1 summer internship at his facility. So while 1 year scholarships may cost less, the DoD facility does not get much out of them, such as a summer internship and more than 1 year of obligated work.

[facade626]

Hello All,

I was interviewed by the Smart Program Office at noon today. Most of everything they go over is in the SMART Handbook. He just wanted to make sure I understood the service commitment and everything that goes with it. They ask basic questions like "How do you feel about working for DoD?"...."Is it okay that you might not get the facility you requested?", etc. He also went over a few things on my application like my major/minor, college of choice, etc. He said this is to make sure that nothing has changed and that I'm still interested in getting an award for the initial degree I applied for and for the same amount of time. He also asked had my facility preference changed.

I told him that I had previously read the SMART Handbook (he seemed relieved), and he didn't have to go over a bunch of it over the phone. He said my chances were pretty good because of prior military experience, already having a security clearance, and my GPA. The only thing that would stunt me is that I'm only a sophomore so the funding period would be longer and some facilities have budget caps so they would like to get candidates with a little less time left before they've completed the degree.

I'm a sophomore applying for a BS/MS Degree in Computer Science. My facility preferences were all around the DC Metro area. I only did one phone interview (for a facility I didn't choose). I've applied to George Mason, George Washington, NYU and NYU Polytech. Waiting to hear back from them all.

That's it. Feel free to ask anymore questions.

[guest]

Talk about a letdown. I just got an email from NPS saying they would be notifying us if we have been cleared for secret clearance. Then received another email saying that the security specialist had received the wrong distribution list, and it had some folks on it who were not current SMART awardees. My assumption is this was meant for those who were 2009 awardees. But I’m wondering what the distribution list the security specialist got was for, notification of awards? Hmm i wonder.

[Guest]

Talk about a letdown. I just got an email from NPS saying they would be notifying us if we have been cleared for secret clearance. Then received another email saying that the security specialist had received the wrong distribution list, and it had some folks on it who were not current SMART awardees. My assumption is this was meant for those who were 2009 awardees. But I’m wondering what the distribution list the security specialist got was for, notification of awards? Hmm i wonder.

Interesting. Did you get a phone interview already?

[guest]

Yes i received my interview yesterday.

[guest]

I received the same email and have yet to receive an interview. I wouldn't read to far into the email. We should know in a week anyways.

[Chris Moulder]

Talk about a letdown. I just got an email from NPS saying they would be notifying us if we have been cleared for secret clearance. Then received another email saying that the security specialist had received the wrong distribution list, and it had some folks on it who were not current SMART awardees. My assumption is this was meant for those who were 2009 awardees. But I’m wondering what the distribution list the security specialist got was for, notification of awards? Hmm i wonder.

Interesting. Did you get a phone interview already?

Yes, this was meant for 2009 recipients. I received it too.

[Guest]

Yes i received my interview yesterday.

Were you reapplying after having gotten the scholarship in 2009?

In other news, does anyone know if any more e-mails went out today for scheduling an interview?

[Guest]

Yes i received my interview yesterday.

Were you reapplying after having gotten the scholarship in 2009?

In other news, does anyone know if any more e-mails went out today for scheduling an interview?

If they have, I haven't gotten one.

[Guest]

Talk about a letdown. I just got an email from NPS saying they would be notifying us if we have been cleared for secret clearance. Then received another email saying that the security specialist had received the wrong distribution list, and it had some folks on it who were not current SMART awardees. My assumption is this was meant for those who were 2009 awardees. But I’m wondering what the distribution list the security specialist got was for, notification of awards? Hmm i wonder.

So glad my clearance is still valid and I don't have to worry about this part lol, good luck all.

[UF_ME]

So..?? Is the general consensus of the board that if you have not received an email scheduling an interview by now then you are pretty much SOL?

[Matthew]

So..?? Is the general consensus of the board that if you have not received an email scheduling an interview by now then you are pretty much SOL?

Way to be blunt about it, but I wouldnt say that just yet. It's likely that people who have not received an interview yet could be named alternates. And just like the email states this interview does not guarantee us an award. Yes our chances are good, but they still have to make some cuts.

[guest]

Yeah, but as alternates it'll be the recommended who got cut, I don't think unrecommended are still in the game.

[Matthew]

Yeah, but as alternates it'll be the recommended who got cut, I don't think unrecommended are still in the game.

Yeah, I dont think they are either. Another poster said that in his interview the person stated that there are 400ish left that are getting these interviews and that leaves 100ish that gets cut.

[Guest]

For those of you that have had interviews did they explicitly say you were recommended by a facility?

[Guest]

For those of you that have had interviews did they explicitly say you were recommended by a facility?

They said that the "group" that is getting interviewed this week are those that were submitted back to the SPO by some facility.

[Guest]

At this it seems like my chances at becoming a finalist are minimal, but if I get named an Alternate how do can I increase our chances at being selected later?

[Matthew]

At this it seems like my chances at becoming a finalist are minimal, but if I get named an Alternate how do can I increase our chances at being selected later?

Pray? Thats about it. The only way you would be selected would be if someone declines the award. Which is possible, but of course not likely. But your chances of receiving an award next year would be higher.