2015 Applicant may need longer award length

[guest]

I am working toward a PhD in biochemistry and applied for the SMART scholarship with an anticipated graduation date of August 2016, an award length of ~1yr.

However, I am now concerned I may not be able to complete my program in the amount of time I initially specified and would feel more comfortable with a 2 year award. At what point can I request a change in award length, assuming I make it through the initial academic screen? Would such a request ruin any chance for an award? If I were to not request additional funding now, then need to do so later, what are the chances of my award being extended? If it were not extended, what are the consequences?

[Guest again]

If I remember correctly when I accepted the award that May they have you fill in the award length again. I bet you could add one more year if you needed. I honestly may have even changed mine from 3-4 years but I can't remember.

[Guest]

Guest Again, When were you given your award?

[guestagain]

I'm 2011 cohort. So we didn't get offered our awards until I think beginning of May due to some congressional budgeting delays.