Interviews

[Guest]

I was contacted for an interview with a sponsoring facility in mid-march and just had my interview. I was wondering how late in the game people might still be contacted for additional interviews, as I was hoping for one with a facility that I am particularly interested in.

In addition, what is the likelihood that you will be selected by a SF without an interview? I know people have said on these forums that it happens, but that seems peculiar to me.

Thanks for the input, and best of luck to all!

[guest10]

Is anyone aware of their being a "ranking?" I was contacted by the SF about an interview, and they told me my ranking. Anyone else heard of this?

[Nunya]

How late they do interviews is very undefined. As with most of the scholarship, there are target dates that SMART tries to hit, but never does. Also, don't forget that they don't even have to have all the awards out until July ish. The initial batch of awardees goes out May ish, but they've had awards go out all the way up to the end of summer. During orientation, I met more people that hadn't been interviewed then had. Unfortunately something you'll learn with these SFs, they don't exactly care what you know/capable of. Generally, all they need is a degree in a seat and if you are on the top of the list when they do their sort/filter/find of candidates they pick you, and you could be an awardee. To the second post, "rank" is likely where you are in the list of candidates. All of your info (GPA, degree, etc.) gives you "points.” The initial cut is based solely on this number, and I’d wager that is what they see as "rank."

[kindaconcerned]

So I recently got a interview request from a facility that I choose, however its not my first choice. My question is:

if I interview with the facility, must I agree to their facility. I ask because, I want to see if I will get accepted to my other primary choice facilities. Also, If I dont get accepted to my primary choice can I rely on this facility?

[Guest007]

Has anyone had an interview with NSWC-Dahlgren? Just curious to see if they're calling.

[Nunya]

Whom you interview with doesn't "necessarily” affect who your award would be with. You could be interviewed and not selected; you could be selected and not interviewed. Also, you could be interviewed, the SF selected you, but some other SF requests you and has a greater need. How this gets resolved is an internal mechanism to SMART, and, as far as I know, hasn’t been leaked to anyone else. Basically, you don’t know what SF you will be assigned to until you get the award package from SMART. It could be whom you interviewed with, another of your choices, or an SF you’ve never even heard of.

Sorry to say many facilities (including Dahlgren) aren’t sure they are going to have funding for new SMART people. They’ve received high authority to bring in those already in the program, but the future funding to bring someone on is very “up in the air” right now. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a major decrease in awards this year due to unknown budgetary environments.

[Guest007]

Sorry to say many facilities (including Dahlgren) aren’t sure they are going to have funding for new SMART people. They’ve received high authority to bring in those already in the program, but the future funding to bring someone on is very “up in the air” right now. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a major decrease in awards this year due to unknown budgetary environments.

Nunya,

Thanks for the reality check. I really would only consider two locations for what I want to study and Dahlgren is one of them. With all of the cons for SMART, it's still an awful lot of money to turn away and I NEED this money for school. But hearing about all of the paper pushing by recipients, the only way I would participate (even thought paper pushing might be the order of the day) is if I am sponsored by one of my top two SFs or if the selected SF does significant research in my area (i.e. a research lab). This is because at least I'll be rubbing shoulders with potential researchers in my field. Other than that, I can't justify paper pushing for any number of years at any unrelated SF b/c you gain little experience due to contractors getting most of the related work.

Any thoughts?

[Nunya]

I’d suggest you check out the websites of the facilities you’re interested in first. They generally have a “for students” section that shows what programs they have/support. If any of them pique your interest, do the legwork and see what you could do to get into them. If you don’t find any substitutes in the meantime it really comes down to weighing your need. If you go in with the knowledge that you could be fairly removed from actual work a large portion of your time then at least you won’t be surprised. If you treat it as nothing more than a source of money and focus on gaining relative experience on the side to use later it might be worthwhile. Besides, as you mentioned you do get “some” exposure to others in the research field, and could very well end up doing meaningful work. I just would expect it with what I’ve experienced and others have reported. Good luck with it either way.

[fish_]

Nunya has the right idea; do your homework as to which facility you would want to work. if you want to do research, ask the SF how many patents they have applied for.

a recent Navy newsletter said "Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) warfare centers were awarded 135 of the Navy's 320 patents in 2012. A field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command, NSWC Carderock Division's responsibilities span a broad range including science and technology, research and development, test and evaluation, product delivery and fleet support. "

[anotherguest]

Hi everyone,

I'm sure the answer to my question is "it depends and could take a while", but I was wondering if anyone had any ballpark estimates about when award notifications are sent out. I made the 50% cut in February, but haven't heard from any of my top SF's or ANY SF's yet about an award, but I haven't been rejected.

My deal is that I just was offered an NSF Fellowship today. How much information would I actually get if I called the SMART helpline? I need to have my paperwork and tax forms filled out for the NSF by 1 May should I accept it, so basically if none of my SF's give me a call/email in the next three weeks, I'll have to rescind my name from consideration because I'm NOT gonna pass up an NSF to wait on them to contact me!!

Also, if anyone was wondering/cared, I'm a disease ecologist, so the fact that I was offered an NSF and made the 50% cut for the SMART is more than incredibly shocking - usually I just hear "take this to the NIH, we don't fund this stuff." My top SF is the US Army Public Health Command @ the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Silver Spring, MD.

Thanks for your help in advance, and good luck to everyone throughout this process =)

[ianthegood]

Hi everyone,

I'm sure the answer to my question is "it depends and could take a while", but I was wondering if anyone had any ballpark estimates about when award notifications are sent out. I made the 50% cut in February, but haven't heard from any of my top SF's or ANY SF's yet about an award, but I haven't been rejected.

My deal is that I just was offered an NSF Fellowship today. How much information would I actually get if I called the SMART helpline? I need to have my paperwork and tax forms filled out for the NSF by 1 May should I accept it, so basically if none of my SF's give me a call/email in the next three weeks, I'll have to rescind my name from consideration because I'm NOT gonna pass up an NSF to wait on them to contact me!!

Also, if anyone was wondering/cared, I'm a disease ecologist, so the fact that I was offered an NSF and made the 50% cut for the SMART is more than incredibly shocking - usually I just hear "take this to the NIH, we don't fund this stuff." My top SF is the US Army Public Health Command @ the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Silver Spring, MD.

Thanks for your help in advance, and good luck to everyone throughout this process =)

I am an NDSEG recipient and a SMART applicant this year. I highly recommend you accept the NSF fellowship and not even consider the SMART at this point. The NSF is 3 years and has no commitment requirements. SMART has a year for year commitment requirement and "expects" you to do summer internships with your sponsoring facility, which can extend your schooling (though they may be wavered by your SF). Also, SMART does not have a year cut off, meaning you can apply for the SMART program the year that the NSF fellowship ends (as I am doing this year). So unless you are dying to work at a specific facility, I would jump on NSF no questions asked.

[User2]

I would take the NSF in three weeks and not rescind the nam2. If later the Smart comes then decide which is better. You can always say you changed your mind.

Hi everyone,

I'm sure the answer to my question is "it depends and could take a while", but I was wondering if anyone had any ballpark estimates about when award notifications are sent out. I made the 50% cut in February, but haven't heard from any of my top SF's or ANY SF's yet about an award, but I haven't been rejected.

My deal is that I just was offered an NSF Fellowship today. How much information would I actually get if I called the SMART helpline? I need to have my paperwork and tax forms filled out for the NSF by 1 May should I accept it, so basically if none of my SF's give me a call/email in the next three weeks, I'll have to rescind my name from consideration because I'm NOT gonna pass up an NSF to wait on them to contact me!!

Also, if anyone was wondering/cared, I'm a disease ecologist, so the fact that I was offered an NSF and made the 50% cut for the SMART is more than incredibly shocking - usually I just hear "take this to the NIH, we don't fund this stuff." My top SF is the US Army Public Health Command @ the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Silver Spring, MD.

Thanks for your help in advance, and good luck to everyone throughout this process =)

[USACE]

CRREL just contacted me.

[sirnaaj]

I received a phone call last week saying I was moving on to the next round. I wondering what round I am in and how many rounds there are. I know that SMART is running behind but I just can't gauge how far along I am. I have not had an interview. They just called and asked if I was still interested.

I will graduate in December with a BS in Geology. So they would really only be paying for one semester. He said among other things I was appealing because I required so little compensation. He said the next level cuts were based on finances and budgets.

Since I graduate in December, there will be no time for a summer internship. I would be ready and willing to start working in January. I wonder how that works.

I would really appreciate any help you guys can give

[sirnaaj]

I was contacted for an interview with a sponsoring facility in mid-march and just had my interview. I was wondering how late in the game people might still be contacted for additional interviews, as I was hoping for one with a facility that I am particularly interested in.

In addition, what is the likelihood that you will be selected by a SF without an interview? I know people have said on these forums that it happens, but that seems peculiar to me.

Thanks for the input, and best of luck to all!

I almost forgot. I have to go to a degree required field camp for 5 weeks starting May 19. I wonder how that would screw with things.

Please help me out

[Nunya]

I almost forgot. I have to go to a degree required field camp for 5 weeks starting May 19. I wonder how that would screw with things.

Please help me out

“The next phase” (properly a round, phase is an official term for what part of the award process your in) isn’t really a round as far a SMART is concerned. Getting an interview and being requested by an SF are all the same round. There are three rounds to the award process. The first is a minimal rack and stack where they just chop off the bottom. Those remaining go into a database that SFs sift through and call whom they find interesting. SMART then does some fancy footwork behind the scenes and send out award notices. Once they have all the responses they can send out more awards if necessary. Therefore, you have 1: Rack and stack (already passed), 2: SF interviews (occurring), 3: Awards (May – July).

As far as your field camp, if it is required for your degree then when do you actually get your degree conferred? You won’t/can’t go to your SF until your degree is actually conferred. If it is not required for your degree then I don’t see why they should let you go to it, but they might let you take leave for it.