Do you want a future career in STEM? Are you zealous about using your knowledge, experience and skill in serving your country? The SMART Scholarship is what you need to help bring your dream into reality . The scholarship program offers after graduation a fully funded scholarship and also assures jobs to civilians with the Department of Defense (DoD).
After graduating, SMART Scholars get good pay and benefits. Immediately their service requirements are up, SMART Scholars can either pursue a career elsewhere or remain with the DoD.
Benefits Attached to the SMART Scholarship Program
There are lots of benefits attached to the Scholarship Program but few will be mentioned below:-
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Full tuition including room and board.
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Stipend of $25,000 – 38,000 annually depending on degree level.
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Internship exposure for 8 – 12 weeks.
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Health insurance valued up to $1,200 annually
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Miscellaneous allowance valued up to $1,000 annually
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Qualified tutor at one of the Sponsoring Facilities.
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Employment at DoD facility upon graduation.
Making Plans for SMART Scholarship
SMART Scholarships can be used at provincial authorized schools across the country. Applicants must agree to the following requirements before applying for the Scholarship program.
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Applicants must be enrolled full-time but if there are limitations like If an applicant would like to take part in an internship program or research fieldwork offer that is outside the campus, they must get an approval from the SMART Program.
Note: Applicants must be officially enrolled in their institution, have good academic credit through the internship or fieldwork and must not be paid.
If an applicant would like to study outside the country, they must get written approval from the SMART Program. Below are the requirements to meet to study abroad.
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Syllabus must be in accordance with completion of degree requirements.
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Engagement in the program must not interfere with time graduation ends and the time when post-graduate employment starts.
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Must not meddle with applicant’s ability to complete DoD internship and also post-graduation employment.
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Applicants must carry on full-time enrollment status during the course of studying abroad.
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Tuition to study abroad must be paid directly to the U.S. institution.
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The course of studying abroad must not affect the applicant’s eligibility to maintain the security clearance required for the DoD internship in addition to post-graduation service requirements.
Applicants who want to apply for a SMART Scholarship must be ready to be dedicated and committed to planning for their future. Applying for internships or studying abroad can help applicants enlarge their knowledge and experience.
See Also: Canada Scholarships for International Students 2022
Eligibility Criteria
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Applicants must be Citizens of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the United Kingdom.
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Must not be younger than 18 years.
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Applying candidate must be Committed to at least one summer internship at DoD facility.
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Applicants must be Committed to employment with DoD after graduation.
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Must have a Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale with good standing at their institution.
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Applicants must Request at least 1.5 years of degree funding before graduation (which starts at the program start date)
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Undergraduate applicants must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university and also hold a high school diploma/GED. Current high school students must wait until they are enrolled in college to apply while Graduate students must also be currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university.
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Applicants must be studying one of the STEM-specified disciplines, such as Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Environmental Sciences, and Oceanography.
Eligible Candidates
The program has made provided certain insight for applicants who gets qualified for the scholarship based on the 2018 application cycle data which are listed below:
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The program has an acceptance rate of 18%
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Average GPA of 2018 scholars: 3.69.
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Candidates that received awards, 56% were undergraduate, 6% belonged to a joint Bachelor’s-Master’s degree program, 18% were Master’s, and 19% were working toward their PhD.
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The Candidates that had concluded the SAT, average scores were: Critical Reading – 669.5, Math – 697.2, and Writing – 644. •
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Candidates that concluded the ACT, average scores were: English – 30, Math – 30, Reading – 31, and Science – 31.
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Candidates that concluded the GRE, average scores were: Verbal – 157, Quantitative – 160, and Analytical – 4.
How to Apply
The SMART Scholarship application can be a little bit broad but with the right documents and requirements it could be less stressful.
Applicants can apply by getting an application form which should be submitted back for reviewing and ranking. Alongside the application form, applicants must send in two references, resume and transcripts.
A notification would be sent in a few months time showing whether applicants are semi-finalist or not. Applications are yet again reviewed to ascertain all finalists for the year. Applicants will then be notified if they are selected for the SMART Scholarship Program.
Conclusion
The SMART Scholarship is not just a fully funded scholarship that helps students pay for their tuition fee, it also offers a start toward an exceptional experience after graduation. What are you waiting for? To make your dream come true? Apply now!