Search found 79 matches

by Sisyphus
Mon May 29, 2023 6:02 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Debtor's Discord Refresher
Replies: 7
Views: 3938

Re: Debtor's Discord Refresher

*bumpity bump while I delete the spam*
by Sisyphus
Sun Aug 14, 2022 5:13 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Smart ambassadors
Replies: 1
Views: 991

Re: Smart ambassadors

You'll bear some guilt for any debt they wind up with if you convinced them to enroll in the program (10% odds btw).
by Sisyphus
Tue Nov 16, 2021 4:08 am
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: the horror stories lmao
Replies: 4
Views: 2914

Re: the horror stories lmao

To be fair, if you just follow through on your commitment and don't screw up school, the only real issue is getting a bad a SF. Late stipends always get paid, schools always clear up past due tuition, etc. It's really people trying to not be normal causing issues. Spoken like the typical ignorant j...
by Sisyphus
Wed Oct 06, 2021 11:34 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Debtor's Discord Refresher
Replies: 7
Views: 3938

Re: Debtor's Discord Refresher

October 1st comes and goes, and apparently so too does the COVID hibernation for SMART and DFAS...

If you've been waiting in debt limbo for a while, winter is probably coming sooner than you'd like...
by Sisyphus
Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:25 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Leaving Grad School as a Retention candidate
Replies: 8
Views: 3571

Re: Leaving Grad School as a Retention candidate

I could be mis-remembering, but "back in the day" there was SOME pay differential for recruitment summer internships based on being >50 miles away from your SF. I can't remember if those <50 miles got less or no pay, but those >50 got at minimum additional money for the weeks they were interning. Th...
by Sisyphus
Thu Sep 16, 2021 3:01 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Leaving SF for different DoD Job
Replies: 3
Views: 2365

Re: Leaving SF for different DoD Job

Yes, if you want to attempt to switch SF's that strategy is probably about the best you can do to try, but a couple things to note: - Unless this has changed, it is still the SF itself that funds each candidate from their own pool of money. That is why it is generally "SF or bust" for service. The c...
by Sisyphus
Thu Sep 16, 2021 2:55 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Leaving Grad School as a Retention candidate
Replies: 8
Views: 3571

Re: Leaving Grad School as a Retention candidate

I think I remember a debtors discord member saying they needed to repay the tuition but not stipends, for the particular case of retention scholars. So that at least chops down any debt in roughly half depending on your school's tuition. No you definitely need to pay back your general stipend, what...
by Sisyphus
Fri Sep 10, 2021 2:47 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Leaving Grad School as a Retention candidate
Replies: 8
Views: 3571

Re: Leaving Grad School as a Retention candidate

They'll make you repay whatever they spent on you (sans internship payments [if that's even a thing for retention], and health insurance payments). I've not seen anything that indicates retention candidates are treated differently from recruitment in this respect. I'm VERY hard pressed to envision a...
by Sisyphus
Fri Sep 10, 2021 2:34 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Leaving SF for different DoD Job
Replies: 3
Views: 2365

Re: Leaving SF for different DoD Job

Unless SMART has explicitly given their blessing for you to leave your SF (which typically requires your SF to go to them and go "they are not a good fit here that's on us not on the participant wanting something better [i.e. NOT you being an uppity ungrateful serf]" AND has explicitly blessed where...
by Sisyphus
Mon Aug 09, 2021 11:48 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: SMART or Start Work
Replies: 10
Views: 4327

Re: SMART or Start Work

I don't think you'll have a particular problem applying again in the future as long as you decline before the deadline. You also have to remember that most qualified applicants do not receive an offer, so it's really a crapshoot if you would receive it again anyway. PhD also have some of the bigges...
by Sisyphus
Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:40 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: SMART or Start Work
Replies: 10
Views: 4327

Re: SMART or Start Work

I don't think you'll have a particular problem applying again in the future as long as you decline before the deadline. You also have to remember that most qualified applicants do not receive an offer, so it's really a crapshoot if you would receive it again anyway. PhD also have some of the bigges...
by Sisyphus
Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:38 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Extending to a Graduate Degree
Replies: 2
Views: 1897

Re: Extending to a Graduate Degree

This is less of a SMART thing (though I'd never advise to keep burying the whole deeper in case things go wrong, but you do you), then more of a grad school thing: For engineering, if you KNOW you have a specialty you want to pursue and you can be in and out in a year with an MS...ok fine it's not a...
by Sisyphus
Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:33 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Looking for a new SF
Replies: 5
Views: 3298

Re: Looking for a new SF

Nothing surprises me from SMART, but it would be indefensible if they refused to provide facility contacts to someone in your position. Try identifying a few facilities that really make sense and ask nicely. Because it is my job to be 'that guy' SMART has *literally* done this before (but it was be...
by Sisyphus
Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:32 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: SMART or Start Work
Replies: 10
Views: 4327

Re: SMART or Start Work

To counterbalance the optimism... Both from personal experience and many stories from other participants, SMART has a long track record of getting very indignant if not outright threatening if they ever think a participant isn't properly grateful for the Amazing Opportunity they offer (i.e. start ac...
by Sisyphus
Thu May 27, 2021 12:47 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Debtor's Discord Refresher
Replies: 7
Views: 3938

Re: Debtor's Discord Refresher

Bumpity bump because apparently more letters went out...
by Sisyphus
Sun Apr 25, 2021 4:57 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Switching SF
Replies: 7
Views: 4156

Re: Switching SF

So my question is, is there any way to switch SFs? Has anyone done it successfully? Yes, but afaik it's only something that's allowed if circumstances force the situation (abusive workplace environment, SF no longer able to hire you, etc.). If you do not want to work for your SF, you should not acc...
by Sisyphus
Sun Apr 25, 2021 4:51 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: phd late conferral question
Replies: 3
Views: 1772

Re: phd late conferral question

SMART only cares about your "degree conferral" date not your defense. As far as the SPO is concerned, until official conferral by your university (even if you have successfully defended, deposited and completed all course requirements) you STILL have not actually gotten your PhD because...they're ju...
by Sisyphus
Wed Apr 14, 2021 12:53 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: PhD: What happens if I fail my defense?
Replies: 2
Views: 1498

Re: PhD: What happens if I fail my defense?

3 Options are possible: - You can extend without issue and potentially get funding for it (if they're still even doing degree length extensions that are paid - who knows LMI might have put the kibosh on that). At least if this is your first extension. - You can go on Leave of Absence to finish on yo...
by Sisyphus
Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:42 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Debtor's Discord Refresher
Replies: 7
Views: 3938

Debtor's Discord Refresher

Given that a fresh round of meat has been admitted to the program, and it's been a long time since I posted here, if anyone has been thrown out of, left under adverse circumstances, or otherwise has had significant problems with the SMART program the Debtor's Discord is still being operated: https:/...
by Sisyphus
Fri Nov 06, 2020 8:14 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Going Not-Full Time for Last Semester
Replies: 4
Views: 2436

Re: Going Not-Full Time for Last Semester

Barring rare potential exceptions of which I'm unaware, SMART wants you enrolled "full time."

Also that way they can ensure ABD PhD's rack of 10's of thousands of dollars of additional debt on "Thesis Research" credits well beyond what they actually need to graduate...
by Sisyphus
Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:42 am
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: Don't Be Discouraged
Replies: 2
Views: 2447

Re: Don't Be Discouraged

You would be a fool though to ignore all the horror stories and engage in Pollyanna-ish "well THAT won't happen to ME"-ism. Fact is, approximately 5-10% (closer to 10%) of participants, by the USDR&E's own admission in a response letter to me over a year ago, wind up owing SMART money in the end for...
by Sisyphus
Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:37 am
Forum: General Questions and the Application
Topic: PhDs - How to find a SF with research relavent to you?
Replies: 5
Views: 4432

Re: PhDs - How to find a SF with research relavent to you?

It is very much a random crapshoot most of the time. Also don't forget, even if your SF is currently well funded to do research in your area...unless they have really long funding horizons/stable mission areas, it could easily be the case that by the time you actually get out with your PhD (if you g...
by Sisyphus
Thu Oct 22, 2020 1:33 am
Forum: Recipients
Topic: How Do We Initiate an IG Investigation Into SMART?
Replies: 24
Views: 31543

Re: How Do We Initiate an IG Investigation Into SMART?

Some of the SFs are kind of... a source of trouble.... Talk to the facility SMART coordinator maybe. I told mine I expected to get worse treatment and she said, "We can burn you out in 3 years or aim for you to retire with us, we prefer the latter." I am disappointed all SFs are not handling this e...
by Sisyphus
Wed Oct 07, 2020 10:16 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Leaving SMART
Replies: 1
Views: 1681

Re: Leaving SMART

No. As much as SMART might wish it they don't literally own you as a slave. If you're able/willing to pay it back when they come for it for leaving without cause, they just have to eat it. It will not affect your security clearance, either existing or in the future, so don't listen if SMART tries to...
by Sisyphus
Mon Aug 10, 2020 4:50 pm
Forum: Recipients
Topic: Interview about SMART Scholarship experience
Replies: 8
Views: 4675

Re: Interview about SMART Scholarship experience

Don't let them realize it's a standard forum with DM's...

Shhhhhhhhhh