Re: Semifinalists
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2021 10:22 pm
Thank God we didn't have to wait til Friday. Now to just wait *checks calendar* ugh 2 more months...or more...
Science, Mathematics & Research for Transformation
https://www.thesmartforum.org/
You can find that type of info on the website: https://www.smartscholarship.org/smart?id=program_statsSMARTuser wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 4:14 pmAnyone know the acceptance rate of people notified they are a semifinalist? For example, If SMART selects 1000 semi-finalists, how many of those are extended an offer? 1 in 5, 1 in 10 etc.??
I got the semi finalist award last year, but didn’t get accepted to my graduate schools so I just ignored my phone for possible calls from facilities.curious wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 7:25 pmHi,
I noticed quite a few semi-finalists say that they were semi-finalists last year too. I'm just curious if you don't mind me asking, what were y'all's stats, and did you have an interview last year? I saw on a Reddit page that approximately 1/4 of semi-finalists are awarded the scholarship, I don't know how accurate that is.
I also have not received an email one way or the other. does anyone know who we should reach out to?Guest wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 1:57 pmYou find out if you’re a semi finalist via email correct? I haven’t gotten an email either way, is anyone else like this?
I was planning on waiting until the end of the week, then possibly reaching out to support.Guest wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 12:31 pmI also have not received an email one way or the other. does anyone know who we should reach out to?Guest wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 1:57 pmYou find out if you’re a semi finalist via email correct? I haven’t gotten an email either way, is anyone else like this?
I spent an more than an hour on hold to finally get ahold of some one from the support team. She was able to tell me that I was a Semi-Finalist (hooray!) and that myself and an unknown number of other applicants didn't receive the email due to technical problems. She seemed to imply that so far the only people who have called in about not receiving an email were all semi-finalist. So if you really want to know call the number listed on the site (the one from application email has been disconnected) and be prepared to wait on hold.NotPoggers wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 12:50 pmI was planning on waiting until the end of the week, then possibly reaching out to support.Guest wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 12:31 pmI also have not received an email one way or the other. does anyone know who we should reach out to?Guest wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 1:57 pmYou find out if you’re a semi finalist via email correct? I haven’t gotten an email either way, is anyone else like this?
-- The acceptance isn't based off a percentage, but more based of the amount of jobs available at the time. SMART knocks off the lower half of applicants in the initial phase, and those who move on are semi-finalists. On average about 3-4000 applications are submitted, and there are about 3-400 jobs open each year, so I would guess as a semi-finalist it would be a 20% chance (based off a random draw).mmrlsmart wrote: ↑Tue Feb 02, 2021 10:12 pmSon is a semifinalist! His SFs listed in application are all here in SoCAL about 45 miles from us.
CA is super competitive so I’m just super stoked on him being semifinalist. Of course, this is just only Step 1 .
Based on previous years, does anyone know of a rough % of semifinalists who eventually get the final offer?
When does the first round of Final offers usually come - is it the last week of April?
Also from previous posts here, I see it’s also possible that other SF (even not listed in his choices) may also consider him for interview, if they like to consider him? Is this true?
The BME field classification is relatively new to the program. When I first applied back in the 2017 application cycle, the closest "field" I applied under was Biosciences. Perhaps the program needs a bit more time to accept BME majors.Akelly wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 12:58 pmI noticed that 4.3% of applicants are BME in 2020 and 0% were awarded. Does anyone know why this would be? If there are BME facilities wouldn't they are least take a few? I'm a semifinalist BME so just curious.
Lol I've been on hold for 1.5 hrs.wysdem wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 3:52 pmI spent an more than an hour on hold to finally get ahold of some one from the support team. She was able to tell me that I was a Semi-Finalist (hooray!) and that myself and an unknown number of other applicants didn't receive the email due to technical problems. She seemed to imply that so far the only people who have called in about not receiving an email were all semi-finalist. So if you really want to know call the number listed on the site (the one from application email has been disconnected) and be prepared to wait on hold.
Computer Science for my son. How about yours?blackbeltco wrote: ↑Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:22 pmmy son too is focus on soCal SFs and is a semi finalist. whta is your son's specialty/focus?
I would definitely not. The all SF's receive your application and go from there. Not all SF's do interviews, and those who do wouldn't want random people (they have your application but don't know you) contacting them. If people knew it worked, they would get hundreds of emails from different people.Guest wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 6:07 pmHello! Does anyone know if it helps to reach out to the SF's as a semifinalist, before interviews? Or is it better to just wait for them to contact you, if at all
Did the SFs you contacted have their email publicly available on the SMART website or on the branches/SF's own website? I'm finding that some of the SFs do not have an email listed publicly - only a phone number.Dilly wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:29 pmI emailed two department heads to introduce myself. I think it shows initiative but I can see that it might get annoying, if it's a competitive SF. I mainly opted to do so because mine doesn't seem to get scholars often so I wanted to make sure they were aware that I was even applying.
Hit or miss, depending on the SF. When I was a semi-finalist in 2017 some SFs responded positively - others they told me not to contact them again and that they would formally reach out to me if they thought I was a good candidate for them.ryantetreault wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:03 pmI would definitely not. The all SF's receive your application and go from there. Not all SF's do interviews, and those who do wouldn't want random people (they have your application but don't know you) contacting them. If people knew it worked, they would get hundreds of emails from different people.Guest wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 6:07 pmHello! Does anyone know if it helps to reach out to the SF's as a semifinalist, before interviews? Or is it better to just wait for them to contact you, if at all