Looking to get some information about the SMART program, is it worth?

[mrbarcioch9211]

I am a first year Nuclear Engineering student and I have just found about the SMART program and have a few questions.

Firstly, how do internships work, logistically? What I mean is how is housing found and transport? I am aware they are unpaid, so I assume any and all costs related to the internship are paid by the stduent using the yearly stipend?

Secondly, do stipend amounts vary based on year, or degree level. So will I earn the same amount throughout a certain period of time of a bachelors, or do they go up as you are in higher years of study? Also, do the stipends cover previous years of schooling, or only from the time of acceptance to whenever I graduate?

Lastly, are salaries for the mandatory 12 month job with the DoD competetive?

I am trying to make sure I am not missing anything. This program seems a little too good to be true, but I want to make sure.

Thanks.

[pkory]

For my SF, they provided us with some housing resources but you're pretty much on your own to find a place and to have transport to and from work. If your home address is more than 50 miles away from your SF they give you some Internship Support Payments that I believe come out to like $1250 a week for your internship.

Stipend amounts do vary by degree level. BS is $30,000 a year, MS is $40,000 a year, and PhD is $46,000 a year. The tuition coverage only covers the years after you get the award, not your previous. However, this tuition is on top of the stipend, so you are getting your full tuition covered AND the stipend payment.

You owe 0.5 years working for your SF for every semester SMART covers. It's a government pay scale, so the salaries probably aren't as competitive as those in private companies, depending on your area of study.

Overall, the program is pretty great. If awarded, you'll have a full ride, get monthly support payments, and have internship and work experience.