DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship vs PROMYS
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship is a scholarship while PROMYS is a summer program.
| DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship | PROMYS | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Scholarship | Summer Program |
| Organization | Department of Defense (DoD) | Boston University |
| Acceptance Rate | Approximately 8-18% depending on year; recent data shows ~600 awards annually from ~4,000-5,000 applicants | Approximately 15-20% (estimated based on ~80 admitted from several hundred applicants; exact figures not publicly disclosed) |
| Applicants | 2024-2025 cycle: estimated 4,000+ applicants; historically 2,000-2,655 per year | Several hundred annually (exact number not publicly available) |
| Deadline | Rolling | — |
| Cost to Apply | Free | $0 |
| US Only | Yes | No / International |
| Grades | Currently enrolled undergraduate, master's, or doctoral students (NOT high school students) | High school students entering grades 9-12 |
| College Impact | SMART Scholarship is HIGHLY REGARDED in college admissions and professional circles. For undergraduates: Demonstrates exceptional STEM commitment and achievement; counts as major merit-based scholarsh... | PROMYS attendance is viewed very favorably by college admissions officers, particularly at selective institutions. It demonstrates: genuine passion for mathematics, intellectual rigor, ability to succ... |