DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship vs Summer at Simons
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship is a scholarship while Summer at Simons is a internship.
| DoW STEM Scholarships - SMART Scholarship | Summer at Simons | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Scholarship | Internship |
| Organization | Department of Defense (DoD) | Simons Foundation |
| Acceptance Rate | Approximately 8-18% depending on year; recent data shows ~600 awards annually from ~4,000-5,000 applicants | Not publicly disclosed, but estimated at 5-15% given high prestige and limited spots per center (~3-10 positions per center per summer) |
| Applicants | 2024-2025 cycle: estimated 4,000+ applicants; historically 2,000-2,655 per year | Likely 200-500+ total applications across all centers annually, though not confirmed |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | No / International |
| Grades | Currently enrolled undergraduate, master's, or doctoral students (NOT high school students) | Undergraduate students and graduate/post-doctoral students only - high school students are NOT eligible |
| 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... | Summer at Simons is viewed VERY POSITIVELY by graduate admissions committees and prestigious employers. Impact includes: 1) STRONG indicator of research capability and commitment to academic career - ... |