SMART Scholarship Program vs Simons Summer Research Program
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. SMART Scholarship Program is a scholarship while Simons Summer Research Program is a summer program.
| SMART Scholarship Program | Simons Summer Research Program | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Scholarship | Summer Program |
| Organization | Department of War (DoW) | Simons Foundation |
| Acceptance Rate | Unknown - not publicly available | Approximately 11-12% (40 fellows selected from ~350 applicants annually as of 2015) |
| Applicants | Unknown - not publicly available | Approximately 350 per year |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | Free | Free |
| US Only | Yes | Yes |
| Grades | Appears to be for college-bound students (exact grade level unclear from available information) | High school students (primarily juniors and seniors) |
| College Impact | Theoretical impact: A full DoD-sponsored SMART Scholarship would demonstrate significant academic achievement and military/government alignment, potentially valuable for certain college applications. ... | Highly positive impact on college admissions. Summer research programs, especially prestigious ones like the Simons program, are viewed very favorably by college admissions officers because: (1) They ... |