| The Federal Science and Mathematics Access to | | | | student on this form, the colleges will identify |
| Retain Talent (SMART) Grant is offered by the | | | | those students most likely to qualify for an award |
| US Department of Education to students that are | | | | based on a number of contributing factors, such |
| eligible for the Pell Grant and are also enrolled in | | | | as their eligibility for a Pell Grant award, their |
| either the third or fourth year of a bachelor's | | | | chosen program of study and their grade point |
| degree program. The student, in addition, must | | | | average. The SMART grant itself does not require |
| also be enrolled on a degree program with a | | | | the student to make a separate application. The |
| major in science, mathematics, technology, | | | | grant funds themselves are sent directly to the |
| engineering, a foreign language that is deemed | | | | student's college by the Department of Education. |
| essential to the needs of national security or a | | | | The college will then allocate the funds directly to |
| liberal arts curriculum that qualifies as authorised | | | | the students in question. |
| by the Secretary of State for Education. | | | | With regards to some of the specific eligibility |
| Students that are deemed eligible for a SMART | | | | requirements to qualify for a SMART award a |
| award receive $4,000 a year from the program, | | | | student must be eligible to receive Pell funds, and |
| and, importantly for those students from poorer | | | | should be enrolled in their third or fourth academic |
| backgrounds, the award of a SMART grant does | | | | year of a four-year degree course. They should |
| not count against any other grants-whether | | | | also ensure that they maintain a 3.0 grade point |
| federal or state, to which the student may be | | | | average throughout their college career, and |
| eligible or in receipt of. The SMART program itself | | | | should be following a degree course as mentioned |
| was initiated specifically in order to persuade and | | | | previously. Finally the student should, of course, be |
| motivate more students to take degree | | | | a US citizen. Alternatively (or in addition, as the |
| programs that were deemed to be in high | | | | case may be) students may wish to see what |
| demand. | | | | other federal grants are available to them in order |
| In order to apply for a SMART award the | | | | to maximize their possible education benefits |
| student's first task is to fill in and submit their | | | | before school even starts. |
| FAFSA. From the information provided by the | | | | |