Quote Originally Posted by dr. d View Post
back in the day, just like pshs then,
the NSDB (now DOST) scholarships weren't regional. they were national.
as such, it was parang same old faces from HS, when these "geeks" (heh heh!) would hang around.

some of the HS graduates would favor the GSIS scholarship over the NSDB. it was available, via competition screening, to children of government workers.
the GSIS deal had fewer application and post-graduation requirements, kasi. and slightly more benefits, as i vaguely recall.
halos wala pang individual university scholarships at that time.
but the vast majority of university students had to be content with the other NSDB. NaSa Daddy ang Bayad. heh heh.

but i am curious,
why does the post-er feel that the DOST scholarship awarding process is "rife with irregularities" ?
usually it starts with "bakit yung kakilala/classmate ko na matalino, di nakakuha?". Well our HS class valedictorian and salutatorian also did not pass the UPCAT. Not only are there people who are not as smart as you think, there are also people who are smarter. Scholarships are limited and only those who got the highest marks will get awarded. I had Pisay batchmates in UP who did not get DOST scholarships.

DOST scholarships and even Pisay scholarships have contracts though. For the latter you have to take a STEM course in college, while for the former there is a stipulation you have to work in government or an academic/teaching position for a few years and they add your name to a list at the DFA and Bureau of Immigration and you will need an authorization to leave the country, even if its just for a few days for a conference or vacation.