Pros
In theory, ORISE is a great way to get into the government, but you're essentially a contractor with none of the benefits and no guarantees whatsoever of federal employment afterwards.
Kontras
1) Pay is arbitrary. There's a range for bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees, but there's no indication as to where you land within that range. Prior experience seems to play little role in determining your salary. 2) You only get paid once a month at the end of the month. Taxes are not deducted so you have to be conscientious about setting aside a certain amount each month for taxes. You're also ineligible for unemployment benefits afterwards. 3) You don't get the option to work at home, like many government employees. 4) Only 1 vacation day per month of employment 5) Each ORISE experience seems to be different. You're essentially hired to complete a very specific task and that's it. Some people have had great projects and mentors while others don't. 6) As an ORISE fellow, you consistently have to jump through hoops to go to meetings and events.