How are you creating the projects, as for example, a project can be created by:
Approving an Idea to an Project
Create Project from Template
Create Project
Using a GEL or XOG script
How you are creating the Project will then determine what else needs to be checked.
Also, an 'attribute default' can be overwritten on the View - Properties - Property Field section of the Project Object - if you are just using 'the NEW button' on the Project List, you need to also check if part.