Goldwater Scholarship

Paying for College
1

<p>First, I've tried to do the best I can to not repeat this topic. A forum search turned up only one thread, and the information there wasn't all that helpful to me. If I've repeated this topic, I apologize. If you find threads about the Goldwater Scholarship, please post them here and I'll be happy to check them out.</p>

<p>I'm currently a sophomore interested in applying for the Goldwater Scholarship. I've been trying to find "profiles" of sorts for previous winners, but haven't really been all that successful. The only things I've found are articles from school papers, and they haven't been too useful.</p>

<p>Because of the nature of this forum, I'm sure there are many parents (even some students themselves) that have been involved in the Goldwater Scholarship and have won. If you're in that position and wouldn't mind sharing information about yourself/children, I would really appreciate it. This can be done through PMs or through e-mail.</p>

<p>Essentially, I'm trying to get an idea of my potential for competing for the program. Compared to my peers, I'm doing very well. I have a high GPA (3.98) and have done as much research as possible (one full year and currently in a research fellowship at a graduate school). However, I'm not superman. I haven't cured cancer, I haven't found the key to immortality, and I haven't made quantum physics breakthroughs. Yes, I've gotten my hands dirty at the lab bench, and I've been listed as a second author on a published paper, but, compared to many previous winners, I feel like my work is crap.</p>

<p>I would appreciate any input from those that have been involved in the Goldwater program. General advice/tips/anecdotes would be great, but specific information is really what I'm looking for.</p>

<p>I appreciate your input in advance.</p>

2

<p>It sounds to me that you might be a good candidate for a Goldwater. Your GPA is in range and it seems you have solid research experience. You do not have to have discovered the cure for cancer to be competitive.</p>

<p>Goldwater nominees must be sophomores or juniors - you'll be a junior next January, the Goldwater application deadline.</p>

<p>What I don't know (or missed) is what field you are in. Goldwaters are only for students in the sciences, engineering, or math. I also don't know if you plan a research career (required). If you plan med school, you must want to pursue a MD/PhD. Goldwater does not fund budding clinical doctors.</p>

<p>If you are in the right field and plan a research career, I encourage you to look for the Goldwater rep at you school (go to the Goldwater web site - <a href="http://www.act.org/Goldwater%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.act.org/Goldwater&lt;/a> to find that person). Then call or email that person to find out the procedures to apply to become a nominee at your school. Each 4-year institution (and, I think 2-year schools as well) can nominate up to 4 students each year for a Goldwater.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>