THE 2016 BARRY GOLDWATER
SCHOLARSHIP
goldwater.scholarsapply.org
Melissa Hatfield Riggs,
Goldwater Faculty Representative and
NAU National Scholarship Coordinator
GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP MISSION
The purpose is to provide a continuing
source of highly qualified research
professionals to the fields of science,
mathematics and engineering.
Research careers might be pursued in
industry, NGOs, government agencies or
academia.
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ELIGIBILITY
Goldwater awards are made on the basis of merit to
full-time sophomores and juniors with a
recommended GPA of 3.5+ who:
• intend to pursue research careers in mathematics, the
natural sciences, technology,or engineering,
• have the commitment and potential to make a
significant contribution to their field,
• intend to pursue doctoral study in supported
disciplines, and
• are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or U.S.
nationals from American Samoa or the Mariana Islands.
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RESEARCH CAREER FIELDS
Supported Disciplines: in website’s Bulletin of
Information section (examples).
Nominees with certain career fields must verify
a research career commitment.
• Civil Engineering – build bridges vs research
• Computer Science – programmer vs research
• Healthcare/Medical – clinical vs research
Science or math education not supported.
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BENEFITS
•
•
•
•
Educational expenses for undergraduate tuition,
fees, books, and room and board, up to a
maximum of $7,500 annually.
The sheer prestige of being a Goldwater
Scholar, which can open doors to graduate
school and post-graduate fellowships.
Lifelong membership in the Goldwater
professional network.
Sophomore nominees can receive up to 2 years
of support; junior nominees receive 1 year of
support.
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EVALUATION CRITERIA
• Academic Achievement
– grades, level of courses, awards, scholarships
• Progress Toward Research Goals
– research activities, career goals, course work
• Research Essay
– technical content, bibliography, organization/
grammar/style, interpretation of expected/obtained
results
• Letters of Recommendation
– commitment to research, intellectual curiosity,
potential for research contributions
Equal weight is given to the four evaluation criteria.
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2015 GOLDWATER SCHOLARS
Nominees Scholars
Total
1206
260
Female
115
Male
145
Sophomore
~30%
~20%
Juniors
~70%
~80%
Generally: ~15% engr, ~10% math and ~75% sciences
Average GPA for recipients: ~3.95
Universities can nominate up to four candidates.
Goldwater 2016: estimating 200 awards
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APPLICATION CONTENT
• Resume-type information, Coursework
• Research Activities with description
• Short Professional Aspirations, Motivating
Event, and Additional Info statements
• Research Essay
• Official Transcript(s)
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
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NAU INTERNAL DEADLINE
November 2, 2015 internal deadline
Send as one pdf to Melissa.Riggs@nau.edu:
1. Three Letters of Reference
2. Detailed Resume with extracurricular, employment,
and research activities described briefly
3. Professional Aspirations statement (limit 300 words)
4. Research Essay
5. Unofficial Transcript(s)
Final Deadline: mid-to-late January, 2016 (TBA)
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LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
THREE online recommendations are required from individuals who know
enough about you to assess your personal characteristics, motivation, and
potential for a research career. The recommendations must be from:
• TWO faculty members who can discuss the your potential for a research
career. At least ONE of these must be a faculty member in your field of study.
• If you have been involved in research, ONE letter must be from the individual
who supervised your research work. If not, then another individual or faculty
member who can attest to your potential.
• (NOTE: I need to send them info, then letters should be sent to Melissa by
NAU internal deadline. Recommenders should NOT submit online until I have
been in touch with them and seen their letters.)
• See nau.edu/NISF > Tips for Applications > Working with References
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RESEARCH ESSAY REQUIREMENT
Discuss a significant issue or problem in your field of study that is
of particular interest to you. Include a description of the issue or
problem, discuss an idea for research that could have significant
impact on it, describe an aspect of the research in which you
would be involved, and explain the relevance of the issue or
problem to you as a mathematician, scientist, or engineer.
• Can be past, future or current research. Generally, consider the essay a
miniature research proposal.
• The research essay must demonstrate your knowledge base and
reinforce a research career.
– curing cancer or AIDS is too broad
• Write to the expertise of the reviewer.
– detailed, technical language is expected
– bibliography that includes refereed journal references
– diagrams and figures can be helpful
•Faculty input and review are essential.
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MORE ON RESEARCH ESSAY
• Typed and confined to two pages (one side only). Single or
double spaced. Font size may not be smaller than 11 point.
• Background should not exceed 50% of essay.
• Interpretation of obtained or expected results is very helpful.
• If your essay involves research in which you are or were
involved, please indicate if you are or were the sole researcher or if
you collaborated with another individual.
• Include a bibliography, references, or illustrations when
appropriate, as part of the essay, which will be included in your
two pages.
• Both content and style are important!
• Best choice: research described in essay matches your
projected career research.
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EVEN MORE ON RESEARCH ESSAY
Thoughts from the past GW President:
I believe the best essay is one written on a completed project. However,
if the student is just starting the work and does not have a completed
project the essay should be written as a research proposal. The first
part should be hypothesis or question to be answered. Why is the
research being done. Then give the methods to be used. The second
page should indicate the data to be collected followed by how the data
will answer the question or prove the hypothesis.
NOTE: Recipients who write on research-in-progress can certainly win,
as we know from NAU recipients!
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ONLINE APPLICATION PROBS ???
1. Website: goldwater.scholarsapply.org (info
sources)
2. Last year, Goldwater revamped their online application
system, and people reported many problems.
Hopefully they will have things solved by next year!
Let me know if you experience difficulty.
Keep copies of your work in its various revisions, and the
final version!
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REASONS FOR NOMINATION FAILURE
1. Weak or inconsistent letters of recommendation from
research faculty.
2. Poor choice in selecting individual(s) to write letter of
reference.
3. Weak research essay.
4. Inconsistent application in areas that speak to a
research career.
5. Weak grades, in comparison to scholar average GPA.
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DEADLINES
The 2015 Goldwater Scholarship Application Deadlines
were as follows: (just to give you an idea)
Student application
Recommendations (3)
Nominations
Documents Receipt
January 23, 2015
January 27, 2015
January 30, 2015
February 2, 2015
However, NAU final deadline for students to submit will be
three days in advance of the student deadline to avoid
system traffic problems and to give references more time
to upload your letters.
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FURTHER ADVICE
More suggestions from the Goldwater
Foundation on the various sections of the
application follow.
Also review nau.edu/NISF > Tips for
Applications
(including the Proposals page)
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RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
• Outline each research activity.
– on- and off-campus
– research component(s) of internships
– Scheduled research for future is okay
• Identify research products: presentations,
posters, papers, etc.
– OK to list “in preparation” or “in review”
papers, etc.
• Conduct research consistent with major.
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SCHOOLING AND CAREER GOAL
• Cumulative GPA consistent with attached
transcripts.
– attach letter for non-traditional nominee
• Degree sought consistent with career goal.
– degree focuses on research
• Career goal (short answer) reinforced by
Professional Aspirations statement.
• Course work consistent with graduate school
preparation in research area.
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PROFESSIONAL ASPIRATIONS
• Detail current and future academic programs
that lead to career goal.
• Outline plans for graduate school at doctoral
level.
– possible graduate schools identified
• Include, if appropriate, plans for postdoctoral
research and grant activities.
• Indicate sources of research experience.
– independent study and internships
– honors thesis
– projected graduate and postdoctoral research
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PERSONAL INFORMATION
• Personal information space is optional.
– you are encouraged to complete this section
– use of personal information is a minor factor compared to
major evaluation criteria
– level of detail is left to applicant
– personal information is never negative in the review
• Can be helpful for nominees who have non-traditional
background or an inconsistency in the application.
– impact of economic or ethnic background (careful!)
– impact of employment as undergraduate on research time
• Something else pertinent to personal motivation for your
research, or something pertinent else strategic that you want to
share
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APPLICANT CHECKLIST
 Complete all sections of the application.
 Make a consistent, strong case for a research
career.
 Include all research activities, presentations,
posters and papers.
 Consider the essay a miniature research
proposal.
 Select the three best individuals to write letters
of recommendation.
 Evaluate and proofread multiple times, and with
help.
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