National and International Scholarship Office John Martinson Honors College

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Information Sessions: NISO Week Sept 16-19, 2024

Campus Deadline: November 18, 2024

Fields of Study: Sciences, engineering, computer sciences, technology, and mathematics

Funding for: Junior and/or senior year of undergraduate study

Begin Application: Sophomore or junior year

Foundation Website: https://goldwater.scholarsapply.org/

Description

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program aims to support a continuing source of highly qualified scholars to work as scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Goldwater Scholarships provide up to $7500 to undergraduates planning to pursue doctoral studies and a career focused on research.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Full-time sophomore or junior pursuing a degree at an accredited institution of higher education during the application year
  • Minimum GPA of at least a "B" (3.0) and in the upper 25th percentile of his or her class
  • U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident
  • Desire to pursue a research career in mathematics, the natural sciences*, computer science, technology or engineering

*Due to the college structure at Purdue, natural science majors are not all offered through the College of Science. Don't limit your eligibility based on your college or school enrollment, as the criteria above refer to broad areas, not colleges. Goldwater Scholarships are not applicable for students planning to pursue professional degrees such as an MD, DVM, or PharmD, except in extremely rare instances where applicants provide strong evidence of why such a degree is crucial for a research career in their field.

Candidate Profile

  • Oustanding academic performance, especially in the major, as evidenced by a GPA of 3.8 or higher
  • Commitment to pursuing an advanced degree in science, engineering, computer science, technology, or mathematics
  • Potential to make a significant contribution to one's field through a commitment to research
  • Significant participation in undergraduate research here at Purdue and/or through research internships elsewhere
  • Extracurricular activities and/or work experience (e.g., internships) consistent with the applicant's intellectual interests and career goals

Application Components

  • Online application
  • Three letters of recommendation from faculty members
  • Research essay no longer than 3 pages, including bibliographic information and references.
  • Certified transcript(s)
  • If applicable: copy of Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as the Alien Registration Card) and a letter of intent to become a U.S. citizen

Application Procedure

All applicants MUST be nominated by their college or university. As such, Purdue applicants are reviewed by an internal committee and four nominees are sent forward to the Goldwater Foundation for consideration. We encourage interested students to attend the information session in September as that is the kick-off to the application process.

Detailed campus application information is provided directly to applicants once they declare their intention to apply.