Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

General Information

Overview

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry M. Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.
Scholarships cover eligible expenses for undergraduate tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 annually.

Important Links

Eligibility Requirements

  • full-time matriculated sophomore or junior; "sophomore" is defined as a student who plans two more years of full-time undergraduate study beginning September 2009
  • major in math, computer engineering, computer science, or natural sciences (physics, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, etc.)
  • a college grade-point average of at least 3.0 and in the upper fourth of the class
  • United States citizen, a permanent resident, or, in the case of nominees from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, a United States national
It is expected that students selected as scholars will pursue advanced degrees.
Students who plan to study medicine are eligible for a Goldwater Scholarship only if they plan a research career rather than a career as a medical doctor in a private practice.

Deadlines

  • official deadline: January 30, 2009, 5:00 p.m. central time
  • CNU deadline: Sunday, November 30, 2008, 11:59 p.m. eastern time

Application Process

Candidates have to be nominated by CNU, as the Foundation will not accept direct applications.
In order to choose the most promising candidates, we will have a CNU-internal committee, which will select the applicants who are then nominated to the Goldwater Foundation. In order to do this, we have set the deadline for applications to the end of November (see above), by which the complete application material has to be submitted.

We are specifically looking for students

  • with a strong commitment to a career in math, science, or engineering; ideally, the applicant should have already demonstrated this commitment through some kind of research work, internship, or other appropriate activity;
  • who have demonstrated academic excellence and intellectual curiosity; and
  • who have the potential to make significant future contributions in their field.

Application Instructions

  1. Meet with the faculty representative Dr. Anton Riedl
  2. Submit the application material before the CNU-internal deadline; supporting documents have to be submitted to Dr. Riedl
The application material includes:
  • Online Application at the official Goldwater Scholarship website
  • Essay discussing a significant issue or problem in your field of study that is of particular interest to you; for format information see the Goldwater site
  • Three letters of recommendation: Two from faculty members who can discuss your potential for a career in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering. At least one of these must be a faculty member in your field of study. A third one from an individual or faculty member who can attest to your potential. If you have been involved in research, one of your recommendations must come from the individual who supervised your work. The best evaluations are those that come from faculty in your field of study or from individuals who have supervised your work in a research facility. Evaluations from former high school teachers, coaches, or family friends are generally of little value.
  • a high school transcript
  • a current college transcript
If you have any questions, please, contact Dr. Anton Riedl.