G oldwater Scholarship

1. GoldwaterScholarship Important Application Information & Insights from National Selection Committee Dr. Julia Goldberg, Associate Dean of the College http://externalscholarships.lafayette.edu/ externalscholarships@lafayette.edu November 4, 2013

2. Goldwater Scholarship Website www.act.org/goldwater

3. Career Goal In one or two sentences, describe your career goal. Example: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. Conduct research in biomedical science and teach at the university level. You may provide a more detailed description of your career goals.

4. Research Activities List past and present research activities associated with your interests in mathematics, science, or engineering in which you regularly participate. Explain the duration, degree, and significance of your involvement, including what responsibilities you had in the project. In the absence of formal research experience, describe briefly any other skills or accomplishments, i.e., posters, presentations, publications, etc., significant and relevant to this application.

5. Professional Aspirations What are your professional aspirations? Indicate in which area(s) of mathematics, science, or engineering you are considering making your career and specify how your current academic program and your overall educational plans will assist you in achieving this goal.

6. Motivation for STEM Career Describe an activity or experience that has been important in clarifying or strengthening your motivation for a career in science, mathematics, or engineering.

7. Personal Information Goldwater Scholars will be representative of the diverse economic, ethnic, and occupational backgrounds of families in the United States. Describe any characteristics or other personal information about yourself or your family that you wish to share with the selection committee.

8. Personal Information • Personal information is optional. • Encouraged to complete this section • Personal information is a minor factor compared to major evaluation criteria • Level of detail is left to nominee • Personal information is never negative in the review • Helpful for nominees who have non-traditional background or an inconsistency in the application. • Impact of economic or ethnic background • Impact of employment as undergraduate

9. Research Essay: 2 Pgs/11 Pt Font Discuss a significant issue or problem of particular interest. The essay must include a/an: • description of the issue or problem, • discussion of an idea for research that would have significant impact on the issue or problem, • description of an aspect of the research in which you would be involved, • explanation of issue/problem’s relevance to you, • indication of the collaborative or individual participation in the research, and • bibliography/references & illustrations (where appropriate). The essay’s content & style is important! Assume that the reader will have the expertise to read, review, and understand the complexities of the field of specialty.

10. Letters of Recommendation • 3 LORs: 2 faculty (at least 1 from a faculty member in student’s field of study), 1 from recommender who supervised student’s research where applicable • From those who know student’s work WELL & can assess student’s personal characteristics, motivation & potential for a STEM research career • Best LORs come from faculty in the student’s field of study &/or from those who have supervised the student’s work in a research facility

11. Recommendations, Con’t: LOR Instructions Please evaluate the applicant's: Personal characteristics; Motivation; Potential for a career in STEM. Your evaluation must address:Criteria on which you base your judgments & How the applicant meets your criteria. Provide specific examplesthat illustrate the applicant's performance, maturity, initiative, and potential.

12. Recommendations, Con’t • Write a detailed 1-2 page letter. • not an application for grad school or a job • Concentrate on motivation and potential for a research career. • ‘A’ student is assumed • avoid ‘turned in assignments on time,’ etc. • avoid ‘how difficult my course is,’ etc. • OK for nominee to be a ‘nerd’ * Compare to other students who have gone on to PhD programs & research careers. • evaluation at comparable stage of applicant’s career

13. Campus Application • Deadline: 6 December 2013 • http://externalscholarships.lafayette.edu/scholarships/goldwater-scholarship • Complete application on-line but do not submit through Goldwater—submit via our external scholarships website’s “submit materials” tab • Submit separate 2 page Research Essay as WORD document • Provide names of Recommenders (provide recommenders with “Goldwater” instructions/advice found on our website) • Letters of Recommendation submitted to Dean Goldberg directly as WORD documents via email. • Official Transcripts • Signed Waiver/Release form

14. CampusApplication,Con’t • Website has “Application Notes”/advice for applicants as well as for recommenders—Refer to these notes frequently! • Campus Selection Committee will nominate up to 4 candidates Nominated candidates: • Revise application prior to official submission in January (expect multiple revisions) • Work closely with Dean Goldberg, Committee, and your faculty as you revise • Recommenders may be asked to modify/expand their original LORs to ensure content coincides with candidate’s responses

15. Official Deadline • Materials must be received by 28 January 2014 ### • Goldwater expects to receive over 1,200 applications • Approx. 300 scholars will be selected; approx. 200 may be honorable mentions • Approx. 4% chance of recognition (~2.5% A; ~1.6% HM)

16. Goldwater Scholarship Website www.act.org/goldwater www.act.org/goldwater/apply/index.html