Goldwater, Udall, St. Andrews Scholarships

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Goldwater, Udall, St. Andrews Scholarships

• drexel fellowships
• october 16, 2008

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Goldwater Scholarship
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Goldwater Scholarship

• To foster and encourage US excellence in
  mathematics, the natural sciences, and
  engineering.
• Probably most prestigious undergraduate STEM
  award.
• Highly competitive.
• Up to 300 awards annually
• Pays up to 7500 per year toward tuition and
  expenses
• One or two years of support.

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Goldwater Eligibility

• Full-time STEM student
• One to two years FT undergraduate study left
• Minimum B GPA
• Usually much higher, mean GPA 3.95
• US Citizen or permanent resident with intent to
  become citizen
• Not formal requirements, but
• Nearly all Goldwater Scholars intend to get a
  PhD.
• Nearly all have some kind of undergraduate
  research experience

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Goldwater Application

• Online application with hard copy supporting
  materials
• Internal (Drexel) Deadline January 10, 2009
• Statement of career goals and educational plans.
• 2-page essay discussing a scientific issue or
  problem of particular interest.
• 3 recommendations
• Transcripts
• Applicants evaluated by state of permanent
  residence.
• Winners hear in late March 2009.

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Selection Criteria

• Outstanding academic performance.
• Strong commitment to a career in mathematics, the
  natural sciences, and engineering
• Promising student with intellectual intensity in
  science, mathematics, or engineering
• Potential for a significant future contribution
  in chosen field

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What you should be doing now Goldwater

• Keep your grades up
• Get to know a few faculty members
• Show your genuine interest and enthusiasm for the
  subject matter
• Ask for their input on your candidacy
• Find opportunities to research
• STAR
• Think strategically about your co-op
• Final class projects
• Find opportunities to circulate your research
• Consider submitting something for publication
• Attend conferences if possible
• Do poster sessions whenever you can
• Get involved in some science-related
  co-curricular activity

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Morris K. Udall Scholarship
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Morris K. Udall Scholarship

• For undergraduate students committed to
  environmental careers
• 5000 for undergraduate tuition and expenses
• Highly competitive
• Awards 80 scholarships and 50 honorable mentions
• Recipients announced in April

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Udall Eligibility

• FT student, any discipline
• One to two years FT undergraduate study left
• Demonstrable commitment to the environment
• Leadership and community service in environmental
  issues
• At least 3.0 GPA
• US Citizen, National, or Permanent Resident

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Udall Application

• Online application Campus deadline February 10,
  2009
• Several short essays
• Career goals
• Leadership experience
• Environmentalism
• Longer essay connecting Morris Udall with your
  passions
• discuss a significant public speech, legislative
  act, or public policy statement by Congressman
  Udall and its impact on your field of study,
  interests, and career goals.
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Transcripts

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What you should be doing now Udall

• Get to know a few faculty members/community
  leaders
• Show your genuine interest and enthusiasm
• Ask for their input on your candidacy
• Get involved in environmentally-related community
  service projects.
• Seek out leadership roles and opportunities.
• Four-day mandatory orientation in Tucson,
  expenses paid by foundation, August 5-9

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St. Andrews Society Scholarship
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St. Andrews Society

• Philadelphia-based St. Andrews Society
• Junior year at a University in Scotland
• Any discipline
• 15,000 award
• Eligibility
• FT student
• US Citizen
• Heritage not a factor
• March interview

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General information
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Campus Nomination Process

• Goldwater up to four candidates per year.
• Udall up to six candidates per year
• St. Andrews one candidate per year
• Drexel faculty nominating committee will select
  applicants that best meet the awards criteria.

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Asking for Recommendations

• Extremely important.
• Choose carefully
• The best letters come from those who know you
  best.
• Cultivate faculty relationships over time.
• Approach potential recommenders early
• gauge their support
• give graceful ways out
• Let me know who your recommenders are as soon as
  you know.
• Give recommenders printed materials
• description of the award or program, your CV ,
  your application essay drafts, copy of transcript
• Clear instructions on where the letter should go
  and its deadline.
• Keep in touch with recommenders after the
  application has gone out
• Thank faculty members for their support and let
  them know when you hear.

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A few Final Words

• Start early!!
• Get input from readers in and out of your field
  and plan to revise revise revise. And revise
  again.
• Work closely with your recommenders on your
  application.
• Work closely with me throughout.
• Consider applying for more than one award.
• Try to represent your real self as best you can,
  then relax.

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Upcoming Info Sessions

• King Abdullah University of Science and
  Technology (KAUST) Discovery Scholarships
• For pre-junior or junior STEM students, covers
  undergraduate expenses here in exchange for
  commitment to MS at new Saudi University.
• October 27th, 530pm, MacAlister 2019
• Boren Award
• From National Security Education Program,
  undergrad and grad award for overseas
  study/research in non-Western countries and in
  areas of national security interest.
• October 28th, 5-6pm, Hill Conference Room, Lebow
  Engineering Building
• Public Affairs Fellowships
• A look at the Pickering, Truman, and Madison
  awards.
• November 11th, 5-6pm, Hill Conference Room, Lebow
  Engineering Building
• Whitaker Fellowship
• For Biomedical Engineering students with BS or MS
  to study or do research overseas.
• Date TBA