Goldwater, Udall, Smart, NASA MUST Scholarships

1
Goldwater, Udall, Smart, NASA MUST Scholarships
2
Goldwater Scholarship
3
Goldwater Scholarship

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

4
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

5
Goldwater Application

• Nomination required
• Internal (Drexel) Deadline January 4, 2010
• Materials
• 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.
• March 2010

6
Selection Criteria

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

7
Morris K. Udall Scholarship
8
Morris K. Udall Scholarship

• For undergraduate students committed to
  environmental careers -- any field
• 5000 for undergraduate tuition and expenses,
  mentoring
• Awards 80 scholarships and 50 honorable mentions
  April announcement
• Four-day mandatory orientation in Tucson,
  expenses paid by foundation, usually early August

9
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

10
Udall Application

• Nomination required Campus deadline February 1,
  2010
• 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

11
SMARTScience, Mathematics, and Research for
Transformation
12
SMART

• Department of Defense
• Goal increase civilian scientists and engineers
  working in Defense labs.
• Full tuition support 25-40K stipend books
• Summer internships and post-graduation jobs at
  DoD labs.
• Sponsoring agency

13
SMART eligibility

• US Citizen
• Over 18 years old
• FT undergraduate/graduate in approved field
• Min 3.0 GPA
• Able to work summers
• aptitude and interest in theoretical and applied
  research -- "hand-on-the-bench types.
• strong interest in working for the DoD as a
  civilian research scientist or engineer

14
Smart application

• Dec 15 deadline
• SAT/GRE
• Min 3.0 GPA
• Two references
• Official transcript
• Summary of Goals
• Why do you want to work for the DoD?
• How will it help you? How will it help them?

15
NASA MUSTMotivating Undergraduates in Science
and Technology
16
NASA MUST

• UNCF, HCF, SHPE
• Up to 10,000/year mentoring
• Paid summer internship at NASA
• Focus on underserved and underrepresented groups

17
NASA MUST Eligibility

• US Citizen
• FT STEM student
• Rising freshman, sophomore, junior
• Min 3.0 GPA

18
NASA MUST application

• Online application
• One letter of reference
• Official transcript
• Proof of citizenship
• Resume
• Personal Essay
• www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/descriptio
  ns/Students-rd.html

19
General information
20
What you should be doing now

• Keep your grades up (especially for Goldwater)
• Get to know people (faculty, community leaders)
• Show your genuine interest and enthusiasm
• Ask for their input on your candidacy
• Get involved
• Seek out leadership roles and opportunities.
• Research projects
• STAR, Co-op, Class projects. Publication? Esp for
  Goldwater.
• Community service projects. Esp Udall.
• Share your ideas
• attend/present at relevant conferences, poster
  sessions, etc.

21
Campus Nomination Process

• Goldwater up to four candidates per year.
• Udall up to six candidates per year
• Drexel faculty nominating committee will select
  applicants that best meet the awards criteria.
• No nomination required for SMART, NASA MUST.

22
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
• Give recommenders printed materials/clear
  instructions
• Let me know who your recommenders are as soon as
  you know.
• Keep in touch with recommenders after the
  application has gone out
• Thank faculty members for their support and let
  them know when you hear.

23
A few Final Words

• Start early!!
• Get input from readers in and out of your field
• 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.

24

• 3019 MacAlister
• fellowships_at_drexel.edu
• Director Rona Buchalter
• rbuchalter_at_drexel.edu
• Coordinator Sara Lynott
• sel46_at_drexel.edu
• Goldwater www.act.org/goldwater
• Udall www.udall.gov
• SMART www.asee.org/smart
• NASA MUST www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs
  /descriptions/Motivating_Undergraduates_Science_Te
  chnology.html