Undergraduate Academic Awards
Campuswide and National Scholarship Opportunities

GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP*

DEADLINES

UW-Madison deadline: November 25, 2024
Foundation deadline: January 31, 2025 (5:00 p.m. CT)

*Candidates must be nominated by UW–Madison and may not apply directly. Students interested in applying should contact the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office for more information about the application process. Contact: 608-265-2428, awards@provost.wisc.edu

DESCRIPTION

Established by Congress in 1986 to honor the career of Senator Barry Goldwater, the scholarships recognize promising undergraduates who plan to pursue a PhD or MD/PhD followed by a research career in engineering, mathematics or the natural sciences. Up to 450 scholarships are awarded annually.

AWARD

The scholarships provide $7,500/year toward undergraduate expenses junior and/or senior year, including tuition, required books and living expenses. Junior level recipients may receive a maximum of two years of support. Senior level recipients will receive a maximum of one year of support.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • Full-time sophomore or junior during academic year of application (defined as two years or one year of undergraduate study remaining after application year)
  • Planning to pursue a PhD and research career in mathematics, natural sciences or engineering research (MD alone does not qualify, but MD/PhD does)
  • Outstanding undergraduate academic record. Have a strong GPA, particularly in the STEM major. Scholar average GPA close to 4.0. Recent Scholar GPA range 3.3 – 4.0. Minimum GPA 3.0.
  • Engaged in undergraduate research
  • U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident

SELECTION CRITERIA

Reviewers evaluate applications holistically, giving balanced consideration to all elements of the application. Important elements include:

  • career goals and professional aspirations
  • research essay and research experience (length of experience, presentations and/or publications)
  • academic performance (grades, level of courses, awards, scholarships)
  • letters of recommendation (from STEM professors and research mentors addressing the applicant’s research contributions)
  • social and/or economic impacts that have influenced the applicant’s education

APPLICATION PROCESS

To be considered for nomination, students must submit a completed application by the campus deadline (see section below). In November/December, the UW–Madison campus nominating committee reviews applications and endorses up to four nominees. Nominees will have the opportunity to revise their applications based on feedback from the campus committee. The Foundation deadline is late January. In March the Goldwater Scholars and alternates are selected; in April nominees are notified of their final status in the competition.

CAMPUS NOMINATION PROCESS

Please submit the following materials electronically by 11:59 p.m. on the campus deadline to the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office, awards@provost.wisc.edu.

  1. Student Profile and Pre-Application form. After reviewing your Goldwater pre-application, the UAA Office will provide you with access to the Goldwater online application. Please complete and submit the full application on the Goldwater website by the campus deadline.
  2. Letters of recommendation from three professors who have supervised your undergraduate research and/or your undergraduate coursework in the sciences, engineering or mathematics. Please ask your recommenders to send an electronic copy to awards@provost.wisc.edu. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all letters of recommendation are received by the campus deadline. We cannot guarantee that the committee will review late letters.
  3. Research Essay, typed, three pages, font size no smaller than 12 point, uploaded to the ‘backpack’ on your online application. Please include your name and your academic institution at the top of each page.  Sample research essays available for viewing in the UAA Office.  Please make an appointment.
  4. Transcripts from all colleges attended.  For campus purposes, an unofficial transcript or a copy of your UW-Madison student record is fine, as are photocopies of transcripts from other institutions.  Submit via email attachment to awards@provost.wisc.edu or in hard copy.
  5. Scholarship Nomination Permission Form & Waiver. Download form, sign, and send to awards@provost.wisc.edu.

GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP WEBSITE

For official information on the Goldwater Scholarship (which supersedes any information provided here), please see http://www.act.org/goldwater/.

RESOURCES

Application Essay Tips
Letters of Recommendation Tips
Previous Goldwater Scholars