HonorsCollege175F

Goldwater Scholarships

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship provides support to college students who intend to pursue research careers in science, mathematics, and engineering.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be full-time sophomores or juniors--i.e., have two years or one more year, respectively, of full-time undergraduate study.
  • Students must intend to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering, with a focus on research.
  • Students are expected to pursue advanced degrees. Students must have a GPA of at least a B (3.0) and must be in the upper fourth of their class. (Note: Competitive candidates will likely have a GPA of 3.8 or above.)
  • A candidate must be a U.S. citizen, a resident alien, or U.S. national. Students cannot apply directly but must be nominated by the university's faculty representative.

How to apply

  • The application is available online. Candidates must submit a completed Nominee Information Form, an essay about a particular issue or problem in their field of study, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts (both high school and college).
  • Each candidate must be reviewed by an on-campus committee and be officially nominated by Barb Stedman, director of national and international scholarships and faculty representative for Goldwater Scholarships.
  • Each candidate must work with Barb Stedman, director of national and international scholarships, in obtaining the university's nomination. At least six weeks before the campus deadline--preferably earlier--students should call 765-285-1024 to schedule an appointment, or e-mail scholarships@bsu.edu with questions.

Goldwater application guidance for Ball State students

  • Click to access an application packet prepared specifically for Ball State students who apply for a Goldwater scholarship.  It contains tips on creating the best application possible and advice on getting strong letters of recommendation.  
  • Two documents are available, two of them in both Word and PDF format.
  • You will need to enter your Ball State username and password to gain access.

Deadlines

  • The deadline for the 2014 competition is late January 2014. All materials must be received, not postmarked, by the national deadline.
  • The campus deadline is December 9, 2013. All materials must be submitted by this date to Barb Stedman.

Duration and amount

  • Sophomore-level recipients are eligible for a maximum of two years of scholarship support. Junior-level recipients are eligible for a maximum of one year of scholarship support.
  • Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 annually.