The James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence
The Office of Distinguished Scholarships
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Application Deadline: November 10, 2008

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship provides up to $7,500 per year for educational expenses to sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering. The Goldwater Foundation seeks students in mathematics or the sciences, display intellectual curiosity and intensity; and possess potential for significant future contributions in their chosen field. Sophomores awarded the scholarship receive two years of support; juniors receive one year of support. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.60 to be considered for the Campus Selection procedure.

Visit the Goldwater Scholarship Homepage

Eligibility

To be considered for nomination as a Goldwater Scholar, a student must:

  1. Be a full-time matriculated sophomore or junior pursuing a degree at an accredited institution of higher education during the 2008-2009 academic year. "Sophomore" is defined as a student who plans two more years of full-time undergraduate study beginning September 2008. Sophomore nominees can expect to receive a maximum of two years of support. "Junior" is defined as a student who plans one more year of full-time undergraduate study beginning September 2008. Junior nominees can expect to receive a maximum of one year of support. 
  2. Have a college grade-point average of at least "B" (or the equivalent) and be in the upper fourth of his or her class. 
  3. Be a United States citizen, a resident alien, or, in the case of nominees from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, a United States national. Nominations from resident aliens must include a letter of the nominee's intent to obtain U.S. citizenship and a photocopy of the Alien Registration Card.

Selection Process

  1. You may apply to this scholarship only after you have been nominated by a UNC faculty member. You may contact your professors, indicating your interest in the scholarship, and solicit their nomination of you. 
  2. Deadline for receipt of faculty nominations: October 13, 2008. Nomination letters should be sent to Dr. William M. Kier, UNC Goldwater Selection Chair, billkier@bio.unc.edu.
  3. Following the above deadline, e-mail notifications will be sent to the applicants selected as potential nominees. These selected students must complete the online application (see Goldwater website) including an essay, and the nomination information form. You will register online the names of recommenders, who will, then, be contacted by email. Please provide hard copies of your high school transcripts and college transcripts to the Office of Distinguished Scholarships. (You may request from the Registrar, at no cost, an internal transcript to be sent to our office in 225 Graham Memorial. Please make this request at least 5 days prior to the deadline.) Please note: Due to the importance of these recommendation letters to the selection committee, students are strongly encouraged to plan in advance from whom they will request their letters.
  4. The online applications, and transcripts, must be submitted by 12 p.m., November 10, 2008. (Our office will make copies of the transcripts.)
  5. Applicants selected as nominees will then prepare their applications for a mid - January submission date.  

Return all applications to the Office of Distinguished Scholarships, room 225 Graham Memorial Hall, CB # 3510. For further information about the application process, please contact Dr. William M. Kier, UNC Goldwater Selection Chair, billkier@bio.unc.edu or George Lensing, lensing@email.unc.edu

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