RIT • Academic Enhancement Programs • Fellowships

Each year, RIT can nominate four students to apply for the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.

Nominees must be selected by the Goldwater Selection Committee at RIT. The Faculty Representative oversees this committee and is responsible for gathering recommendations for qualified candidates from faculty/staff in the sciences, math, and engineering.  The Faculty Representative at RIT is Suzanne O’Handley, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the College of Science.

Please contact faculty in your area of study or research advisor if you are interested in applying, so they can recommend you to the RIT Goldwater Scholarship committee/ Faculty Representative.

Again, students cannot apply on their own; they must be recommended by faculty and nominated by the Faculty Representative! If you are nominated, you will need to complete the following application process:


2.1    Components of Application

A complete application consists of the following elements and is due to the Faculty Representative by the end of January.

• Cover page signed by the Faculty Representative
• Application form with resume information and answers to questions
• 2 page essay discussing an issue or problem in your field of study
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• High school and ALL college transcripts (incl. summer college or community college courses)
• Nominations from permanent residents must include a letter of the nominee's intent to obtain U.S. citizenship and a photocopy of the Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as the Alien Registration Card).

2.1.1    Writing your Research Proposal

The research proposal is a key element in your application. Start early to ensure you have enough time for research, writing and editing.

Keep the following suggestions in mind when writing your essay:

• Most winning Proposals for the Goldwater have essays that centered around the applicant’s current research. You may want to consider starting by discussing your current research. Demonstrate your interest in the project by making the case for its importance, its potential applications, and future breakthroughs. Go from there to develop a research proposal of future work.
• The challenge facing all writers is to get the good ideas out of their heads and into the heads of their readers. To achieve this, effective writers must: Be clear. Be concrete. Be concise.
• Think of your application essay as a part of a larger whole (including the letters of reference and the application form).
• No essay can be successful without a clear focus. An effective thesis sentence announces clearly the central idea to be developed in the rest of the essay.
• You must have a passionate interest in what you propose to do. The best essays are written about something the author truly cares about.
• Your essay must go through many drafts, so start early! Show your work to a number of readers whose comments you respect. Consult especially your research  advisor and ask your readers to tell you what questions your essays raise that you might not have considered.
• Revise until you feel that you have made your application into effective reflections of who you are and what you want to do.
• Keep to word limits and all other guidelines and remember to proofread the entire application.

2.1.2.    Letters of Reference

You must submit three letters of reference.

Important Instructions for the Applicant:

• Provide a summary of your essay & your curriculum vitae for the referee.
• Make sure that the completed form with the reference letter from your referee comes in a sealed envelope which has been signed across the flap by the referee.
• Have the referee send the letter of reference to the RIT Goldwater Faculty Representitive
• Make sure that all letters arrive in time.
  

Instructions for the Referee:

• Review the project summary provided by the applicant.
• Use the reference form that the applicant has provided to you. Print your letter on institutional letterhead. In addition, the applicant’s name, and Goldwater Scholarship should be stated at the top.
• The signed reference letter along with the original reference form must come in a sealed envelope signed by you across the seal.
• Send the letter directly to the RIT Goldwater Faculty Representative.
• Please make sure that your letter reaches the applicant in time.
  

Helpful reminders when writing a letter of reference:

• Personal suitability and academic excellence of applicant
• Candidate’s talent and potential for significant future contribution to chosen field
• Demonstrated commitment to a research career and intellectual curiosity
• Any other factors that might be important for the candidate’s success in science

2.2     Selection Criteria

What criteria are used when applications are reviewed?
Selection is made upon following criteria:

• Excellent academic performance and outstanding potential for future academic study and research in the field
• Demonstrated commitment to a career in the natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering (coursework, activities, previous research)
• Professional aspirations
• Nominee’s essay
  • Significance of the issue or problem
  • Relevance of the issue or problem to you
  • Impact that your proposed idea would have on your fields
• Content and style