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When I arrived at UNH to study chemical engineering, I was a student with no engineering background in my family, trying to find my way. It was only when I began to discuss research opportunities with a chemical engineering faculty member, who is now my research mentor, did I find a goal to pursue. I discovered that success in research careers can be amplified by winning prestigious awards, like checkpoints, to demonstrate your commitment to excellence and discovery. To me, the Barry Goldwater Scholarship represented exactly that, and ever since my first semester, I have made it my goal to become the best applicant for this and similar awards. In this blog post, I will cover my experience approaching the rigorous application process and my best advice for future applicants.

Before applying:

The Goldwater Scholarship is a meritorious award presented to STEM researchers with upmost dedication and commitment to being a leader for the betterment of the U.S. and the world. If you are just starting your academic career and want to enable yourself to receive such an award, you must extensively engage in research or technological sciences. Even further, conducting research beyond UNH can drastically enhance your application potential. If you seek to attain prestigious STEM awards, it is vital that you rapidly develop your skills to be able to communicate your aptitude to be a research leader. Before applying for a Goldwater, I conducted research for five semesters, and I participated in two summer research experiences: UNH’s Research Experience and Apprenticeship Program (REAP), and a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program at the University of Kansas (NSF REU). Additionally, I presented at university level and national conferences and am a contributor to two developing research publications.

After developing a STEM research portfolio, the best thing you can do to be a highly competitive Goldwater applicant is to plan your time early on. Understanding your personal schedule and where you can incorporate drafting essays is essential for allocating sufficient time to the application. For me, I needed to navigate my responsibilities as a resident assistant, club president, researcher, and most importantly, my obligations as a student. It is important to schedule weekly time to work on the application so that you can efficiently approach the considerable volume of work required when building a competitive application.

Writing and revising the application:

My next suggestion is to actively communicate and make revisions with your research mentor and the Office of National Fellowships (ONF). The application is comprised of three personal statements: a research and career goals statement, a research motivations statement, and an optional personal experience and life-circumstance statement. There is also a research essay separate from these where you will write about research you have conducted or research you plan to do. When I began drafting my essays, I learned the hard way is that it is better to complete the first draft sooner and expect to make revisions than to spend more time trying to create a perfect first draft. Your research mentor and ONF are happy to provide you with as much feedback as you need, and it is understood that drafting more usually translates to a better final product. Meanwhile, lengthening the drafting and revision process by starting early prevents cramming and will certainly make you and your mentor much happier. 

Maintaining academic and extracurricular prowess while drafting a quality Goldwater application requires a unique level of resilience. Devoting your best effort every day is imperative to balancing responsibilities and application requirements, but it is equally important to recognize that the ability to balance this load is already a commendable feat. I learned much about my aspirations and career goals through repetitive drafting of personal and research essays, but I also realized the significance of delivering immense effort to achieve a goal. Recognizing your ability to relentlessly pursue something is a very distinct and rewarding experience.

Closing

It is an honor to be considered for prestigious awards like the Goldwater scholarship. However, it demands considerable time and effort equal to the magnitude of the reward you may receive. The students and researchers within the application pool for the Goldwater Scholarship are the best-of-the-best, and it is pivotal to differentiate yourself to exemplify your unique drive and passion for research. This blog post does not serve to intimidate potential applicants but rather challenge them to embrace the rigor of juggling the application process and other endeavors to prove their abilities. Although I personally did not win this award, applying is a testament to a commitment to research and resounds with the pursuit of personal development and character building. I hope that my experience inspires other researchers to identify their own goals and never stop searching for the next challenge.