Authorized by Congress in 1986, the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation honors Barry M. Goldwater, who served the United States for 56 years as a soldier and legislator, including 30 years as a U.S. Senator advocating science education. Outstanding sophomores and juniors with excellent academic records, experience in and/or an intense commitment to research, and demonstrated potential for careers in mathematics and the natural sciences are invited to apply.

Candidates are evaluated on their demonstrated potential for and commitment to a career in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering, and outstanding academic performance.

Candidates must intend to pursue a career in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering; students interested in medicine are only eligible if they plan to pursue a research career rather than a clinical one; they must be a sophomore or a junior during the year of nomination; they must have at least a “B” average and be in the upper fourth of their class; and they must be a U.S. citizen, resident alien, or a U.S. national. 

Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 per year.

NOTE:  The Goldwater has a two-part application process.  Students intending to apply for Brown's nomination for the Goldwater must complete a short student profile and pre-application on the Goldwater site by November 17.  This pre-application requires students to provide the names of the three individuals who have agreed to write a letter of recommendation.  

Those whose pre-application is approved will be granted permission to write the full application, and those they have listed as recommenders will be contacted with an official recommendation request from our office. Brown's deadline for submission of the full application including letters of recommendation is December 7 at 11:59pm.  

Brown is invited to nominate four candidates; thus, we hold an internal competition for all interested students. 

Applicants must submit a complete application by the December 7, 2021 campus deadline. We require one copy of the following:

• Research essay
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
  
• Official Brown University transcript (see below)
• Official transcripts from other institutions attended 

Please submit copies of your official Brown University Transcript, as well as transcripts from other institutions attended to [email protected]. Save password protected transcripts as a pdf before sending to Linda. Include both sides of the transcript(s).

Use the following LINK to order a Brown official transcript.