Below, find some commonly asked questions and answers about the Goldwater Ambassadors program. To apply, click here.
Who are the mentors in the Ambassadors program?
The mentors are previous winners of the Goldwater Scholarship who are volunteering to help STEM undergrads navigate through research, scholarship applications, and graduate school decisions. Most of the Ambassadors are recent winners of the scholarship (upper level undergraduates or new graduate students) but several mentors are farther along in their career journeys.
Who is eligible to be mentored in the Goldwater Ambassadors program?
We will consider all applications, and there is no strict criteria for eligibility, other than students should be in their first three years of an undergraduate STEM degree are pursuing a research career in STEM. However, we are especially interested in working with students from underrepresented and underserved groups in STEM. This can include:
- Identify as a member of a racial/ethnic group that is historically underrepresented in STEM
- Identify as a member of a gender or sexual minority
- Attend an institution with limited access to research
- Attend or previously attended a community/junior college
- Have experienced economic hardship
- Have a disability
- Face a geographic barrier to education/research
- Experience other circumstances which have limited their ability to conduct STEM research
If you feel as if any of the above apply to you, we especially encourage you to apply!
How likely am I to be chosen for the Ambassadors program if I apply?
We try to provide mentorship to as many applicants as possible. In the past, we have been able to support the majority applicants who provided complete applications. However, we have a limited number of mentors, so we cannot make any guarantees on acceptance. If we receive more application than we can support, we will prioritize pairing mentors with mentees who they can best serve, based on the application materials provided by the mentees and our surveys of our mentor pool.
How is the Goldwater Scholar Community and the Goldwater Ambassadors program related to the official Goldwater Foundation?
The Goldwater Scholar Community (which runs the Ambassadors program), while technically an independent organization, is in frequent communication with the Goldwater Foundation in order to maximize the effectiveness of both organizations’ efforts towards shared goals. The President of the Goldwater Foundation serves on an oversight board, along with members of the GSC Diversity and Inclusion Committee, for the Ambassadors program. Mentors can turn to this board with questions about certain topics related to the Goldwater Scholarship application. For more information about the three primary Goldwater-related organizations, see the About section of our website.
Is there a limit to the number of students from a single school that can participate in the Goldwater Ambassadors program?
No, any number of students from a school can apply to be in the Ambassadors program. Keep in mind, however, that only four students (or five including a transfer student) from a given school can be nominated for the Goldwater Scholarship each application cycle.
How long does the Ambassadors program last?
We encourage mentors and mentees to meet regularly for the academic year. At the end of the academic year, it is up to the mentor and mentee to collectively decide if they would like to continue meeting.
Do you have other resources for students not in the Ambassadors program?
Yes! Check out our Goldwater Scholarship application resources.
I’m a Goldwater Scholar and I’d like to mentor students via the Ambassadors program. Where do I sign up?
Goldwater Scholars are encouraged to sign up to be mentors at here, but please note that we are not always actively monitoring that form. Keep an eye on the #announcements channel in the Slack, and always feel free to DM a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee if you’re interested in joining.
Still have questions? Contact us via this form: