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Why did you choose to apply for this award?

I was selected as an º£½ÇÉçÇø nominee after being nominated by a faculty member and interviewing with º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Goldwater committee. Interviewing gave me a better understanding of the fellowship itself, the processes, and the emphasis on research for this specific fellowship. Ultimately, I chose to apply because I want to go to graduate school and have a career in the sciences and this fellowship emphasizes the importance of those goals and connects current fellows with a larger community of fellows.

How have your experiences at º£½ÇÉçÇø prepared you to apply for this award?

My classes in the º£½ÇÉçÇø geology department have a strong focus on research and laboratory skills, which helped me when I began directed research during my sophomore year. Since the Goldwater fellowship places a strong emphasis on research experience, having had multiple research experiences across different departments at º£½ÇÉçÇø — geology, UEP, and off-campus — prepared me to apply for this award. I found that being able to delineate my specific contributions to larger projects and what I learned in each project was helpful when completing the application process.

What advice would you give future applicants about the application process?

I found that the internal º£½ÇÉçÇø application process was helpful in clarifying my goals and specific skills I had learned through different research projects. Taking advantage of the º£½ÇÉçÇø interview process to verbalize my future goals and plans, was especially helpful when working on the later application process. I also found it helpful to do research on the fellowship’s purpose and application FAQ. Getting feedback on my application from Jennifer Locke, director of fellowships at the HCC, and the º£½ÇÉçÇø Goldwater committee was especially helpful, and I would additionally suggest asking friends to read your responses to get even more feedback on your application.