Any Goldwater scholars out there?

[tennisguy896]

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I'm just curious if being a Goldwater scholar helps at all in the app process, or do med schools not care at all? Rhode scholarships are given to fewer people, but they are given to anyone (meaning there's no emphasis on science or any specific discipline), whereas Goldwater scholarships are given to people specifically b/c of their research experience/potential. Just wondering what admissions committees think about these kinds of scholarships. Thanks for input or personal experiences!!

 

[DrBowtie]

I'm just curious if being a Goldwater scholar helps at all in the app process, or do med schools not care at all? Rhode scholarships are given to fewer people, but they are given to anyone (meaning there's no emphasis on science or any specific discipline), whereas Goldwater scholarships are given to people specifically b/c of their research experience/potential. Just wondering what admissions committees think about these kinds of scholarships. Thanks for input or personal experiences!!

Goldwaters help for MD/PhD for sure. Check out their forum.

 

[Shredder]

Med schools are bloody liberal though. Certaintly a strong distaste for anything that smells like the right wing, Goldwater of course included. I don't know if this bears any relation to politics though.

 

[tennisguy896]

Thanks, but I decided I don't want to pursue an MD/PhD. 7-8 years of grad/med school isn't sounding too great. I still want to attend a med school that is strong in research though, which is basically any of the top med schools. Anyone know if Goldwater helps for straight MD applicants? Maybe a couple bonus points 🙂 b/c "the Scholarship is widely considered the most prestigious award in the U.S. conferred upon undergraduates studying the sciences"? I'm really not trying to brag or anything (I usually don't talk about awards)- I'm honestly just curious whether this will be a significant factor or not. I don't think the politics will matter.

 

[DrBowtie]

Thanks, but I decided I don't want to pursue an MD/PhD. 7-8 years of grad/med school isn't sounding too great. I still want to attend a med school that is strong in research though, which is basically any of the top med schools. Anyone know if Goldwater helps for straight MD applicants? Maybe a couple bonus points 🙂 ?

I was under the impression MD only students wouldnt qualify for the Goldwater (unless you lied about going for an MD/PhD or PhD only).

 

[tennisguy896]

I was under the impression MD only students wouldnt qualify for the Goldwater (unless you lied about going for an MD/PhD or PhD only).

Not technically- you can check MD, MD/PhD, or PhD. I checked MD and MD/PhD because I was leaning towards MD/PhD then.

 

[DrBowtie]

Not technically- you can check MD, MD/PhD, or PhD. I checked MD and MD/PhD because I was leaning towards MD/PhD then. After I won the award, I was working at the Mayo Clinic where my mentor, who was just an MD, said that it's more advisable to do MD+research fellowship. I wouldn't LIE on any form of application. Also, I have 7 years of biomed research (starting as a freshman in high school) behind me to support my interest in medical research.

Good to know...it def. helps though. Congrats!

 

[tacrum43]

Med schools are bloody liberal though. Certaintly a strong distaste for anything that smells like the right wing, Goldwater of course included. I don't know if this bears any relation to politics though.

😴

Why are you trolling for a liberal/conservative flame war, Shredder? This is the second time in two days.

 

[tennisguy896]

No Goldwaters out there?

 

[solitude]

No Goldwaters out there?

You won't find many others in the MD forum. Check out the MD/PHD forum, we have an entire thread going.

 

[guga282]

No Goldwaters out there?

yeah, i won it and it def helps. i ended up applying to some md/phd, some md programs. i think it helped me get interviews at some top schools. congrats on winning it though

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

No Goldwaters out there?

No, it doesn't help at all. In fact, it hurts your application 🙄

 

[OrganLibrarian]

No Goldwaters out there?

.

 

[LadyBulldog]

yeah, i won it too and quite a few interviewers mentioned it as if they were impressed.....i bet it helps more with schools that are researched-focused though

 

[Mr. Tee]

I was under the impression MD only students wouldnt qualify for the Goldwater (unless you lied about going for an MD/PhD or PhD only).

You can with straight MD....if you have genuine research intents.

 

[DrBowtie]

You can with straight MD....if you have genuine research intents.

Good to know.

 

[juiceman311]

While I'm not a "Goldwater" "scholar" per se, I have drank Goldshlagger before, it's great.

 

[med21]

I got the Goldwater and I had a top-rate school ask me about it during an interview.

 

[premd]

Out of curiosity, why on earth does the Goldwater application ask you for your high school transcript, SAT, and AP scores?!!

Do those count in the selection process too?

 

[tennisguy896]

Out of curiosity, why on earth does the Goldwater application ask you for your high school transcript, SAT, and AP scores?!!

Do those count in the selection process too?

The Goldwater selection committee is hardcore about 1) academics and 2) research. They really want to know everything they can about your academic performance since basically all the applicants have above a 3.9 gpa, they need to know the details to differentiate.

 

[Mr. Tee]

Out of curiosity, why on earth does the Goldwater application ask you for your high school transcript, SAT, and AP scores?!!

Do those count in the selection process too?

They ask for the HS transcript, which should have the SAT score on it. They don't ask for AP scores.

 

[solitude]

They ask for the HS transcript, which should have the SAT score on it. They don't ask for AP scores.

Although AP scores ARE considered if they're on your HS transcript, according to my fac rep.

 

[marctam86]

...all the applicants have above a 3.9 gpa,...

would a gpa from 3.86-3.89 exclude someone from the goldwater? i have tons of research but i doubt i would be able to raise my grades past the 3.9 mark.

 

[tennisguy896]

Depends I guess. My schools has a requirement for a minimum gpa that we need before we can appply to be nominated by our school. Everyone has tons of research, so you need the grades to be competitive.

 

[premd]

Would one summer (~600 hours) and 1.5 semesters of research be sufficient to apply for the Goldwater scholar for a sophomore?

I am a freshman, and I am planning to start research this summer and continue on during the academic year doing the same project.


I also did "research" in high school and won some science fair awards, but it was on a totally different topic (math). Does that count as research experience too?

 

[premd]

bump

 

[Kimka83]

I am a Goldwater Scholar, hoping for a career in academic medicine, working in an academic medical center, teaching, doing clinical research. I did three years to stem cell research as an undergrad. But I have no idea if it helped me get into medical school this year. It certainly didn't hurt! But I was never asked about it.

 

[tennisguy896]

Hard to say. All goldwater applicants have a good amount of research experience, so I guess the depth and significance of your research is what matters. Also, I don't know how your school works, but we cannot ask our school to nominate us- they have to contact us first. So you have to compare yourself to other students at your own school as well.

 

[premd]

When did you guys start doing research, and when did you guys apply for the Goldwater scholarship?