Will the Goldwater help with acceptance into MD/PhD programs?
How important is the Goldwater?
- Thread starter Seldon
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Given its namesake was a Republican, you may be alienating yourself from more liberal schools
I suggest you turn it down for this reason
EDIT
Sarcasm. Obviously take it. Goldwater is one of the most prestigious awards given to undergrads.
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Is this for real? I don't know how much it will help, but if you are awarded it, surely it can only help. As long as it was not awarded for political affiliation, I can't see how it would be controversial.
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Do not turn it down. Its free money. I don't think it would help admissions much though, unless its super competitive.
Turning down an academic scholarship because it was named after a republican is ridiculous.
Turning down an academic scholarship because it was named after a republican is ridiculous.
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It will get noticed. I have no idea if the turn it down for its republican originations was internet sarcasm or not, but dear god, no don't turn it down.
More importantly the work you did to get the award(sky high GPA, great research work) will get noticed, as will the work you do after it with your $7500. Somebody capable of winning the Goldwater Scholarship is exactly the type of person who has the qualifications that can generate strong interest from MD/PhD programs(of course with the MCAT the big variable), that's the most important thing of all.
And yes for anybody who doesn't know about it, it is as prestigious a scientific undergraduate award as you'll find out there. Schools themselves are only allowed to nominate 4 candidates and often times have over 100 candidates to pick from for those 4 spots. And keep in mind, the average GPA of a Goldwater scholar is over a 3.9; if you don't have something close to that your wasting your time even applying.
More importantly the work you did to get the award(sky high GPA, great research work) will get noticed, as will the work you do after it with your $7500. Somebody capable of winning the Goldwater Scholarship is exactly the type of person who has the qualifications that can generate strong interest from MD/PhD programs(of course with the MCAT the big variable), that's the most important thing of all.
And yes for anybody who doesn't know about it, it is as prestigious a scientific undergraduate award as you'll find out there. Schools themselves are only allowed to nominate 4 candidates and often times have over 100 candidates to pick from for those 4 spots. And keep in mind, the average GPA of a Goldwater scholar is over a 3.9; if you don't have something close to that your wasting your time even applying.
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The problem is winning a Goldwater. Isn't it only a few kids per state that win it each year? Anyway, it is considered a stepping stone to the Rhodes Scholarship for science and engineering types, so yeah go for it.
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Definitely a very competitive scohlarship, the trifecta of Truman, Goldwater, and Rhodes would make you an outstanding applicant. However, take a look at this thread and the quote from the Goldwater scholarship page - that its recipient pursue a career in research rather than medicine if doing an MD/PhD. It will probably help your application if you stipulate that your intended career path is in research.
