LoginsThis page collects the questions letter writers ask most. It will grow over time — for anything not answered here, contact the student’s Campus Representative (CR) or the Goldwater Help Center at 507-931-8335 or goldwater@scholarshipamerica.org.
Each nomination includes three letters of recommendation. The most valuable letter comes from a research mentor; the others typically come from faculty or postdocs who observed the student’s research, or from instructors of science, math, or engineering courses. Letters from writers outside STEM are strongly discouraged.
Yes. The Foundation sees no conflict of interest — in fact, a missing mentor letter raises more concern than a CR writing one. The relationship should simply be noted in the CR’s statement.
A graduate student should co-write a letter with the research project’s PI. The graduate student can provide the day-to-day insights on the student’s work, and the PI can provide a perspective on the student’s ability to pursue a Ph.D.
Applicants are told to prepare an information packet for each writer: a résumé with publications and presentations, their draft Goldwater narrative statements, links to the Foundation’s letter guidance, and materials tailored to you — for a mentor, a timeline of the collaboration and the student’s specific contributions; for an instructor, the course, the grade, and how it connects to the student’s research goals. If you haven’t received one, ask.
Recycled letters written for another award (check the award name!), vague superlatives without examples, and letters that merely confirm grades or pleasant personality. Reviewers want evidence, specifics, and comparisons: what did this student do, how independently, and how do they stack up against others who became successful researchers?
No. Letters are limited to two single-spaced pages, with one-inch margins and 12-point font; printed letterhead may extend into the margin. Letters that do not meet the format requirements will not be read.
You are exempt from the letterhead requirement — this applies to writers at federal laboratories and similar facilities. All other requirements (length, font, signature, PDF) still apply.
The Campus Representative sets it, and it will be earlier than the Foundation’s national nomination deadline (the last Friday in January, 5:00 p.m. Central Time). Expect a request four to five weeks ahead; ask the CR if you are unsure.
No — you submit it yourself, to the online application system, by the campus deadline. You can type the letter into a narrative box that holds about two pages or upload it as a signed PDF.
Notify the Campus Representative immediately. Another writer may be substituted at any point until nominations close on the last Friday in January at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.