Tell us a little bit about the Goldwater Scholarship and what inspired you to apply.

The Goldwater Scholarship is a national scholarship for those interested in research careers in science, engineering or math, and covers undergraduate fees up to $7,500 a year. I learned about the scholarship in my first year and remember thinking it exactly matched my interests, and reached out to career education to learn more in my junior year.

How did your time at Wellesley shape your interests, or encourage you along this path? Your professors? Career Education?

I’ve been interested in neuroscience since high school, but my research mentors and Wellesley professors helped me see what exactly about neuroscience research excited me, and inspired me to apply in the first place. Career Education was definitely the most helpful in setting up the application timeline and breaking it down into manageable steps, as well as understanding what each section of the application was looking for.

What did you learn or gain from going through the application process?

The most important thing I took away was to start early and not be afraid to ask for help. The application is a bit hefty, particularly the research essay, and it’s important to break it down and start early so that it’s manageable. I also learned how important it is to reach out, as advice from career education, my professors, and research mentors was invaluable.

What would you say to encourage your Wellesley sibs to apply? Do you have any advice for them?

If you’re at all thinking about applying, do it! Don’t let any worries hold you back–I didn’t have publications or prestigious summer internships when applying, but if you're passionate about research, it’ll come through. Even just applying is worthwhile as you learn so much along the way.

What most excites you about this opportunity?

The community is definitely one of the most exciting parts, as so many other scholars are doing amazing research. I’m excited to keep doing research, as this experience was motivating and helped me refine my interests.