US citizen or US National from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Be a college junior pursuing a bachelor’s degree during the 2020-21 academic year. “Junior” means a student who plans to continue full-time undergraduate study and who expects to receive a baccalaureate degree between December 2021 and August 2022.
Have a documented history of receiving need-based financial aid during his or her undergraduate years. Primary evidence of meeting this criterion is a student’s history of receiving need-based institutional, state, or federal grants-in-aid. Each nominated student will be required to complete a Financial Aid Data Sheet certifying that the student meets this criterion. During the selection process, the amount of financial need will be one of the factors considered with preference being given to candidates for whom the awarding of a scholarship would significantly increase the likelihood of the student’s being able to attend graduate school.
Have demonstrated superior standards of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement, and personal promise during his or her undergraduate career. (
3.6+ GPA preferred)
Plan to enter a
research-focused master’s or doctoral program in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. Students in the social sciences who plan to pursue graduate study in neuroscience should not apply for a Beinecke Scholarship; nor should students applying for professional degrees that emphasize skills and practical analysis such as business, law, public health, public policy, and social work.
