1) Eligibility
To apply, you must

• Be a high school senior
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Have at least a 3.75 GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
• Achieve a score of at least 1200 on the SAT (math plus verbal) or a composite score of 25 for the ACT.
• Plan to study one of the following fields:
  • Astronomy
  • Geoscience
  • Biology
  • Mathematics
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Engineering
  • Psychology
• Plan a career as a researcher or teacher
• Submit the required number of copies of the complete application, for receipt by AWIS by January 17, 2008, using the 2008 application forms available at this website.

Membership in AWIS is not required, and will not influence award decisions, but you are encouraged to consider joining. See the main AWIS webpage for information (www.awis.org).

2) Application Forms
Application forms are available from this website (click here). Be sure that when you print each form, one form page fits on one page. You may be able to use your browser controls to adjust the forms; you also may copy the web page and paste it onto a word processer page. Each form page fits on one page when the margins are set at 0.5 inch for the top and bottom and 1.0 inch for right and left. Be sure that you have printed the correct forms, i.e., those for the college scholarship.

You must submit five copies of the following application forms. Collate all the documents in the order below, make five double-sided copies, and staple each collated copy. (Do not submit the original documents, which will not be double-sided. See the note below, however, regarding transcripts.)
1) Summary Form
2) Resume
3) Essay
4) Your high school transcript
5) Transcripts of any college work you have completed for science courses (including math, computer science, and engineering)
In addition, you must submit in signed, sealed envelopes,
two reference letters (using the AWIS forms) from science teachers or research advisers. Five copies of the reference letters are requested on the form. For each letter, the five copies should be placed in one signed, sealed envelope.

The transcripts may be copies that you make. If so, also submit (not stapled into the collated material) one official copy of the transcript. An "official" transcript must have one of the following: (1) a raised seal, or (2) the registrar's original signature, or (3) placement in a sealed envelope signed by the registrar.

3) Application Content
All forms must be typed. You may use computer printouts that mimic the forms and you may give yourself more space than alloted on the web form. Be sure to number each page of a form as 1 of 4, 2 of 4, etc., as relevant.

• Summary Form: This is self-explanatory. Complete the form. Do not cross reference the resume or an attachment. For the SAT scores, give math and verbal scores for one sitting.
• Resume: This is self-explanatory. Complete the form. Do not cross reference your own resume or another document. Highlight only the most important achievements or activities. Do not provide a complete list if it requires considerably more space than that provided.
• Essay(no form provided): The essay should be two single-spaced pages. In the essay you must write about the following (1) your scientific interests and career aspirations in research and/or teaching, and (2) what led to your interest in science and the role of special mentors, if relevant. In addition, you should write about the following, as relevant to your experiences: (3) key lessons you learned during any research or teaching experiences you have had, (4) any social, economic, academic, or other barriers you have faced and how you overcame them, and (5) why you undertook community service/volunteer activities and key lessons you learned. Each applicant may decide for herself how to allocate the two pages among these five topics. Put your full name at the top of both pages of the essay.
• Reference Forms: Submit only two letters (additional letters will not be forwarded to the reviewers). Select references who know you well and who can comment on your academic and especially scientific talents and achievements. In other words, request letters from science teachers (including math or computer science) or research advisers. Do not request a letter from a guidance counselor unless that person also has been one of your science teachers or a research adviser.

• Transcripts: Submit the most recent transcript you have for your high school years; do not delay submission in order to get the fall term grades if that will jeopardize submission of the complete application in time to meet the receipt deadline. Be sure to request the transcript well in advance. Copies of the transcript--not sealed in an envelope--should be collated and stapled into the five application sets. Separately enclose one official copy of the transcript.
• If you have completed any college science, math, or engineering courses, submit five copies (collated and stapled with the other application forms); in addition, enclose one official copy.
• In addition, submit one copy of a brief biographical paragraph

• Deadline for receipt by AWIS of the complete application is January 17, 2008. Note that this is the deadline for receipt by AWIS, not a postmark deadline.
  · All application materials must be sent in one package, including reference letters (which should be in signed, sealed envelopes) and original transcripts if at all possible.
• If you send the application by express mail or equivalent you must sign the statement that no signature is required for delivery.
• Send the application to AWIS Educational Foundation College Scholarship, Barbara Filner, Ph.D., President, 7008 Richard Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817-4838.
• If you wish receipt of your application to be acknowledged, enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the application. Write "application received" on the postcard.
• If you wish to be notified that the awardees have been contacted, enclose a stamped self-addressed postcard. Write "awardees notified" on the postcard.