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Open to US citizens only
Deadline: 03/04/2025 (Tentative)
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Beinecke Scholarship

The Beinecke Scholarship provides scholarships for juniors eligible for need-based financial aid who are planning to pursue a research-focused master’s or doctoral degree in social sciences, humanities, or the arts, with a strong preference for Pell Grant recipients. Each scholar receives $5,000 before they begin their graduate studies, and a total additional $30,000 for support of graduate study. Applicants should have a strong academic record at Penn and must have a history of being eligible for need-based financial aid.

Beinecke Scholars have gone on to receive major fellowships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, and Fulbright Scholarships.

Potential applicants should schedule an appointment with Dr. Wallace Genser ASAP to schedule a time to discuss how to make your strongest possible case for the Beinecke.

Additional guidance available on CURF Beinecke Scholarship webpage.

Information on ELIGIBILITY for the Beinecke Scholarship at https://beineckescholarship.org/how-to-apply/

Information on REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS for the Beinecke Scholarship at https://beineckescholarship.org/how-to-apply/required-materials/

Penn Application Deadline (including all application materials and recommendation letters) must be submitted at CURF Fellowships Nomination Request no later than March 4, 2024, 10:00am Eastern US Time.

Penn’s Application Process

The Beinecke Scholarship accepts nominations from institutions – students may not apply independently. To apply to Penn’s nominee, you must complete the following steps by Penn’s Internal Deadline of no later than March 4, 2024, 10:00am Eastern US Time.

  • Schedule an appointment with Dr. Genser to discuss your eligibility and potential recommenders (IMPORTANT NOTE about Recommenders: They should be STANDING FACULTY at Penn who have taught you and/or supervised your academic research, and their titles on their Penn web page should be Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor) Email Dr. Genser at genser@upenn.edu if you are unsure whether your potential recommenders are standing faculty members.
  • Start a CURF Fellowships Nomination Request form for the Beinecke Scholarship
  • FIRST IMPORTANT NOTE about Recommenders: Request recommendation letters via the CURF Fellowships Nomination Request form (no later than February 15, ideally sooner). Recommendation letters for the Beinecke Scholarship must be written by faculty in the applicant's field (or a closely allied field) who have taught you and/or supervised your research. Beinecke recommendation letters should be from “Standing Faculty” (i.e., faculty whose Penn webpage lists them as Professors, Associate Professors, or Assistant Professors. Most departments have a section listing these faculty separately. Email Dr. Genser at genser@upenn.edu if you are having difficulty identifying 3 standing faculty members to write for you, OR if you are unsure whether your potential recommenders are standing faculty members.
  • SECOND IMPORTANT NOTE about Recommenders: SEND THE BULLETED QUESTIONS BELOW TO YOUR RECOMMENDERS, and ask each of your recommenders to review the information on writing a strong recommendation letter for you at Recommendation Information for Referees. Beinecke recommendation letters should focus primarily on the nominee’s academic strength, intellectual curiosity, and potential for advanced graduate study in their field. In particular, Beinecke recommendation letters should address:
    • How does the candidate’s academic ability in their field compare to their peers?
    • Why is the candidate’s specific focus of research unique or important?
    • How is the candidate particularly well-suited to pursue their specific research (academic strength, research experience, other factors)?
    • Why are the graduate schools and specific departments identified by the candidate a good fit for the candidate and their research interests?
  • Upload a single PDF which combines your completed Beinecke Application Form which you need to download from the Beinecke website, resume, unofficial transcript from Path@Penn (and other institutions, if you are a transfer student), and personal statement on the CURF Fellowships Nomination Request form.
  • If you do not receive an email confirming your submission within 4 hours, please IMMEDIATELY. email curf@upenn.edu to make sure CURF has received your submission.
  • Nominated students will receive further instructions.  

Contact Information

Dr. Wallace Genser
Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships 
3539 Locust Walk, 3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
genser@upenn.edu
Schedule a Zoom or in-person appointment with Dr. Genser

Details:

Location

USA, United Kingdom, International (Not UK), Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East

Type

Graduate Study

Eligibility

Junior