How are ARCS Scholars Selected?

To receive an ARCS Foundation Scholarship, students are recommended by deans and department chairs at universities supported by the ARCS Foundation.  Students may not apply directly to the ARCS Foundation.  Representatives at ARCS Foundation Recipient Schools are familiar with ARCS Foundation guidelines and apply these requirements when making their recommendations.

The ARCS Foundation Scholarship program is administered by the academic institutions to which we make allocations. Recipient institutions have been approved by the National Board of the ARCS Foundation.  Students receiving scholarship awards must have high scholastic records and proven abilities in a scientific field, as well as be citizens of the  United States. 

In order to participate in the ARCS Foundation Scholarship program, ARCS Foundation Recipient Schools undergo a comprehensive evaluation that considers the strength of the degree programs, size and quality of the faculty, number of published scientific articles, library facilities, test scores, research grants from nationally recognized institutions, and faculty membership in such professional organizations as the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and The Institute of Medicine.

The Metropolitan Washington Chapter funds graduate scholars, typically doctoral candidates, in fields of science and engineering, and each graduate scholar receives $15,000 for the academic year.  Additionally, ARCS/MWC now provides one $5,000 grant to an undergraduate at one of our recipients schools, conditional on available funding.

If you wish to learn more about scholar selection and our guidelines, please contact us at washington@arcsfoundation.org.