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For courageous selection of graduate studies in the arts, humanities or social sciences

The Beinecke Scholarship Program, part of The Sperry Fund, was established in 1971 in memory of Edwin, Frederick and Walter Beinecke.

• Exceptionally promising JUNIORS with overall GPA of 3.6/+. Juniors apply (register as a spring sophomore). Awarded to grant-dependent juniors for graduate school.

• Show superior levels of intellectual ability, scholastic achievement, and personal promise.

• Clearly defined academic goal for graduate school (masters or doctorate) and beyond. Not available for neuroscience. Can be at an institution overseas. Typical winners at very top of class academically, plan careers in college teaching, research. Preference not specifically given to nominees planning doctorates over master’s degrees. But as institutional funding for a masters is to hard to find, best to apply for a doctoral program (MFAs excepted) even though you may not go that far. Recipients with professional-school plans usually have strong liberal-arts backgrounds or well-developed career plans with significant commitment to community service.

• Up to 22 awards of $32,000 each ($2,000 on entering graduate school + $15,000 a year for the first two years of graduate studies) for U.S. citizens ON undergraduate FINANCIAL AID defined as receiving need-based grants. Loans don’t qualify. Students not receiving need-based aid due to receipt of a merit award or tuition exchange submit a Financial Aid Office statement indicating eligibility for such aid were it not for the non-need-based funding.

The most advantageous time to register for a fellowship is in the spring, starting mid February. Statistics show that those who register earlier fare far better. The deadline to register for the Beinecke is the end of September. Petitions to register later may be considered from students who show exceptional promise to be successful in fellowships competitions.

Truman winners (announced March, April) eliminated from Beinecke award announced May. Daad, Fulbright, Gates, Luce, Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes winners can defer Beinecke Scholarship for a year.