Page Comparison

1. Question: Is the minimum 3.5 GPA requirement flexible? Can I nominate a student who has a 3.4 GPA? 
   • Answer: The 3.5 GPA minimum requirement is set by the ARCS Foundation and is standard across all partner schools. All UC San Diego nominees must meet the minimum threshold of a 3.5 cumulative GPA.  
2. Question: My UC San Diego program/department is not listed above, but I think it would be a good fit for the ARCS Scholars program, what should I do?
   • Answer:  Departments are added or subtracted within a rigorous ongoing review process that seeks to ensure that ARCS Awards are given only to the most highly ranked departments and scholars across science, engineering, and medical research fields. If you are interested in having your program considered for future ARCS awards, please email Tamara Schaps at tschaps@ucsd.edu indicating the following:
     1. How your program compares to similar programs at peer institutions across the country, to be successful your program must be highly ranked 
     2. How your program is focused on rigorous scientific research and how do you involve doctoral students in that research, please share information on other extramural funders currently investing in your department/program
     3. The name and email address of the person who will be the program/department contact for the ARCS Foundation application process
3. Question: Can I accept the ARCS award if I am also a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)? 
   • Answer: Yes. Because ARCS is not considered a federal fellowship, recipients can concurrently accept an ARCS award and also be a recipient of the NSF GRFP (See: page 27 Fellowship Details and Conditions
4. Question: I am entering my fifth year of doctoral study, however, due to COVID-19 delays or other extenuating circumstances, I will not graduate for another three years and plan to be enrolled in at least 12 units per quarter to complete my degree. Am I eligible to be nominated for ARCS?
   • Answer: Generally, ARCS prefers nominees who are not so far along in their academic journeys, however, because COVID-19 has impacted normal academic progress for many students, if your department can confirm you will be here for the next three years and enrolled in 12 units per quarter, then you would be considered eligible. Please include this context in the nomination materials so reviewers are aware.
5. Question: I am entering my third year of doctoral study, but plan to graduate in the next two years (not three). Are students planning to graduate in two years eligible?
   • Answer: The ARCS Foundation prefers nominees have at least three years of study remaining, as the fellowship is renewable, offering up to three years of total support (contingent upon good academic standing, full-time registration, and available funding) and the preference is to build a cohort of scholars over multiple years. With this in mind, the most competitive applicants will be those who have at least three years of study left. However, ultimately, each department decides which student they want to nominate, so please confer with the graduate coordinator in your academic home department for more guidance. 

Since 2018-19