Introduction
Technology is integral to how we live and work today. However, not all groups are equally represented in technology fields. Women make up just over 25% of the technology workforce in the United States. To help address this imbalance, companies like Palantir fund scholarships aimed at supporting women pursuing careers in technology.
Palantir’s Women in Technology Scholarship program is one such initiative. Entering its sixth year in 2024, this prestigious scholarship provides financial support for exceptional women studying computer science, engineering, mathematics, or related technical fields. As the deadline approaches for the 2024 application period, this post will provide an in-depth overview of the scholarship to help inform potential applicants.
We’ll explore eligibility requirements, application details, award amounts and selection criteria. I’ll also discuss what scholars from previous years have achieved and how the program has impacted their educational and career paths. Real stories from past recipients will help illustrate the transformative potential of this opportunity.
Program Overview
Before delving into specifics, it helps to first understand the overarching objectives of Palantir’s Women in Technology Scholarship. Launched in 2018, this program aims to:
- Increase the representation of women in technical careers like software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity that are critical to innovation.
- Support promising female students majoring in technical subjects by alleviating financial barriers through multi-year scholarships.
- Provide guidance, networking and career development opportunities to scholars for help navigating educational and professional paths in technology.
Each year, Palantir awards scholarships of up to $20,000 per recipient renewable for multiple years of undergraduate study. In total, the program has supported over 150 scholars across its first five application cycles. Alumni have gone on to intern and work at top companies while pursuing impactful technical careers.
The selection criteria prioritizes academic merit, leadership qualities and a demonstrated passion for technology. Applicants must also show financial need. In reviewing thousands of applications annually, committee members look beyond grades to find driven, creative thinkers who will become future leaders in their fields.
Now that we have the high-level overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into specifics around eligibility, awards, dates and application requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for the Women in Technology Scholarship, applicants must meet the following baseline eligibility criteria:
- Be a female undergraduate student enrolled full-time for the 2023-2024 academic year at an accredited four-year university in the United States.
- Embark on a tech-focused academic journey, exploring fields like computer science, computer engineering, data science, cybersecurity or a closely related technical major. This includes majors like electrical engineering, mathematics, physics or statistics with a focus on technology applications.
- Have a at least a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 or its equivalent based on your educational system.
- Demonstrate financial need according to your educational institution’s guidelines for determining need-based aid eligibility.
- Be a US citizen, permanent resident or have proper work authorization.
Some key points on eligibility:
- International students do not qualify as this scholarship is intended for those studying in the US system.
- Current undergraduates, students in their second year of college and juniors are eligible to apply. High school and graduate students do not meet the criteria.
- While most recipients pursue technical majors, applicants studying non-technical majors can still apply but must show a strong passion and commitment to computing, data or related fields.
The eligibility criteria aim to attract motivated female students who would benefit most from scholarship support during their undergraduate studies. If you match these basic requirements, read on to learn about award amounts and the application process.
Scholarship Awards
Palantir commits substantial funding to the Women in Technology Scholarship program each year, demonstrating its long-term investment in developing future female leaders. Here are key details on potential awards:
- Scholarship recipients receive up to $5,000 per academic year (or $2,500 per semester), renewable for a maximum of four years.
- This provides up to $20,000 total financial assistance for an undergraduate degree. However, renewals are contingent upon maintaining minimum standards.
- In addition to tuition support, funds can help cover education-related expenses like books, supplies, room & board or a study abroad program.
- Scholarship is paid directly to the award recipient’s educational institution to be applied towards qualifying education costs.
- Funds do not need to be repaid, making this true scholarship aid rather than a loan that accrues interest.
- A small number of students may receive other benefits like mentoring or an internship opportunity. But the primary award focuses on direct financial support.
This level of funding can dramatically reduce the total cost of attendance and help relieve the burden of student debt. For many scholars, it means the difference between pursuing their dreams of a technical education or not.
Application Timeline
Each year, applications for the Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship open in late fall. Here are key target dates:
- Application Period: November 15, 2023 – January 15, 2024
- Notification of Semi-Finalists: Mid-February 2024
- Interviews of Semi-Finalists: Late February – Early March 2024
- Notification of Final Scholarship Recipients: Mid-March 2024
- Scholarship Funds Disbursed for 2023-2024 Academic Year: Fall 2024
The process spans several months due to the large volume of applications received. Note the following:
- Applicants advance through semi-finalist and finalist stages involving interviews before recipients are selected.
- Semi-finalists are chosen based on initial written applications demonstrating academic excellence, leadership, and passion for technology.
- Interviews allow selection committee members to learn more about each semi-finalist’s background and potential.
- Careful consideration goes into choosing the most deserving class of scholars each cycle.
Mark your calendars now to have sufficient time to thoughtfully complete your application by the January deadline. Read on to understand the requirements.
Application Requirements
A complete Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship application involves various components aimed at learning about each candidate in depth. Here’s an overview of key elements:
Personal Statement Essay
Craft an original 500-1000 word statement about your interest in and commitment to technology. Share relevant experiences and what motivates your passion. Express future goals and aspirations.
Resume
Includes academic, extracurricular, work, and leadership activities with details on responsibilities and accomplishments. Demonstrate a record of achievement.
Transcripts
Provide official copies of transcripts from all colleges attended. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required on a 4.0 scale.
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters are required – one from a professor familiar with your academic work and one from a mentor external to academics commenting on leadership, character, and teamwork.
Financial Need Statement
Describe your financial situation and need for scholarship support. Include information on family income, assets/debts, funding sources, costs of attendance, and unmet needs after other aid.
Demographic Information
Provide details to help understand obstacles faced and commitment to increasing diversity in technology fields. The response is optional but encouraged.
All elements must follow guidelines and be submitted online via the scholarship portal by the deadline. Have others review your work before submitting it for the best presentation. Stay tuned for tips on crafting a winning application.
Impact and Benefits
By all measures, Palantir’s Women in Technology Scholarship has been tremendously impactful since its inception. Beyond direct financial support, scholars gain invaluable experiences and opportunities through participation:
Career Path Guidance
Individual mentoring from Palantir employees helps scholars explore interests, build skills, and prepare for internships/careers in tech. Mentors offer guidance in navigating the competitive field.
Industry Exposure
Scholars participate in events at Palantir offices, tech conferences, and other experiences exposing them to cutting-edge work and potential employers in computing and data science.
Networking Community
Over 150 current and alumni scholars form a lifelong support network, staying connected online and through regional meetups. This expands professional opportunities and peer encouragement.
Real-World Projects
Some scholars collaborate directly with Palantir on initiatives applying their studies. This hands-on experience proves invaluable for resumes and career kickstarts.
Continued Success
Graduates pursue prestigious industry internships and accept jobs at companies including Google, Microsoft, Intel, and more. Many pursue graduate studies to become future professors and leaders in their communities.
Stories of past recipients illustrate these life-changing outcomes. I’ll share a few highlights to inspire applicants with real examples of scholars making their mark.
Scholar Spotlights
Here are brief profiles of three outstanding past Women in Technology Scholars to demonstrate the program’s meaningful impact:
Sydney Chen, Class of 2020
Majoring in Computer Science at Stanford University, Sydney developed a passion for bridging technology and social impact. Through mentoring, she explored careers in education technology and public policy.
Sydney interned at Newsela on an education platform helping teachers. She then joined Anthropic, an AI safety startup, as a software engineer. Sydney credits the scholarship for securing these opportunities and finding her calling. She now works on tools to access education for underserved communities.
Isabel Garcia, Class of 2022
A first-generation college student at UC Berkeley studying Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Isabel faced financial challenges. The scholarship alleviated stress, allowing her to focus. Through networking events, Isabel connected with Palantir engineers inspiring her career path. She now interns there as a software engineer while pursuing her master’s. Isabel aims to increase Latinx representation in tech.
Jennifer Huang, Class of 2021
Jennifer earned a BS in Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech where she researched machine learning applications. As a scholar, she gained mentorship benefiting her passion for AI and healthcare. Jennifer completed a research internship at Kaiser Permanente utilizing AI for medical imaging analysis. She was recently accepted to Stanford University for a PhD in Biomedical Informatics to advance AI-driven medical breakthroughs.
These stories highlight the transformative impact of support and opportunities the scholarship provides. Such success stories will continue as the program grows underserved communities in STEM. Let’s move to exploring common applicant questions.
