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Rhodes Oxford Scholarship
Investments in individuals rather than in project proposals.
Initiated in 1902 according to the Will of Cecil John Rhodes,
the first American Rhodes Scholars were elected in 1904. A
British colonial pioneer and statesman in southern Africa,
Mr. Rhodes graduated from Oxford in 1881. Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
and the three-country Rhodesian Federation, was named for
Mr. Rhodes, who began his career in the South African mining
industry.
One to up to three years study and/or research for a graduate
or undergraduate degree at Oxford University in England. A
postgraduate degree course is strongly recommended. A second
bachelors degree may be chosen instead (see
June 2005 Rhodes Trust bulletin). Rhodes Scholars may
also be eligible to receive D.Phil. funding after completing
a one-year M.Sc. or M.St. in the same field, or after a two-year
M.Phil. or M.Sc. by research where the D.Phil. dissertation
is an expansion of the masters' research, as long as the department
indicates that the doctoral work can be completed within three
years of matriculation. Also, the way it works in the UK is
that students normally complete a Masters degree first which
then counts towards a PhD. Popular one-year degrees include
the M.Sc. in Environmental Change and Management, the M.Sc.
in Forced Migration, the M.Sc. in Economics and Development,
the M.Sc. in Comparative Social Policy, and the M.Sc. in Medical
Anthropology, and to the brand new M.Sc. degrees in African
Studies and Global Health Science (public health).
While Rhodes Scholars are allowed to hold the award for one
year only when they elect to do only one one-year degree,
the Oxford experience is exponentially enhanced for those
who remain for two or more years rather than just a single
year.
Additionally, there is an affiliation between the Rhodes
Trust and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) whereby
Rhodes Scholars are able to apply to receive funding from
the NIH to complete their Oxford doctoral research jointly
at the NIH and at Oxford.
BEGIN APPLICATION AS SPRING JUNIOR.
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 Rhodes is the end of August. Petitions to
register later may be considered from students who show exceptional
promise to be successful in fellowships competitions.
Graduating senior at least 18 but not yet 24 years old on
October 1 of application year. Eligibility criteria are updated
periodically. Check the Rhodes website for current rules:
www.rhodesscholar.org
Intellectual distinction. Academic prominence. Integrity.
Interest in and respect for others. Ability to lead. Possess
the energy to use talents to the full. Sports or other demonstrations
of physical vigor enabling energetic and effective contribution
to society. The essential prerequisite is to be of an academic
standard equivalent to the likelihood of being admitted to
one of the most selective graduate schools in the U.S. in
the area of primary interest. An ability to talk with passion,
backed by thoughtful, mature information, about the things
you care about, to be a person willing to fight the world’s
fight.
Mr Rhodes’s Will contains four criteria by which Rhodes
Scholars are selected:
- Literary and scholastic attainments.
- Energy to use one’s talents to the full, as exemplified
by fondness for and success in sports. [That you are an
energetic person can be demonstrated in a number of ways.]
- Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection
of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship.
- Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to
take an interest in one’s fellow beings.
A Rhodes covers the cost of studying or conducting research
at Oxford, plus the Scholar receives about $1100 or more a month
for living expenses, totaling about $28,000 a year. The Rhodes
Trustees award 32 scholarships in the United States each year.
Must be U.S. citizen. In 2002 there were 981 applicants endorsed
by 319 colleges (almost three per college) = about a 3.25% chance.
This is the most prestigious fellowship and also the most competitive.
Minimum 3.6 GPA.
The states of the U.S. are divided into
16 Election Districts, each with about the same size pool
of applicants, determined on three-year rolling averages,
and adjusted periodically as necessary. Rhodes applicants
will apply as a representativeof their state — either the
state of residence or the state of college or university training.
Each district selects two Rhodes Scholars-elect.
Applicants' academic proposals are also evaluated in Oxford
for suitability with Oxford programs and feasibility within
the Oxford system. Final course selection occurs after Rhodes
winners are announced and before Oxford admission. It is almost
impossible to change course after this.
Consult the University of Oxford at www.ox.ac.uk
Plan to begin your application early Spring Semester of
your junior year.
All applicants (including graduates) require formal Smith
endorsement and Americans apply in Massachusetts or in the
state of their legal residence.
While only citizens of the United States are eligible for
the Rhodes Scholarships awarded in this country, Rhodes Scholarships
are offered in more than 20 other jurisdictions. Several of
these constituencies regard their citizens who study in universities
in the United States as eligible for their own competition.
Citizens of Bermuda, Canada, the Commonwealth Caribbean (Anguilla,
Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands,
Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat,
St. Kitts-Nevis, St.Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago),
Jamaica, Kenya, Singapore, Zambia and Zimbabwe are thus eligible
to apply in their own constituencies on the basis of degrees
from American universities. Further information about these
competitions is available on the Rhodes website, www.rhodesscholar.org.
Click "Non-U.S. Citizens" on the home page. The elections
in virtually all of the other participating constituencies
take place before the elections in the United States, and
any eligible students would be well advised to inquire early.
Citizens of only Britain are not eligible in any country.
A Briton who holds dual citizenship is eligible in the non-British
country provided that country offers the Rhodes.
ALUMS: If you are not in graduate school or are a first-year
graduate student, then apply through Smith. If you are a second-year
(or beyond) graduate student, apply through your graduate
school.
For more detailed information please review the June 2005
Rhodes Trust bulletin here.
(Word Doc.)
For Rhodes application
and interview strategies from past winners, look at the Live
to Learn website.
