Rhodes Scholarship
Process
Eligibility:
One to three years of study leading to a degree at Oxford University, England. Seniors, graduate/professional students, and graduates are eligible to apply. Must be under the age of 24 and a U.S. citizen.
Who they are looking for:
Intellectual distinction is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for election to a Rhodes Scholarship. Selection committees are charged to seek excellence in qualities of mind and in qualities of person which, in combination, offer the promise of effective service to the world in the decades ahead. Mr. Rhodes' will contains four criteria by which prospective Rhodes Scholars are to be selected: (1) literary and scholastic attainments; (2) energy to use one's talents to the full, as exemplified by fondness for and success in sports; (3) truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship; and (4) moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings.
"Priority" Deadline June 2, 2008:
Students are encouraged to submit a priority application for the Rhodes Scholarship. The priority deadline is June 2, 2008 for students wishing to begin study in the U.K. in 2009-10. University faculty and staff who are familiar with the Rhodes Scholarship will review materials received by this date, while only The Office of Prestigious Scholarships will review materials submitted after this date. In either case, we will provide feedback on your application and are willing to work with you through the summer on subsequent revisions. No endorsement decisions will be made based on priority applications.
Please submit the following requested information to the Scholarships Office (with the exception of the Choice of University Statements, one set may be submitted covering multiple scholarships) at topscholars@illinois.edu or 807 South Wright Street, Fifth Floor, MC-317:
- Transcripts from all colleges attended (photocopies acceptable)
- 5-8 Letters of Recommendation (drafts acceptable)
- Resume
- Personal Statement of 1,000 words (Personal Statement should be in 12 point font and double spaced)
- One Choice of University Statement
Further information about priority deadline requirements
REQUIRED Campus Deadline 12:00 Noon August 26, 2008:
Whether or not you turned in a priority application, a complete Rhodes application must be submitted to The Office of Prestigious Scholarships in order to be considered for University of Illinois endorsement (a requirement to move forward in the competition). Based on your submittal and an interview, a University of Illinois Scholarships Selection Committee will determine your endorsement. The University will endorse those candidates the Committee feels have the potential to be Rhodes Scholars; up to a handful of applicants will receive this endorsement (there is no limit on the number of endorsements, but the committee is quite judicious). The Office of Prestigious Scholarships may also offer some feedback on your application, based on comments from Committee members.
Required information:
- Transcripts from all colleges attended (photocopies acceptable -- one set may be submitted covering multiple scholarships)
- 5-8 Letters of Recommendation addressing specifically your qualifications as a Rhodes Scholar. At least four of the letters must be from those you have done academic work with at the university level.
- A complete Rhodes Scholarship application (including application form, personal statement -- in 12 point font and double spaced -- and list of activities and honors, but no photos or copies of your birth certificate)
Those students who have been endorsed individually need to mail their complete Rhodes application (with any revisions) to the appropriate district committee. The postmark deadline is October 6, 2008. You will need to include all original transcripts, a copy of your birth certificate or passport, and 10 passport-size photos along with 10 copies of your application materials. Letter of recommendation writers submit 10 copies of their letters, along with the "Request for Letter of Appraisal" form you provide, directly to the District Rhodes Secretary of the district you are applying in. The letters of recommendation should be specifically tailored toward your application as a Rhodes Scholar and must be received prior to October 14, 2008. The Office of Prestigious Scholarships would appreciate a copy of all materials (including letters) prior to submission. Letters should be written to the attention of the "Committee of Selection." If you wish to include the address (which is different for those applicants applying from a home state outside of our district), for Illinois and Indiana it is:
Gary T. Johnson
Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614-6038
The Final Stages:
The Office of Prestigious Scholarships submits an official University Endorsement Letter to the district selection panel where you submitted your application and referees submitted their letters. Shortlisted candidates will be called for a district interview November 21-22. The final selection will be announced immediately after the interview. The Office of Prestigious Scholarships will coordinate mock interviews for those students called to an interview.
General Application Tips:
Review general tips and view sample application materials
Personal Statement: Demonstrate what you are all about and why Oxford will be good for you. Show that your mind is engaged -- that you have something extra and have done some thinking and reflecting. Essays should almost be able to be published as editorials. They should weave together your life story seamlessly. However, do not come off as naïve. Show proof of liveliness and be provocative. Remember, the scholarship selection committee is looking for character, leadership, vigor, concern for others, and a potential to make a remarkable difference in the world with a bias for "save the world" candidates. Demonstrate that you are an initiator and a doer.
Recommendation Letters: At least four of the letters need to be written by people from whom you have received undergraduate or graduate instruction.
Advice for Writing Letters of Recommendation
Rhodes Website and Application:
For official information on the Rhodes Scholarship (which supercedes any information provided here), please go to: www.rhodesscholar.org
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David Schug and Laura Hastings, Directors The Office of Prestigious Scholarships Fifth Floor, Illini Union Bookstore, MC-317 807 South Wright Street Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: (217) 333-4710 Fax: (217) 217-244-4851 topscholars@illinois.edu |
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