Marshall Scholarships
If you plan to apply, please let Lisa Grimes know [[lmgrim, by email]] no later than July 15. The preliminary application is due by 5 p.m. on August 1. See below for details.
What is a Marshall Scholarship?
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. in a system of higher education recognized for excellence. It may be held for a maximum of three years. Around 40 scholarships are awarded annually. Basically, it's 1-3 years of excellent education in the field and at the British institution of the Scholar's choice.
The objectives of the Marshall Scholarships are to enable intellectually distintuished young Americans, their country's future leaders, to study in the UK; to help Scholars gain an understanding and appreciation of contemporary Britain; to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in science, technology, the humanities and social sciences and the creative arts at Britain's centres of academic excellence; to motivatge Scholars to act as ambassadors from the USA to the UK and vice versa throughout their lives thus strengthening British American understanding; to promote the personal and academic fulfillment of each Scholar.
What does it take?
Applicants must be U.S. citizens. They must hold an undergraduate degree by the time they take up their Scholarship and have graduated from their undergraduate college or university after April 2010. Applicants must have a grade point average of not less than 3.7 and must not have studied for, or hold a degree or degree-equivalent qualification from a British University. (Studying abroad does not count.)
A Marshall Scholar must possess a keen intellect and a broad outlook. Selectors will look for distinction of intellect and character; preference will be given to candidates who combine high academic ability with the capacity to play an active part in the life of the UK university they attend, and to those who display a potential to make a significant contribution to their own society. Strong motivation and seriousness of purpose is also important. Applicants currently attending William and Mary must be endorsed by the College.
Do your homework: choosing a university
General information on studying in the UK, undergraduate and postgraduate, is available on the EducationUK website. Current faculty lists, and summary information on the universities themselves, is included in the Commonwealth Universities Yearbook (ACU - Association of Commonwealth Universities).
Look especially closely at the Marshall Partner Institutions.
How to apply
Read carefully!
Be sure to read everything on the Marshall website, including the Rules for Candidates (pdf), Candidate Evaluation Criteria (.pdf), and Routemap carefully. Once you've read this and decided that the Marshall Scholarship suits your goals (and you meet the requirements), create an online account.
Submit the pre-application by August 1
The pre-application is due by 5 p.m. on August 1 and consists of completing the personal details, education, proposed programms of study, employment, recommenders, personal information, other awards, statements, and post scholarship sections of the online Marshall Scholarship application. The statements should be good (not first) drafts. Email [[lmgrim, Lisa Grimes]] when you have done so and she will send you comments on your materials.
Complete the campus application
You may edit the online materials before, during, and after consulting with Lisa. All parts of the application, including the four letters of recommendation, must be submitted online through the Marshall website by 12 noon on Wednesday September 5, 2012. You must also submit one official transcript from all undergraduate work - including study abroad - to the Charles Center by noon on September 5. NOTE: Your William & Mary transcript must include fall 2012 course registration.
The campus nomination committee reviews the applications then issues interview invitations.
Campus interview
The William & Mary nomination committee conducts the interviews shortly after the campus deadline. The number of nominees to the regional level varies. All candidates are informed of their status immediately following the interviews. The campus nomination committee has the final say on who is to receive the College's endorsement and to which region they are nominated.
Nominated candidates
Nominated candidates will have time to work on all parts of their applications, especially the essays. 12 noon on Monday October 1, 2012 is the deadline for nominees to submit their final applications online.
Regional interviews
Regional Committees screen applications and invite shortlisted candidates to interview beginning November 5, 2012.
Final selection
The final selection will be announced shortly after the interviews, and those nominated for a scholarship will be offered a scholarship in writing, and will be asked to accept or decline this offer, also in writing, within 12 days.
What's our record?
William and Mary has had three Marshall Scholars: Judd Kennedy '08, Danielle Sepulveda '93, and John Pagan '73.