Rhodes Scholarships

Summary

Rhodes Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to 32 American Rhodes Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at Oxford in any field of study. Rhodes Scholars are chosen not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements, but for their character, commitment to others and to the common good, and for their potential for leadership in whatever domains their careers may lead.  The specific selection criteria are:

1. Literary and scholastic attainments
2. Energy to use one's talents to the fullest as demonstrated by mastery in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theatre, and artistic pursuits, including where teamwork is involved
3. Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship
4. Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings

Note: Rhodes requires that applicants complete college with a GPA of 3.7 or higher, with no rounding. Applicants are not allowed to apply with a lower GPA unless a special exception has been granted by the American Secretary.

Campus Nomination Process

Overview: The following application components must be uploaded to the Rhodes Box folder by the campus deadline on August 11:

• A 750 word personal statement based on 3 prompts provided by Rhodes
• A 350-word academic statement of study
• Your unofficial transcript
• A full curriculum vitae which should include: details about academic qualifications; prizes or scholarships; positions of leadership; employment positions; involvement in student, voluntary, community or political activities; and any cultural, musical or sporting accomplishments. This should not exceed two letter size pages in length with a minimum 10 pt font.

You should also begin, but not submit, your application in the Rhodes online portal. The application components you upload to the campus box folder should be the same as the ones in the application portal.

Letters of recommendation (at least 5 and up to 8) must also be uploaded to the campus Rhodes application Box folder by August 11.  When selecting letter writers, we encourage you to consult the guidance for referees section on the last two pages of the information for candidates packet. We also encourage you to share this with your letter writers.

Note: It is your responsibility to let your recommendation writers know that they will have to submit their letters twice: first by uploading them to the campus Rhodes Box folder for the campus review process by the campus deadline of August 11; and a second time to the Rhodes application portal by the national deadline. The system will generate a letter request when you enter your letter writers' emails into your application.

Application Format: The application is completed in the Rhodes online application portal. Review the eligibility requirements and information for candidates before beginning an application.

Deadlines and Timeline: 

• August 11 by 11:59 p.m. EST: Campus deadline to submit application materials to Box
• Mid-August through mid-September: Campus review of applications and interviews take place
• Late September: Campus finalists will have a short window to edit applications after the campus interviews before submitting their applications in time to meet the national deadline.

Nominations: William & Mary is not limited in the number of applicants it can nominate. However, nominations are only given to students who will be competitive at the national level.

National Application Process

The national deadline usually falls in early October. A more detailed deadline will be posted once Rhodes makes it available.

All students must meet the campus deadline in order to be eligible for endorsement by the national deadline. Learn more about the Rhodes Scholarship including specific information for candidates, frequently asked questions about the program, and previous award winners.

Important Note

Please note: for Rhodes, you cannot receive assistance of any kind in preparing your personal statement. Rhodes requires that an applicants' personal statement is strictly their own work. Applicants & the campus representative must submit a certification attesting this is true.

However, there is no stipulation that applicants do not receive assistance with the academic statement of study. Quite the opposite: Rhodes actively encourages applicants to discuss their proposed courses of study with their academic advisors and mentors, professors or lecturers in that field, and if possible, with someone who has knowledge of universities in the UK