A Rhodes scholarship offers the opportunity to study at Oxford University for two years, with all tuition fees paid and a living allowance provided. American Rhodes Scholars are selected from all over the nation to pursue a course of study of their own choosing at Oxford; students may work toward a master's degree or a second bachelor's degree.
In considering applications, Selection Committees will emphasize those qualities that Cecil Rhodes expressly listed in order to define the type of Scholar he desired. Proven intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard is the first quality required of applicants, but they will also be required to show integrity of character, interest in and respect for their fellow beings, the ability to lead, and the energy to use their talents to the full.
Cecil J. Rhodes, who endowed these scholarships, believed that the last of these qualities was best tested through participation and success in sports. Participation in varsity sports is not essential if applicants are able to demonstrate in other ways the physical vigor that will enable Rhodes Scholars to make an effective contribution to the world around them.
Visit the Official Rhodes Scholarship website here.
Eligibility:
To qualify for 2011 awards, candidates should:
- Be a citizen of the United States.
- An applicant, by October 1, 2010, must be at least 18 but not yet 24 years of age (Applicants will be eligible who were born after October 1, 1986 and on or before October 1, 1992).Plan to graduate with a bachelor's degree by October 1, 2011.
- Apply either as a student from the state where you were a legal resident on April 15, 2010 or from a state where you have spent a minimum of two years of college training and received your bachelor's degree. Financial need gives no special claim to a Rhodes scholarship.
- Have a 3.8 GPA.
- Receive the nomination of UNC.
UNC students have the opportunity to gain the University's nomination to the Rhodes Scholarship by through the application process outlined below.
Application Process:
- Submit a preliminary draft of your Personal Statement and list of principal activities to ODS by ASAP for feedback over the summer. This is purely for the benefit of the applicant.
- NOTE: Though the Rhodes applicaction will be submitted online, UNC requires that applicants submit a hardcopy to receieve UNC's nomination. Please read the following directions carefully to ensure that everything is completed to our specifications.
- Preliminary Application (Due September 2, 2010 by 12:00 noon). All of the items below must be submitted to the UNC ODS by the September 2 deadline. All items should be typed. Please double space items three and four and include your name in the upper right hand corner.
- Register and begin your Rhodes Scholarship application online here (It will be available starting July 1, 2010).
- Complete application pages 1-5. Once you are satisfied with your entries, click on "Preview" at the bottom of each of the 5 pages (Adobe Acrobat is required) and print the first 5 pages of the application.
- A list of principal activities and honors in college, including prizes, scholarships, and offices held, athletic accomplishments, and extracurricular activities.
- A personal statement, not to exceed 1000 words, of your general activities, intellectual and personal interests in college, and proposed course of study at Oxford. Sample statements are available by contact UNC's ODS by email.
- Do not worry about uploading any of the required documents at this time.
- 4 letters of recommendations. Do not register your "Referees" or letter of recommendation writers at this time. Have them submit their letter of recommendation to our office by the September 2 deadline with the understanding that if you should recieve UNC's nomination, they will be asked to resubmit their letter online.
- Letters should be addressed to "The Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee". We also highly recommend you give your recommenders this letter when making the request.
- An original transcript for each college or University attended (Internal UNC transcripts can be ordered through the Registrar at no cost) submitted in a sealed envelope by the student, or sent directly from the University registrar.
- Register and begin your Rhodes Scholarship application online here (It will be available starting July 1, 2010).
- UNC Interviews (Date: September 12): Based on your preliminary application, competitive students will be invited to interview with the UNC Rhodes committee. Students unavailable for on-campus interviews must contact the ODS one month in advance to discuss other available interview options.
- Revise Applications: Students nominated by the UNC committee will be notified within two days concluding interviews. Under the guidance of UNC's ODS, students will have approximately two weeks to revise all parts of their application.
- Final Submission (Deadline: October 4, 2010): The regional application will be submitted online to the Rhodes Trust.
- All application material will be submitted online. The applicant is responsible for submitting all materials except the letters of recommendation. Transcripts and a photo must also be submitted. The UNC ODS can assist with the scanning of these documents.
- Letters of recommendations must be submitted by the letter writer. If they encounter any difficulties, please contact the UNC ODS.
- Notification: Early- to mid-November candidates will be notified of state-level interviews. Practice interviews will be organized by the ODS ahead of these interviews.
- District Interviews (November 19 and 20): District level interviews held by District Committees.
* Note that while the UNC nomination process requires only four recommendation letters, the official Rhodes application calls for eight letters, at least four of which must be written by faculty. The final recommendations should be submitted online by your recommences directly to Rhodes Trust.
The Office of Distinguished Scholarships is located in 225 Graham Memorial. Applications can be submitted via mail to the following address:
- Office of Distinguished Scholarships
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- 225 Graham Memorial, CB#3510
- Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3510
For further information about the application process or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Linda Dykstra, Director of the Office of Distinguished Scholarships, please email or call 919-843-7757.