The Rhodes Scholarship

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.

The Rhodes Scholarship maintains a extensive website.

2009 Rhodes Scholarship Competition

Eligibility:

To qualify for 2009 awards, candidates should:

1. Be a citizen of the United States.
2. Have passed their eighteenth birthday and not have passed their 24th birthday (Applicants who were born on or after October 1, 1984 and before October 1, 1990 will be eligible).
3. Plan to graduate with a bachelor's degree by October 1, 2009.
4. Apply either as a student from the state where you were a legal resident on April 15, 2008 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.
5. Have a 3.8 GPA.
6. 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:

1. Attend a Rhodes Scholarship workshop (Hosted by the UNC Office of Distinguished Scholarships (ODS)). If you are unable to attend a workshop, email the ODS to schedule an appointment to discuss the scholarship.
2. Personal Statement and list of principal activities due to ODS by April 18, 2008.
3. Preliminary Application (Due September 2, 2008 by 12:00 p.m.). Please submit one original packet and 5 duplicate packets of the following items to the UNC ODS by the above deadline. All items should be typed. Please double space items three and four and include your name in the upper right hand corner.
   1. The Rhodes Scholarship application form. This application is not yet available but will be posted here as soon as it is released from the Rhodes Fund.
   2. Three* letters of recommendation delivered directly to our office by your references. Please have these addressed to "The Rhodes Selection Committee". We recommend you give your reference this letter when making the request.
   3. A list of principal activities and honors in college, including prizes, scholarships, and offices held, athletic accomplishments, and extracurricular activities.
   4. An original transcript for each college or University attended (Internal UNC transcripts can be ordered through the Registrar at no cost).
   5. 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.
4. UNC Interviews (Date: mid-September): Based on your preliminary application, 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 options.
5. Revise Applications: Students nominated by the UNC committee (this number varies based on the regions from where applicants can apply) will have two weeks to revise all parts of their application.
6. Final Submission (Deadline: Second week of October, 2008): The regional application will be submitted to the Rhodes District with the assistance of the ODS.
7. 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.
8. District Interviews (Mid-November): District level interviews held by District Committees.

* Note that while the UNC nomination process requires only three 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 sent by your recommences directly to the appropriate State Rhodes Committee.

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. George Lensing, Director of the Office of Distinguished Scholarships, please email or call 919-843-7757.