Official Website (Text copied from the Rhodes Scholarship website) The Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest international educational fellowships, were initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, and bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. The first American Scholars entered Oxford in 1904. American Rhodes Scholars are selected through a decentralized process by which regional selection committees choose 32 Scholars each year representing the fifty states. Applicants from more than 300 American colleges and universities have been selected as Rhodes Scholars. In most years, even after a century of competition, a Rhodes Scholar is selected from an institution which has not formerly supplied a successful applicant. Extraordinary 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. The Rhodes Scholarships, in short, are investments in individuals rather than in project proposals. Accordingly, applications are sought from talented students without restriction as to their field of academic specialization or career plans although the proposed course of study must be available at Oxford, and the applicant’s undergraduate program must provide a sufficient basis for study in the proposed field. Through the years, Rhodes Scholars have pursued studies in all of the varied fields available at the University of Oxford. Election to the Scholarship is normally for two or three years, depending upon the degree program pursued by the Scholar. A Scholarship, including required University and college fees and a stipend for living expenses, may be renewed, at the complete discretion of the Rhodes Trustees, for a third year for those pursuing a doctoral degree and whose progress is deemed satisfactory. For those for whom the University requires fees in a fourth year for the completion of a doctorate, and when no other external funding is offered, again at the discretion of the Trustees, those fees will be paid, although not an additional stipend. (College and University jobs are often available to those remaining in Oxford in such fourth years.) The Trustees will not pay fourth-year fees in either the Division of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences or the Division of Medical Sciences as Scholars may enter directly to work for a doctorate in these divisions in three years. Scholars applying for a master’s degree in one of these two science divisions should not, therefore, expect to be able to use the scholarship to go on to a doctorate. Rhodes Scholars may not apply for the MBA or the Master in Financial Economics (MFE) in their first year, but may pursue either of these one-year degrees in their second year, following the completion of a different one-year master’s degree. All educational costs, such as matriculation, tuition, laboratory and certain other fees, are paid on the Scholar’s behalf by the Rhodes Trustees. Each Scholar receives in addition a maintenance allowance adequate to meet necessary expenses for term-time and vacations. The Rhodes Trustees cover the necessary costs of travel to and from Oxford. Mr. Rhodes' Will contains four criteria by which prospective Rhodes Scholars are to be selected:
- literary and scholastic attainments;
- energy to use one's talents to the full, as exemplified by fondness for and success in sports;
- truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship;
- moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one's fellow beings.
Underlying these standards is the aim that Scholars be physically, intellectually,morally capable of leadership, that is, persons who, in Mr. Rhodes' phrase, will "esteemperformance of public duties as [their] highest aim." From this statement one may inferhe expected his Scholars to play an influential part in the betterment of society, wherevertheir careers might lead them. Much of the distinctiveness of the Rhodes Scholarships stems from this comprehensiveset of criteria. Intellectual excellence is obviously required, but not in isolationother qualities. Mr. Rhodes sought Scholars who were more than "mere bookworms;"wanted their intellectual talents to be combined with concern for others. Thus the SelectionCommittees assign the highest importance to this blend of character with intellect. (End of excerpted text. Much more information is available on the Rhodes Scholarship website, and should be carefully and thoroughly reviewed by potential candidates)
Grinnell College's nomination process
Please direct all questions about Grinnell's nomination process to Doug Cutchins, director of social commitment, x4408. The following materials must be submitted to the Office of Social Commitment, 1233 Park St., by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2012. Because the CRSSJ (1233 Park St.), which houses the Office of Social Commitment, is inaccessible to students with mobility disabilities, please contact soccom@grinnell.edu if you would like to make alternative plans to submit your application materials. Please print only on one side of the paper.
- A printed version of the completed Rhodes Scholarship application form, which can be completed online.
- A personal statement, adhering to these guidelines from the Rhodes Trust: "A signed short personal statement describing the applicant's academic and other interests. This statement should describe the specific area of proposed study and the applicant's reasons for wishing to study at Oxford, and it must conclude with the following signed statement: 'I certify that this essay is my own work.' This personal essay must not exceed 1,000 words in length (approximately four double-spaced pages) and should be written in as simple and direct a manner as possible. It should be set in a typeface no smaller than 10 points. Selection Committees will place special emphasis on this personal essay, and it will be forwarded to Oxford colleges to which Rhodes Scholars-elect apply for admission." (Advice on writing personal statements) (Advice from Joe Schall on writing personal statements.)
- "A succinct pertinent list of principal activities and honors in college (including prizes, scholarships, offices held; athletic record; extracurricular interests and substantial activities) with dates. This must not exceed two pages in length, and should be set in a typeface no smaller than 10 points."
- An unofficial copy of your Grinnell College transcript, which may be obtained from the Registrar's Office. Please do not print off a grade report from PioneerWeb and hand this in instead of a transcript.
- A signed copy of the Scholarship Nomination Permission Form and Waiver
Please ensure that all documents submitted for the on-campus nomination process comply with these guidelines. In addition, you must also:
- Arrange to have three letters of recommendation submitted by the September 7 deadline. These should be submitted directly to the Office of Social Commitment. Please note that you do not need to have the full 5-8 letters of recommendation required for the national selection process submitted for the on-campus process; only three letters are required at this time. However, applicants must indicate on their application form who else would write letters of recommendation if they are nominated.
Please note that the on-campus nomination process does not require a photograph of the applicant, as required by the national election process.
Institutional Endorsement
Candidates for Grinnell's endorsement in the Rhodes Scholarship competition should list President Raynard Kington as the author of their letter of endorsement in their online application.
Ethical Guidelines
All applicants are expected to adhere to these ethical guidelines.
Grinnell College Rhodes Scholars, 1904-present
Kendra (Young) Harris '02
Susan Duffey Campbell '78
Thomas W. Merril '71
Grant E. Crandell '69
Duane Krohnke '61
John R. Price '60
George A. Drake '56
Neil L. Crone '25
Maxwell H. Herriot '19
James H. St. John 1914
Paul G. Williams 1913
William A. Ziegler 1910
Joseph G. Walleser 1903
