With over 6000 international students applying to Rhodes Scholarships every year and five successful Rhodes Scholars graduating this academic year, the demand for Rhodes Scholarships has risen exponentially in recent years. The scholarship objective is to identify a small group of exceptional students with outstanding leadership qualities and intellect. 

Therefore, more than ever, it requires high competition to win these scholarships. However, if you are serious about increasing your chances of getting one of these scholarships, there are a few things you need to do to increase your chances.

The Rhodes Trust has released a list of the easy steps for the application process. We will take you through them so you can follow in their footsteps.

Research the available scholarships

The scholarships are for students from all over the world, here are a couple of programs provided by Rhodes:

Clear all eligibility requirements

You must meet all of the following requirements to be considered by the sponsors:

  • A top university, such as Oxford or Cambridge.
  • A top grade in your school (A’s are preferred). If you don’t have a perfect score, try to get at least an A-minus or B+—this will help boost your chances of being selected as a Rhodes Scholar.
  • Top test scores reflect high academic achievements, such as SAT/ACT and GRE (if applicable). You may submit additional materials if you took them after October 1, 2017; however, they cannot include any exams taken before this date unless it is for an approved extra-curricular activity or sports team participation (see below).
  • Passport validity is required when applying for admission into college. If there is no passport number on file with admissions offices, please contact them about placing one on file so we can verify eligibility. Before sending out letters confirming acceptance into college programs/colleges across America’s campuses offering scholarships based upon merit alone.

Fill out the Application Form

The first step to applying for scholarships is to fill out the application form. Don’t leave any field blank; include your full name, address, phone number and email address.

You should also provide a valid date of birth to be used as part of your details when you apply for scholarships from external bodies such as Oxfam or Unesco.

Get reference letters from professors who know you well

That is one of the essential steps in your application. You should have at least three references, including one professor or teacher and two people who are not in academia. These can speak about your academic and non-academic accomplishments, leadership skills, extracurricular activities and community service efforts.

Write an impressive Personal Statement

The personal statement is an essential part of your application. It is where you can show your character and explain why you want to attend Oxford or Cambridge. You may have heard about “preparation” for interviews and how important it is to prepare by doing mock interviews with friends or family members until they feel comfortable enough with what they are saying so that they can answer questions confidently.

The same principle applies here: if you don’t understand what an interviewer wants from their readers, then there’s no way that they will be able to give them an interview well-suited to their personalities and experiences!

Essay writing is key

Essay writing is crucial. The scholarship committee will read your essay and look for something that demonstrates your personal beliefs and experiences. You want to make a good impression on them so they can see how you do in the future.

The best way to do this is by writing an honest response to the questions on the application form.

Compile all relevant documents

Once you have completed your application, all documents must be in English. You can submit any original documents you want. But we recommend that you send only those on the list of approved documents by the International Office at Oxford University. If you do not have original documents from your home country and would like to send one instead (for example, if you’re a citizen of a country that isn’t on this list), then please contact [email protected] and ask them how they can help with this process:

  • All applicants under 18 years old must provide proof of age at the time of application with a letter signed by a parent or guardian confirming the date of birth (you can do this in person at an embassy);
  • Applicants over 18 years old who are required to write essays will be required to submit copies/photocopies along with completed writings or recommendation letters signed by referees.

Prepare for the Interview

The interview is not a time to arrive late or with dirty clothes or unkempt hair. You should be dressed appropriately for an interview and prepared to answer questions that may arise during the process.

Research potential sponsors and makes a list of questions you might want to ask about their organization, what they’re looking for in applicants, etcetera. Also, consider bringing along some examples of your academic accomplishments so that admissions officers can see how you fit into their vision of who they would like to award the scholarship to!

Stay Tuned for Deadlines and Final Notifications

The next step is to stay tuned for deadlines and final notifications. You will receive an email from the admissions team confirming your application has been received, and you’ll also receive an email from them if they have any questions about your application or require more information before they decide.

If you haven’t heard anything after this point, likely, your application was not submitted in time to be considered by Rhodes Scholarships UK Ltd. So keep checking their website regularly (often several times per day) until they send out an email confirming that you’re eligible for consideration!

Conclusion

The Rhodes Scholarship is a highly coveted honor. They have been awarded since 1902 and are called the most prestigious awards for international students. You can study anywhere in the world, but if you want to be eligible for this scholarship, you need to know how to apply!

We hope this article has helped you understand how to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship. The key is preparation and knowing what to expect. Don’t forget that there are deadlines and final notifications, so follow the instructions carefully!

You can contact us for any queries or comment below. Our team is eager to ease your burdens and bring your education dreams to life.

See related: How to Choose Scholarships by Major: A Practical Guide

 

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