Commonwealth College: ONSA

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.

Eligibility

To qualify for 2009 awards, candidates should:

Be a citizen of the United States.
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).
Plan to graduate with a bachelor's degree by October 1, 2009.
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.
Have a 3.8 GPA.
Receive the nomination of UMass.

UMass students have the opportunity to gain the University's nomination to the Rhodes Scholarship through the application process outlined below.

Application Process

Personal Statement and list of principal activities due to ONSA by September 19, 2008.
Preliminary Application due September 2, 2008. All items should be typed.

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.
Three* letters of recommendation delivered directly to our office by your references. Please have these addressed to "The Rhodes Selection Committee".
A list of principal activities and honors at UMass, including prizes, scholarships, and offices held, athletic accomplishments, and extracurricular activities.
An original transcript for each college or University attended.
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.

UMass Interviews (Date: mid-September): Based on your preliminary application, students will be invited to interview with the UMass Rhodes committee.
Revise Applications: Students nominated by the UMass committee (this number varies based on the regions from where applicants can apply) will have two weeks to revise all parts of their application.
Final Submission due by second week of October, 2008. The regional application will be submitted to the Rhodes District by ONSA.
Notification: Early- to mid-November candidates will be notified of state-level interviews. Mock interviews will be organized by ONSA ahead of these interviews.
District Interviews (Mid-November): District level interviews held by District Committees.

* Note that while the UMass 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.