JOSEPH HODGES CHOATE MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
2016-17
The Joseph Hodges Choate Memorial Fellowship at Harvard University was established in 1919
by members of the Harvard Club of New York City in memory of Joseph Hodges Choate, US
Ambassador to the UK 1899-1905. It is awarded each year by Harvard University on the
recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, for study in any
Department of Harvard University. In making the appointment, however, Harvard University will
give heavy preference to candidates who wish to study one of the fields covered by the Graduate
School of Arts and Sciences, for one year, and without being registered for a Harvard degree. The
successful candidate will be required to register as a non-degree Special Student in the Graduate
School; the appropriate application forms will be supplied by Harvard to the successful candidate.
(For further information about the types of graduate- and undergraduate-level courses on which
the Fellow may enrol, see the Graduate School’s webpages at
http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/programsofstudy.)
In practice, only candidates from the University of Cambridge are eligible for the Fellowship.
Under the terms of the Trust, the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge may only recommend a candidate
from another university if there is no suitable candidate at all from Cambridge; because of the
number of Cambridge candidates each year there is unlikely to be an occasion on which it is open
to the Vice-Chancellor to recommend a candidate from a university other than Cambridge. A
candidate who is a member of the University of Cambridge must be either
(a) a Cambridge B.A., of not more than two years' standing from the time of taking
the degree,
or
(b) a Cambridge undergraduate of not more than four years' standing from the date
of matriculation.
Under the terms of the Trust candidates must be British citizens.
The Choate Fellow is selected on the basis of outstanding and sustained academic achievement,
strength of character, and potential for leadership in their field. Candidates should normally hold,
or be likely to achieve, a First Class degree. However, personal and social qualities are also taken
into account in filling the Fellowship.
The Fellowship is held for one year, and is not renewable.
The Fellowship covers tuition and health insurance fees, and provides a stipend of at least
$26,000 (provisional). A room is set aside specifically for the Choate Fellow each year at one of
the boarding Houses at Harvard. (The room fee must be paid for by the Fellow from the stipend,
and he/she will also be responsible for any income tax which may be levied against the stipend.)
The cost of transatlantic travel is met by the Fellow.
An application form for the Fellowship follows. Candidates must return the completed form
together with two good copies by 1 February 2016 to: Mr A. Bennett (Assistant Registrary,
Choate Fellowship), Scholarships Administrator, Fees & Graduate Funding, Student Registry, 4
Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RZ’. Alternatively, the application (complete, and preferably as a
PDF) can be sent via email to Andrew.Bennett at admin.cam.ac.uk.
A Referee’s report form is included; the candidate should forward a copy to each of the three
referees named in the application, to be returned also by 1 February 2016, direct to Mr A. Bennett
(Assistant Registrary, Choate Fellowship – details above). Candidates should supply each
Referee with a copy of their application, as submitted, to assist them in writing their references.
It is expected that a decision on the University’s nominee will be made on or around 24 March
2016. Candidates for this Fellowship are ordinarily selected on the basis of the application and
references alone, and to offer an award without interview in person; the awarders may, at their
absolute discretion, invite a candidate for interview in person.
Feedback is not a feature of the scheme, and it is not possible for the awarders to provide
candidates with comments on unsuccessful applications at any stage of the process.
A. BENNETT
Assistant Registrary (Choate Fellowship)
Academic Division
17 Mill Lane
Cambridge CB2 1RX
December 2015
______________________________________________________________________
Joseph Hodges Choate: biographical note
Ambassador Choate, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1832, graduated from Harvard
College in 1852 and Harvard Law School in 1854. He had a successful career as a lawyer working
at law firms in New York City, often on cases that were national in reach. He was a reformer who
campaigned against corruption in New York, and he was committed to public service and
charitable enterprises, including involvement with the founding of both the Metropolitan Museum
of Art and the American Museum of Natural History. He was appointed by President William
McKinley as the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1899, succeeding John Hay,
an appointment he held until 1905. He is credited with success fostering strong relations between
the two countries. He was resident at 1 Carlton House Terrace, London, 1900-1905; thereafter it
was the home Lord Curzon of Kedleston, who lived there on his return from India until 1925.
Choate was to a large extent responsible for the Panama Canal Treaty in 1901. He died in 1917.
See also:
Beckles Willson, America’s Ambassadors to England (1785-1928): a narrative of Anglo-American
diplomatic relations, London: John Murray, 1928, pp. 419-428.
JOSEPH HODGES CHOATE FELLOWSHIP AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY
2016/17
Return to: A. Bennett (Assistant Registrary – Choate Fellowship), c/o The Scholarships Administrator,
Student Registry, 4 Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RZ (or Andrew.Bennett at admin.cam.ac.uk)
SURNAME
FORENAME(S)
DATE OF BIRTH
GENDER:
University address (correspondence):
Home address (permanent):
Email:
Telephone:
Email:
Telephone:
PLACE OF BIRTH
NATIONALITY:
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION:
(a) University (and College) attended, with dates.
(b) Examinations already taken at University and class reached; indicate subjects. State degree(s) obtained,
with class and date(s).
(c) Career after graduation (if already a graduate)
NAME AND ADDRESS OF NEXT OF KIN (optional – for reference only)
email:
Telephone:
Relationship to you:
SECONDARY EDUCATION
Name your secondary schools in order giving addresses with dates of entering and leaving; age on leaving.
ANY OTHER INFORMATION LIKELY TO BE OF USE TO THE AWARDERS e.g. Overseas experience, nonacademic activities, publications.
PROPOSED ACADEMIC WORK IN THE USA AS A SPECIAL STUDENT AT HARVARD. Attach another
sheet if necessary.
HAVE YOU BEEN A CANDIDATE FOR THE CHOATE FELLOWSHIPS BEFORE? If so please state when.
WHAT WILL BE YOUR PROBABLE OCCUPATION ON RETURN TO THE UK?
HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR ANY OTHER COMPARABLE AWARDS? Please state:
HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THIS FELLOWSHIP?
GIVE THE NAMES, POSITION, POSTAL & EMAIL ADDRESSES OF 3 REFEREES TO EACH OF WHOM
YOU HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE REFEREE’S REPORT FORM. They must have expressed their
willingness to report to the awarders. At least 2 of the referees should be familiar with your University work.
1.
2.
3.
TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT
I have read and understood the Memorandum concerning the Fellowship and I agree to be bound by the
conditions stated therein.
Date..................................
Signature.........................................................................................
A. Bennett (Assistant Registrary – Choate Fellowship)
c/o The Scholarships Administrator
Student Registry
4 Mill Lane
Cambridge CB2 1RZ
Tel: 01223 332318
Email: Andrew.Bennett at admin.cam.ac.uk
JOSEPH HODGES CHOATE FELLOWSHIP AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY
PART A:
To be completed by the candidate
......................................................……….. of …................................................……….....................
(Name of Applicant)
(University or College)
has named you as a referee in an application for the Joseph Hodges Choate Fellowship, which
provides for one year’s postgraduate study at Harvard University in 2016-17 as a non-degree
Special Student in the Graduate School of the Arts and Sciences.
Part B:
For the information of the referee
The University of Cambridge is asked to nominate a candidate for a Choate Fellowship, and a
statement from you about the suitability of this applicant’s character, personality, specific interests
and scholarly ability would be of great assistance. The field of applicants is usually very strong
indeed.
The criteria for making nominations to these Fellowships are very similar to those used in
appointments for such awards as Kennedy Scholarships and Henry Fellowships.
We are very grateful indeed to those who act as referees for this Fellowship. Their opinions are of
great assistance in making a nomination.
Part C:
Statement by referee
Part C (overleaf) of this form may be used for your statement if you wish. The reference should be
returned by 1 February 2016 at the latest.
A. BENNETT
Assistant Registrary (Choate Fellowship)
Academic Division
December 2015
Part C:
Statement by referee
To be returned after completion to the University Offices at the address shown at the head of this form.
If you wish a copy of a reference for another award to be used, please attach it and give the title of the award.
IN CONFIDENCE
1. Name of Candidate ……………..........…...........................................................…...
2. Name, institutional address and position of Referee
..........….......................................................................................................................
Signature:
.........................................................
Date:
...................................