The Rhodes Trust
Office of the American Secretary
Elliot F. Gerson
E-mail: amsec@rhodesscholar.org
www.rhodesscholar.org
8229 Boone Boulevard, Suite 240
Vienna, VA 22182
Telephone: 703-821-5960
Fax: 703-821-2770
June 2005
MEMORANDUM TO:
Institutional Representatives for the Rhodes Scholarships
FROM:
Elliot F. Gerson, American Secretary
I enclose materials for the fall 2005 Rhodes Scholarship competition. Attached you will find copies
of our Memorandum of Regulations and Application Form, our brochure “Oxford and the Rhodes
Scholarships,” and a document of frequently asked questions. They have been revised, so you may
want to scan them even if you read last year’s. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, I HAVE
HIGHLIGHTED ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT POINTS AND ANY SIGNIFICANT
CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR. Because each of these documents is available for downloading
in printable form from our web site, we are enclosing only two copies of each. We have also
enclosed two posters. Please note that we no longer provide hard copies of the University of Oxford
Undergraduate Prospectus and Graduate Prospectus as they are now available in complete form on
the web; see links from our web site, www.rhodesscholar.org or go to www.ox.ac.uk.
I am also enclosing the recently published Year 2005 edition of The American Rhodes Scholar
newsletter, prepared for distribution to all U. S. Rhodes Scholars. It presents brief biographies and
photographs of the 32 American Rhodes Scholars selected in the November 2005 competition who
will take up residency at Oxford University in October 2005. The information contained in this
newsletter, and in the newsletters of past years, also appears on our web site. If you have not
already done so, I encourage you to visit our site and the links there to Oxford’s extensive and
always expanding web sites, and particularly to encourage your students to do the same. There
really is no reason for a student anywhere today to feel ignorant about Oxford’s courses and
opportunities.
Finally, I enclose a copy of my letter to you of January 2005, which set forth the announcement of
the new selection process for 2005, with the move to a single tier of selection. A number of you
have had questions regarding what this change should mean for you. Let me repeat here what I have
said to some of your colleagues separately. There is really nothing about the change that should
affect how any institution should advise applicants, although the age-old dilemma of whether
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to apply in one state or another (for those who attend college outside of their home state) largely
disappears. Essentially, all will remain the same except there will be one round of interviews rather
than two. Students who once had been virtually assured of a state interview (in the less populous
states) will now only get an interview if they are a viable candidate to win the Scholarship—as has
always been the case in more populous states. And those so selected to interview will only miss one
day of classes (a Friday), and not the better part of a week (as it was when state receptions and
interviews were on a Tuesday/Wednesday and districts on that Friday/Saturday). Approximately
12-16 students—out of pools that will probably average about 65—will be interviewed in each of 16
districts, districts created by me based on historical application numbers to be of essentially equal
size. Each committee will elect two Rhodes Scholars. The procedure in each district will be similar
to what it has always been; a reception on the first evening with other candidates and the committee,
and interviews the following day (Saturday), with possible reinterviews in the afternoon, and ending
with an announcement of the names of the winners. It is possible that one or more district
secretaries will use their discretion to start interviews on the Friday, and if this happens, applicants
will obviously be notified in advance. I will constitute committees as I always have, and the criteria
for selection remain unchanged. The 16 cities are convenient transportation hubs.
Oxford admission standards get higher every year as it attracts ever-stronger graduate applicants
from around the world. Last year the University received an extraordinary increase in overseas
applications, and a similar increase is predicted for this year. While we continue to select Scholars
based on all the criteria in Mr. Rhodes’ Will—seeking well-rounded excellence—candidates must,
obviously, be extremely able academically. Unless they would likely be admitted to one of the
handful of most selective graduate schools in the United States in their area of primary
interest, they are not likely to be successful as Rhodes Scholars at Oxford. Of course, we look
for far more than such intellectual distinction, but it remains the essential prerequisite.
I want to stress again this year that changes in degree course have become extremely difficult, and
sometimes impossible, after Oxford admission. For many decades, this was not the case, and the
change is due, in part, to the increasing popularity of graduate degrees. (And certainly your own
universities would find it challenging, to say the least, for someone admitted for graduate work in
English to switch to economics or biochemistry, or even from political science to sociology.) A
new Oxford admissions calendar, with firm cut-off dates, also makes some degree changes simply
impossible. Accordingly, candidates need take considerable care in determining their preferred
course. We will give winning candidates who propose to do graduate degrees at Oxford
approximately two weeks before papers are due in Oxford for discussion with my office and
Rhodes House regarding academic alternatives at Oxford. And all winners will be asked to
complete a form regarding their degree course. While it cannot be expected that all candidates will
do extensive review of degree options before selection, they should, however, be advised that after
election, and once they make their final selection (which may occasionally differ from the choice
made in their application in October), it may not be possible to change. They should assume it is
not.
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The proliferation of new master’s-level degrees and changes in the Oxford curriculum render
suspect what has been historically the conventional advice of many Rhodes Scholar and other
Oxford alumni. The second B.A. degree is no longer the best choice for most Rhodes Scholars.
While some of the B.A. programs remain ideal for a student seeking a “broadening” experience
outside of his or her undergraduate concentration, [Geography, Human Sciences, History (Modern)
and Politics, and Economics and Management are examples of B.A. degrees well suited to this
purpose, or Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)—but see below], most will find an M.Phil.
or M.Sc.—or an M.Litt. or D.Phil.—a better match. In particular, candidates should be advised that
the historically popular degree of PPE should not be the choice of someone without some grounding
already in social science (and considerable grounding in economics, unless the Philosophy and
Politics-only option is pursued), nor probably the choice of someone who has already majored in
one of those disciplines and who would thus usually be better advised to do a graduate degree. All
that said, the B.A. (including PPE) is the best option and the right degree choice for some
American Rhodes Scholars. In 2004, the B.A. was the choice of two of the 32 U. S. winners, as it
was for six in 2003.
Those who propose to do second B.A. degrees will have only one week before they must send
their application to Oxford. Accordingly, these students must take extra care and
consideration before electing this course of study.
Scholars who wish three years’ funding for a doctorate must apply for a doctorate in the first
instance, or for a one- or two-year degree accepted by the faculty as time credited toward the
D.Phil.
Two years ago we implemented a change to allow Rhodes Scholars to apply in the first instance for
one-year degrees (which could, based on the particular degree, require either three terms October to
June, or twelve months). Some of these degrees have proven very popular, and in a few instances
Scholars doing such degrees do not find a suitable subsequent degree to pursue at Oxford. As a
result we no longer require that a Rhodes Scholar remain on stipend at Oxford for at least two years.
One-year tenures will not be discouraged, though most Rhodes Scholars would argue forcefully that
the Oxford experience is exponentially enhanced by tenures of two (or three) years. Applicants who
propose only a one-year degree will not be expected to have any plans for a subsequent degree and
selection committees will be instructed to make their selections regardless of whether applicants
propose to do one-, two- or three-year programs.
Among the popular one-year degrees, I bring your attention in particular to the M.Sc. in
Environmental Change and Management, the M.Sc. in Forced Migration, the M.Sc. in Economics
and Development, the M.Sc. in Comparative Social Policy, and the M.Sc. in Medical Anthropology,
and to the brand new (mid-year 2005) M.Sc. degrees in African Studies and Global Health Science
(public health). The MBA degree is now officially not an eligible degree for Rhodes Scholars at any
time. (The applicant need not be specific regarding any subsequent degree preference.)
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While not as important as the choice of a degree (except for those doing a B.A. degree), the choice
of an Oxford college has also long been a source of confusion for aspiring American Oxonians.
Scholars-elect will have the choice of leaving college selection to the Warden of Rhodes House, or
they may designate one preferred college (the same procedure followed by British applicants). If
they do not receive a place there, the Scholars-elect will be considered by other colleges based on a
University allocation formula.
***************
We have Institutional Representatives at more than 900 colleges and universities across the
United States. At the close of the November 2004 competition, we had had winners from 307 of
those institutions, a record of which we are quite proud. It continues to be my firm belief, however,
that there are qualified applicants at every institution receiving this letter, and that any one of your
institutions could have a successful candidate in any given year. In 2004, a Rhodes Scholar was
elected for the first time from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire.
Important reminders and updates.

As is usual practice, each institution will be required to endorse its applicants, and a form is
supplied for this purpose as part of the Memorandum of Regulations and Application Form.
While each college or university will find its own most appropriate procedure for completing
this mandatory endorsement, we again recommend that all institutions establish committees to
interview candidates and to prepare an evaluation of each candidate’s qualifications for election
to a Rhodes Scholarship. Many institutions now have such committees and submit an
institutional letter of recommendation for candidates.

I often get questions about the campus endorsement process. We have no special guidance and
each institution is free to do this in any way it wishes. Some require copies of referee letters, or
seek separate ones. Some conduct Rhodes-like interviews. We simply want to know that an
institution supports a student’s application. The endorsement form alone is sufficient for this
purpose, although a separate, institutional letter is usually very helpful, and can give us a better
overall picture of a student than most academic referees can.
If we do have a concern here, however, it is that an institution may limit the number of qualified
applicants we see. If a candidate meets our qualifications, we would like to see the application.
While we do not wish to see wonderful young men and women encouraged to apply who do not
meet our standards and have no realistic chance to receive an interview, we neither want you or
your campus committee to restrict access to our process through any kind of numerical quotas or
limits, nationally or in a particular region. Our process is a necessarily subjective one, and our
selectors are hardly uniform in their judgments. It is not uncommon for us to elect someone
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viewed less outstanding by a college over someone its internal process ranked more highly (even
when that internal process is managed, as it is at many institutions, by Rhodes Scholars and/or
other Oxonians). On the other hand, explicit or implicit rankings of candidates across an
institution’s applicant pool can be very helpful, whether done across a class or over a period of
years. Some institutions indicate in their endorsement letter if someone is regarded especially
highly, either within his or her class, or over a period of years. This, especially when supported
credibly, does tend to influence selectors. Not all colleges find this easy to do, however, so it is
not expected.

Institutions should not assemble the application materials on behalf of candidates for submission
to Secretaries. Candidates, referees, and institutions should separately and individually forward
their respective materials to the appropriate Committee Secretary.

This year, applications must be postmarked no later than October 3. If the materials are
delivered by hand, they must be received by October 3; if they are delivered by an express mail
service, there must be proof of receipt by that service by October 3. The deadline for receipt of
institutional endorsements and letters from referees is October 11.

The district (regional) committees will meet on November 18 and 19. Winners are announced at
the conclusion of the district meeting.

The stipend of a Rhodes Scholarship consists of a direct payment to the Scholar’s college of all
tuition fees (such as matriculation, tuition, laboratory fees, and certain other set charges), plus a
maintenance allowance of not less than £9,600 per annum paid directly to the Scholar in
installments during the one-, two- or three-year term of the Scholarship.

Scholars now require a UK Entrance Permit. Winners will be advised regarding the process to
obtain such certification.

We hope to move to online applications in the future, but will not this year.

As in last year’s competition, there should be no conflict for those students who also apply for a
Marshall Scholarship.
As always, please advise this office of any change in the name or address of your institution’s
representative.
Thank you very much for your help, and best wishes to you and your candidates.
Enclosures.
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Eligible Foreign Students
While only citizens of the United States are eligible for the Rhodes Scholarships awarded in this
country, Rhodes Scholarships are offered in more than 20 other jurisdictions. Several of these
constituencies regard their citizens who study in universities in the United States as eligible for their
own competition. Citizens of Bermuda, Canada, the Commonwealth Caribbean (Anguilla, Antigua,
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana,
Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago), Jamaica, Kenya,
Singapore, Zambia and Zimbabwe are thus eligible to apply in their own constituencies on the basis
of degrees from American universities.
If such students are enrolled in your institution, addresses for further information about these
competitions are available on our web site (click “Non-U.S. Citizens” on the home page) or by
contacting this office. Please note that the elections in virtually all of the other participating
constituencies take place before the elections in the United States, and any eligible students would
be well advised to make their inquiries at once.
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