Applying for the Scholarship

The Rhodes Scholarship application for 2012 is open.

The 2012 application deadline will be 11:59 PM on Wednesday, October 3.

The 2012 interviews will take place on Friday and Saturday, November 16 and 17.

For those contemplating application, it can safely be assumed that the application, rules and requirements will in all respects be similar, although some states may  move to different districts in order to keep the number of candidates in each district as close as feasible.

Approximate date of notification regarding finalist status:  November 1, 2012 District finalist receptions:  Friday, November 16, 2012 District finalist interviews and  winner selections:  Saturday, November 17, 2012.

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Please review carefully the materials for applicants posted on this site for complete application information.  While not exhaustive, the following is a quick guide to eligibility:

At the time of application, an applicant must be:

1. a citizen of the United States; pending citizenship does not qualify.
2. at least 18 but not yet 24 years of age (i.e., the applicant must still be 23 on October 1 in the year of application).
3. sufficiently advanced academically to assure completion of a bachelor’s degree before October 1 in the year following election.

The applicant must be eligible to apply through one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia:  either in the state where he or she was legally resident on April 15 in the year of application, or where he or she will have received at least two years of college training and a bachelor’s degree before October 1 in the year following election.  (U.S. citizens who are residents of U.S. territories are only eligible to apply if they will have at least two years of college training and a bachelor’s degree from a college or university in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.)

The applicant must produce:

1. the endorsement of his or her college or university.
2. five, but not more than eight, letters of recommendation.  Four of these must be from individuals who are qualified to advise selection committees about the applicant’s academic ability and standing.
3. a personal essay not exceeding 1000 words and certified as the applicant’s own work.
4. a list of principal activities.
5. a certified transcript (or transcripts).
6. a passport-size photograph.
7. proof of citizenship.

The applicant must be prepared to appear for a reception and personal interview, and remain for possible reinterviews and the election announcement, in the city serving the respective District region, on the Friday and Saturday preceding the Thanksgiving holiday.  Telephone and electronic interviews are not permitted.  A link on this page will display where interviews were held in November 2011, and the states within each District are also shown.  Please be aware that there may be changes in interview locations and the states grouped within Districts from year to year.

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