Rhodes Scholarship 2010

Please refer to the Rhodes website to obtain information and the eligibility criteria regarding the Rhodes Scholarship. All applications must be completed online.

Procedures
Interested students must contact Cynthia Raso at cynra@alcor.concordia.ca or (514) 848-2424, ext. 3385 immediately to schedule a meeting/interview to discuss their intent to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship.

Rhodes Tips
Information for Students
Start early. Be prepared to devote some time to developing your application. This includes spending some time researching the objectives of the Rhodes scholarship.
It is important to outline why you should be chosen based on academic and extracurricular activities/community contributions. This needs to be addressed in your statement, as well as letters of reference.

Your statement has to be clear (no grammatical or spelling errors) as well as distinctive in substance and style. Links to program of study as well as to future professional goals need to be made with direct reference to objectives of the Rhodes Scholarship. Your achievements need to be supported by evidence, such as a leadership role played in academic projects and extra-curricular activities.

Devote some time to selecting academic and other references. Ask yourself one major question: What is it that each person can contribute in support of my application?
Give the referees enough time and information to write a strong letter. For example, if you are asking a person to support your application based on demonstrated leadership qualities, you should provide that person with a resume of all of your activities as well as leadership positions. An academic reference should include information on candidate's exceptional achievements over and above normal expectations.

Be prepared for an oral interview, if one is requested. Anticipate the type of questions that might be asked based on the criteria outlined for the scholarship. Be prepared to state why you would be a worthy candidate to represent Concordia University and Canada at Oxford.
Selection committees are guided by the criteria for the award in question. If the award is based on superior academic achievement, as well as certain type of activities and demonstrated leadership qualities, the candidate needs to be strong in all categories. A lot depends on how you present your case, and this includes supporting evidence such as letters of reference.

Information for Referees
(Information for the person from whom a letter of appraisal has been requested)
The Selection Committee will be grateful if you will provide a frank statement regarding this applicant’s qualifications.

Proven intellectual and academic attainment of a high standard is the first quality required of applicants, but they will also be required to show integrity of character, sympathy for and protection of the weak, the ability to lead and the energy to use their talents to the full.Mr. Rhodes believed that the last of these qualities was best tested through participation and success in sports. Sporting prowess, however, is not an essential if applicants demonstrate in other ways the physical vigor which will enable Rhodes Scholars to make an effective contribution to the world around them. Mr. Rhodes clearly expected this in expressing the hope that a Rhodes Scholar would come to ‘esteem the performance of public duties as his highest aim’.

It is not expected that you will be able to speak from firsthand knowledge of the candidate’s qualifications under all those heads. If you are primarily acquainted with the candidate through an academic relationship you are requested to concentrate particularly on intellectual quality and potential (bearing in mind that your reference will be used for admission procedures at Oxford university) although your assessment of the other qualities will be very welcome to the Committee. If, on the other hand, you are better acquainted with the candidate through non-academic interests, you are requested to concentrate on assessment of character in the knowledge that the Committee is looking for persons who show promise of outstanding achievement in later life.

Please do not hesitate to speak of the candidate’s limitations as well as qualities. A critical appraisement will add to, rather than detract from, the force of your letter, since Committees naturally tend to be dubious of recommendations which imply that a candidate has no limitations whatever.