For Chris Oates '07, the decision to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship stemmed largely from his attraction to Oxford University and its surroundings.
"I wanted to study in England, and Oxford is the best university there," said Oates, who added he is also drawn to the close relationships Rhodes Scholars typically form with faculty.
The Rhodes Scholarship was established in 1903 by Cecil Rhodes to bring "outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford," according to the scholarship's description on the Web site of the Dean of the College. Rhodes Scholars - who were to be judged on "scholastic ability," "devotion to duty," "moral force of character" and "physical vigor," according to Rhodes' original will - attend Oxford University for two to three years with all expenses paid.
Oates worked on much of his application, which was due Aug. 22, over the summer. He said he will be interviewed this month, after which he will find out whether the University will give him an institutional endorsement. If he makes it through the University's screening process, he will hear back from the Rhodes Scholarship Trust in late November.
Oates is realistic about his prospects. "Anyone's chances are extremely low," he said. "There are only 30 spots."
According to Jeanette Spirito, assistant to Associate Dean of the College Linda Dunleavy, about 25 to 40 students have expressed interest in applying for the Rhodes and Marshall scholarships this year. Another 55 to 60 students have expressed interest in applying to the Fulbright Program. These three - the Rhodes, Marshall and Fulbright - are among the most competitive scholarship programs, though there are a number of others students pursue.
Similar to the Rhodes Scholarship, the Marshall Scholarship brings 44 U.S. citizens to study at a British institution to promote "intellectual, personal, and cultural exchange between the United States and the United Kingdom," according to the scholarship's description on the Dean of the College's Web site. The Fulbright Program was established by the U.S. government after World War II and takes American students to countries around the world to teach or conduct research.
Spirito said the number of Brown students applying for competitive fellowships has remained relatively the same over the past few years, though she added there may be a slight increase in the number of students interested in the Fulbright Program.
The exact number of applicants for the fellowships will not be known until applications are submitted to the University, though Dunleavy said her office generally has a good idea of the number of applicants based on those who express interest. Many fellowships for graduating seniors are due at some point in the fall, but some are not due until the spring. Deadlines for the Rhodes and Marshall scholarships passed in August, while Fulbright applications are due to Brown's Fellowships Office today.
"Most of the students who begin the application process usually follow through," she said.
The application process varies with each fellowship, though they do share several components. All emphasize to some degree academic performance, extra-curricular activities and the individual applicant's plan of study. Most fellowships also require letters of recommendation and a personal essay, which Dunleavy said is often crucial when selection committees make their final decisions.
"The essay is the most important part of the scholarship because it allows students to show things about themselves not shown in the application," Dunleavy said.
Jeff Lugowe '07, a Slavic studies concentrator, is applying for a Fulbright this year. Like Oates, Lugowe worked on his application primarily over the summer. As part of the process, he convinced three institutions in the host country to support his proposal. He attributed his decision to apply to a "travel bug."
"I'm interested in living in a place I don't know anything about," said Lugowe, who is applying to study in Norway.
Lugowe is no stranger to fellowship applications. He applied to the National Security Education Program last winter and received funding to study in Prague for this upcoming spring semester. He will be conducting research on the Polish population while there. Dunleavy said Brown students as a whole have been "very successful" in applying for national fellowships.
"Brown students tend to be independent thinkers," she said, adding this quality helps in particular when students are applying for Fulbrights.
"The Fulbright requires students to take risks," she said. "The effectiveness of Brown students to do this has helped them."
Dunleavy also said Brown students typically fare well with fellowships that emphasize public service because of the "strong public service component" evident on campus.
