British Marshall Scholarship

Campus Deadline: August 31, 2009

Terms
The Marshall Scholarship funds *one-two years of graduate study at any University in the UK. Up to 40 scholarships are awarded each year, including eight for the new one-year scholarship.

*NEW:  The Marshall Aid Commemoration Committee has  launched a one-year scholarship, aimed at applicants for whom the shorter term study abroad experience is a better fit.  Applicants must indicate their choice of award on the application and have a clear post-scholarship plan--whether it be employment or further study--for once they have returned from the UK.  If they choose to continue their studies, candidates should demonstrate that they have already applied to the professional school of their choice and would be able to defer entry for one year.

Eligibility
U.S. citizens who will hold the Bachelor's degree before embarking on the Scholarship and have graduated or will have graduated after April 2007.

Selection
Applicants first submit their materials to a campus committee for review in late August. The Cornell Endorsement Committee interviews all applicants and chooses nominees to the national competition. Nominees revise their materials for final submission in late September. In November students attend interview preparation workshops and individual practice sessions. Marshall Regional Committees extend invitations for interviews in November. Awards are announced one to two weeks following regional interviews, in late November or early December.

Selection decisions (both on-campus and at the national level) are based on the following criteria:

• Academic record: The Marshall requires a minimum GPA of 3.7 after the freshman year. Students should excel in their chosen field and have "a broad outlook."
• Personal Statement: This essay of no more than 1,000 words should give the committee a clear sense of who you are, how your interests have developed, and how and why study in the UK fits into your future plans.
• Proposed program of study: This essay of no more than 500 words should describe which degree program you plan to pursue in the UK and why.
  NOTE: The Marshall asks for both a first and second choice institution and at least one of those choices cannot be Cambridge, the London School of Economics, or Oxford. You should be able to describe specific courses, faculty, and facilities available at the university you choose, and you should explain how the particular degree you have chosen will advance you along your career path.
• Letters of Recommendation: Four letters are required. At least two should be from professors who have taught you at the undergraduate level. Your professors should be able to compare you to other students they have taught and to describe your readiness to pursue the UK degree program you have chosen.
• Interview: Students face a panel of experts from a variety of fields. Interviewers may ask questions related to the student’s field, pose philosophical dilemmas, ask questions related to current events, etc. Students should be prepared for a broad-ranging interview and should fully expect to be asked questions to which they do not know the answers. Information on the interview process is available from the Fellowship Coordinator. Mock interviews and preparation workshops are held during the fall.