Live to Learn

Advice and Guidelines

(compiled with the input and advice of Mary Denyer, Assistant Secretary and Head of Scholarship Administration for the Marshall Scholarships, and Caroline Cracraft, Vice
Consul for the British Consulate in Chicago)

	Start early: Start preparing in your junior year, if not earlier. Choose your classes carefully: Your classes should show a clear and consistent academic focus. This is not to say that you shouldn’t explore a bit and choose electives outside your major, but it should be clear from looking at your transcript what your concentration is. Contact potential recommenders: Make sure well in advance that they will be willing to write a recommendation for you, and make sure that they will be available to do so during the fall of your senior year. Research your options: Be prepared to devote a fair amount of time to researching programs at various U.K. universities, so that you can find the ones that are ideal for what you want to do. Talk to people in your department, especially ones who have studied or taught in the U.K. Prepare essays: It’s never too early to begin working on your personal statement or your study proposal. Though your interests may change and you may have to re-write them, the time spent articulating your goals (and yourself) will be time well-spent, regardless of whether you win the scholarship.
	Show why the U.K.: This applies especially to your Academic Proposal, of course, but it’s helpful to keep in mind with regard to each part of your application (including letters of recommendation). If there’s not a compelling reason for you to be pursuing your degree in the U.K., you’re unlikely to receive a scholarship.
	Get letters of interest: If you’re a candidate in the performing or visual arts you should get in touch with a British institution prior to applying for the Marshall, and that institution should at least have expressed interest in you. The Marshall selectors are not generally qualified to judge the academic or professional quality of visual/performing arts candidates. If you’re applying in another field, this is not required or even expected, though letters of interest from institutions or specific instructors are always a “plus” (particularly in scientific fields).
	Explain gaps or inconsistencies: This applies to all applications, of any sort. In the case of scholarships, this applies mainly to grades and interests. The impression readers get from your application should be of a balanced and coherent whole, so be sure to explain any contradictions or irregularities (e.g., a semester of low grades). The best place to do this is in your personal statement, though if you can’t work it in there, it’s acceptable to ask your recommenders to clarify issues in their letters.
	No “padding”: Do not pad your activities list with any extracurriculars that you are not genuinely interested in and devoted to (this applies doubly to high school activities; unless they were very impressive or meaningful, don’t list them). It’s better to be highly involved in one or two activities than marginally involved in a dozen.
	Mention relevant experience: If you have experience in your academic field (volunteer work, employment, field work, research, etc.), mention it. As with letters of interest, it’s not expected of candidates, but it is beneficial.
	Brush up on British politics: You don’t have to be an expert, but you should know the basics (who the Prime Minister is, the major parties, and the current issues). You should also be relatively conversant with world affairs. If you don’t already, read the Economist and the Financial Times.

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