Suggestions to Candidates

For me, the most surprising part about the Rhodes application process was how many great people I met as a result. Like most people, I was very intimidated by the words “Rhodes Scholar” (and thus almost didn’t apply), but what convinced me the most that I wanted this scholarship was how incredibly friendly and helpful past winners that I talked with were. Mostly, they were people I emailed out of the blue – past winners from my state, friends of friends… all of them super-friendly and willing to help a random (near-) stranger. Below are a few suggestions, a compilation of stuff that I learned through people I talked with and through my own experience going through the process:

	Start working on your personal statement at least a month in advance of the deadline. Virtually no one can produce a strong essay the first time around, so be prepared to revise, revise, revise. Get as much feedback as you can – from friends, campus career counselors, and past winners, if possible.
	Writing the personal statement provides a wonderful opportunity for self-reflection that few people take time to engage in during the hubbub of school, activities, and all the things that consume our everyday lives. Take advantage of the opportunity! The personal statement is a way for the selection committee to get to know YOU, so make sure who you are – your passions, your aspirations, and how Oxford fits into all of it – comes through.
	When preparing for the interview, brainstorm all the different sorts of things they might ask - things on your resume/application, stuff related to your future, current events (including those in your home state), what has been a difficult decision you’ve made, your biggest failure (I messed this one up – be sure to prepare for cliché questions like this too!), what do you like to do for fun, why do you want to study at Oxford… Yeah, 95% of it will never come up – but you’ll be prepared for the 5% that does!
	Show interest in the other people at your interview, learn about them, radiate your warmth, and show people who you are! The biggest mistake people make, I think, is to be so focused on winning that they forget what they care about. As cliché as this might sound, I can’t overemphasize it: stay grounded and be yourself.
	Relax and realize that the other students at your interview are as nervous as you feel. Know that the people who are doing the interviews are people just like us (okay, so a bit older…), who just want to get to know you and interact with you on a human level. Don't be afraid but rather engage, show them your strength and your friendliness, and you will give the best impression possible.
	Don't worry about doing all the little things right - just concentrate on engaging with people honestly from a position of strength.
	Treat the interview as a conversation, not an interrogation, even if it gets heated. Don't get drawn into a debate but rather engage in a discussion. Try not to get flustered even if you say something you think you will regret later. Breathe. And smile!
	The interviewers might try to ruffle your feathers – don’t let them! If you don’t know the answer to a question, say “I don’t know,” but also attempt to explain how you would go about answering. ("This isn't something I’ve thought extensively about before, but off the top of my head, in order to answer it I would need to know x, y, and z and point z would be most important.”)
	All this said, it’s a crap shoot. Go into it with confidence, but also remember that it is just one of many wonderful possibilities for next year. Remind yourself of how lucky you’ve been to have had four years of a wonderful college education – to have learned so much, to have thought in new ways, to have met many remarkable people. The outcome of any scholarship process – whether good or bad – cannot take this away or change how important it is.
	These are my final words of encouragement. Remember that in the end, you are still yourself. You are going to flourish no matter what you do next year, if you have the right attitude. Best of luck!

-- Melissa Dell, 2005 Rhodes Scholar

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