Rhodes scholars are chosen based on their outstanding scholarly achievements, as well as their character, commitment to others and to the common good, and their potential for leadership in whatever domain their careers may lead. If you’re hoping to earn a Rhodes scholarship, you’ll need to be able to impress the selection committee with your intellect, your motivation, and your capacity for leadership.
To help you prepare, here are some sample questions that you might be asked during your Rhodes scholarship interview:
-Tell us about your academic achievements.
-What are your plans for your future career?
-How have you demonstrated your leadership potential?
-What are your commitments to others and to the common good?
-Why do you believe you deserve a Rhodes scholarship?
Be sure to give thoughtful, well-reasoned answers to these questions, and you’ll be on your way to impressing the selection committee and earning a Rhodes scholarship.
4 Rhodes Scholarship REAL interview questions
o Couldn’t the leader just rely on aids; why does he need to be an engineer? (M/132)
Questions designed to elicit information about the candidate’s personality (goals, interests, convictions, etc.) These inquiries will probably concern the essay or the letters of recommendation.
It is intended for the Marshall interview to be rigorous but non-confrontational. “One of the interviewers will conduct advance research if there isn’t a specialist in the candidate’s field. One word responses, short responses, a little humor, and a little nervousness all work well. The candidate may be interrupted while responding, perhaps just to gauge how quickly the candidate adapts to a novel circumstance. And if necessary, it’s crucial to say “I don’t know.” There is no shame in that. They are testing you to see if you can adhere to your principles without becoming overly rigid. Otherwise they will pursue you into rougher and rougher waters. Don’t let it bother you if you feel your response to something wasn’t adequate. You probably answered other questions better, so just move on.
For specific examples of questions, see the “Past Reed candidates speak” section of this website. The Gates website on interviews is very specific in terms of what questions are asked, and while they are more focused on whether the applicant is a good Cambridge fit (rather than being focused on his or her past endeavors), its a good list of questions to ponder and to prepare for any scholarship.
A friend told me the layout of the interview room reminded her of “The Last Supper” as she exited the room. ” It rather felt that way, too. I recited my prepared mantra as I was being led to the final interview: take a deep breath, stand up straight, smile, and look them in the eye. However, despite my fears, trembling, and risk, I still enjoyed myself.
Although some Rhodes selectors view the interview as a way to determine whether the candidate truly reflects the documents, others believe it to be the least significant aspect of the entire process. The interviewers at Rhodes and Marshall hope to get a sense of how you think and to persuade you to pause and consider any novel situations. For instance, a strong candidate might still be able to connect the third question to the seventh question when the questions change to something entirely different. Consider the interview as a good discussion rather than a series of back-and-forth questions, and make an effort to develop rational arguments for your positions and objectives while you are still in the interview.
Observation regarding the interview committee: there were seven members in total, including the chairman and six former Rhodes Scholars. The age range of the former students was roughly twenty-six to mid-fifties. The majority worked as university professors or researchers, a few returned to graduate school after a break, and one was employed by H&R Block. The community college where the interviews took place’s president served as the chairman.
Note on lodging: Since the interviews were in Kansas City, I had the opportunity to stay at my former roommate’s house rather than a hotel, and my brother drove over to spend the night as well. Obviously, this will vary from year to year. In hindsight, I’m really glad I wasn’t alone in a hotel room the night before my interview because I probably wouldn’t have been able to sleep due to stress. I drew the last interview slot, so staying with a friend and having my brother there allowed me to unwind and forget about the situation for the evening and the following morning. If staying with a close friend or member of your family where you can unwind is an option for you and you are the type of person who would become stressed in these situations, take it.
All of the finalists gathered in the waiting area after my first interview, which I finished at 3:00. They had informed us that re-interviews would begin at 3:30 and that winners would likely be announced around 4:30. When the chairman arrived at 5:30 and announced they wanted to re-interview me and one other candidate for about five minutes, we waited together until that time. In fact, my second interview lasted closer to ten minutes and was heavily focused on how I see my philosophical studies influencing society in general.
No, applications are not finished even if you receive the scholarship, and at this point you must make a firm decision regarding your desired degree. Two weeks after the interviews, a paper application for a second undergraduate degree had to be submitted to Oxford, so it needed to be finished over the Thanksgiving holiday. There was no online application option for undergrad degrees. Graduate program applicants could submit their materials online, just like for a scholarship application, until the beginning of January.
On November 7th, the District Secretary sent me an email inviting me to an interview in Kansas City. I had been worrying about it since the end of October because I had heard that they send out invitations in the first week of November. That didn’t help. I received an email inviting me to the District 12 interviews, which would take place the Saturday before Thanksgiving and include a reception dinner the night before. Actually, this meant a one-hour reception with finger foods and beverages, then dinner.
Can you describe the interview process?
Twelve candidates have been invited to participate in the two-part interview process, Constance. The hour-long cocktail that precedes the main event typically occurs on a Thursday in late November. The eight members of the selection committee, as well as some of the candidates’ spouses, are introduced to the candidates. Even though there is a lot of pressure, it is a very stimulating evening of conversation and mixing. The committee members make an effort to visit each candidate and meet them. A 45-minute individual interview then follows, with six candidates interviewing on Friday afternoon and the remaining six on Saturday morning. Depending on the candidate’s fluency in French and/or English, committee members alternate asking one or two questions during individual interviews. The committee wants to test the candidates’ knowledge, convictions, positions, justifications, morals, awareness, leadership, etc. – so I believe that everyone leaves thinking they performed horribly. The committee then takes the Saturday afternoon to deliberate and notifies all candidates by phone, starting with the winners, sometime on Saturday night. To balance that out, our cohort of candidates went out for dinner between the two interview days, which made the process so much more fun and enriching and so much less nerve-wracking.
Virginie: The bilingual interview for francophone candidates for the Québec constituency was extremely stressful for me. For 45 minutes, I was quizzed in a variety of languages: one or two in French, a few in English, more in French, etc. I found it to be a great challenge because, prior to moving to Oxford, I had never finished full-time English studies. I had the impression throughout the interview that I was constantly translating between thinking in French and responding in “very French” English.
FAQ
How do I prepare for Rhodes Scholarship interview?
Interview preparationKnow your benefactor. Be up on the news. Previous successful applicants have claimed that their friends thoroughly questioned them about their application materials. Be sure to re-read your transcripts before the interview.
What kind of questions are asked in scholarship interviews?
20 scholarship interview questionsTell us about yourself. Who is your career role model? Why did you choose this school or program? Why do you deserve this scholarship? What extracurricular activities do you participate in? What is one of your greatest accomplishments? Practice
How long is the Rhodes Scholarship interview?
The committee members make an effort to visit each candidate and meet them. A 45-minute individual interview then follows, with six candidates interviewing on Friday afternoon and the remaining six on Saturday morning.
Is it hard to win the Rhodes Scholarship?
In addition, only three candidates received the support of their college. 3 percent ultimately received a scholarship. The selection rate is extremely competitive across the board and has been estimated to be as low as 0. 7 percent. As a result, the Rhodes is one of the most exclusive scholarships available.
