Purpose: The Marshall Scholarship Program provides the opportunity for study in the U.K. to up to 40 intellectually distinguished young Americans. The Program was created to honor the ideals of the Marshall Plan, which aided the recovery of Europe after World War II.

Funding: The Scholarship supports up to two years of graduate or undergraduate study in any discipline leading to a degree at a British university. (In many areas British curricula differ substantially from those in the U.S., and a second Bachelor’s degree is often appropriate.) The award covers tuition and fees, airfare, living expenses, and related expenses such as books.

Eligibility: Candidates must be U.S. citizens when they apply, must have graduated from an accredited four-year college or university in the U.S. by the time they take begin their program in Britain. This is one of the few awards with a stated minimum GPA: 3.7 (11.1) or higher in studies after the first year of college.

Selection Criteria:

• The Marshall Commission seeks candidates of keen intellect and broad outlook. Selection committees look for distinction of intellect as evidenced both by scholastic attainments and by other achievements.
• Preference is given to candidates who combine high academic ability with a capacity to play an active part in the life of the U.K. university to which they go, and to those who display a potential to make a significant contribution to their own society.
• Evaluators also look for strong motivation and seriousness of purpose, including the presentation of a specific and realistic academic program.

Application Process: On-campus deadlines are normally right after Fall semester begins, therefore prospective applicants are strongly advised to contact the Rhodes/Marshall Faculty Adviser in the spring of their junior year.

• Candidates submit a preliminary application to the Carleton College Selection Committee, which conducts screening interviews in early fall to determine which candidates receive official endorsement from Carleton College.
• Each candidate who receives such endorsement then files an application to one of six regional Marshall centers.
• In addition to transcripts and letters of recommendation, the application requires two essays.
• Regional Selection Committees call selected candidates to interviews in mid-to late November.
• Winners, who are chosen in both regional categories and at large, are announced in early December.
• Final award of the Scholarship is contingent upon admittance to a British university. Consult the University’s web site and printed materials available in the Office of Student Fellowships (for undergraduate study) and the Career Center (for graduate programs).
• Potential applicants are encouraged to look into the other British Isles fellowships with similar deadlines and requirements, and to discuss the potential for multiple applications with the fellowship faculty adviser.
• Recommendation letters:  Recommenders should provide letters (or drafts, at minimum) to Elizabeth Ciner in the Office of Student Fellowships by September 10, 2013, for use by the on-campus selection committee.  Instructions for uploading recommendations for students endorsed by Carleton will follow in late September.

Faculty Adviser: Jessica Leiman, 507/222-4326, Laird 207B
jleiman@carleton.edu

Official Website: http://www.marshallscholarship.org/