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It is a dumb question to ask, but as an international student, I want to know the significance of the Rhodes Scholarship.

From what I've recently read, Rhodes Scholars are elected for two years of study at the University of Oxford; the Scholars are given full financial support for their whatever academic needs.

I think it would be the greatest honor to receive this scholarship, since so many universities boast their list of Rhodes Scholars. But what if you don't want to study in England? I mean, why are so many institutes so obsessed with this??? Is it really that worthwhile?

By Cj3051 (Cj3051) on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 02:33 am: Edit

Bill Clinton is a Rhodes Scholar.
Many Rhodes scholars become well known public figures now.

By Jfehr (Jfehr) on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 03:12 pm: Edit

Wash U has had quite a few recently: http://library.wustl.edu/units/spec/archives/facts/rhodes-scholars.html

By Stanfordnualum (Stanfordnualum) on Friday, May 21, 2004 - 08:55 pm: Edit

"But what if you don't want to study in England? I mean, why are so many institutes so obsessed with this??? Is it really that worthwhile?"

I don't think institutes are really actively involved in the process. From what I read, it seems to me the pursuit is pretty much an individual one. But once that individual got that prize, the school is eager to share that honor for their marketing purpose. The ones that got the awards are not necessarily the most brainy ones; their studies however do tend to have some sort of significance to the social cause. Like you probably won't get that award for relativity theory; but you could get it by being a philosophy major and passionate advocate for ethnic and religious tolreance or environmental justice. Maybe I am wrong with this; it does have the "liberal" feel to it (probably why Clinton but not Bush got it; oh... Bush never aim that high anyway and was just happy to graduate with Cs..LOL!).