Which Rhodes Scholar quality do you display most strongly, and how are other contexts and people helping you to develop the others?

Prompts:
In your personal statement of 750 words, we ask you to address each of the following prompts (the word allocation across the three is up to you):

Which Rhodes Scholar quality do you display most strongly, and how are other contexts and people helping you to develop the others?
What would you like to learn from the Rhodes and wider community in Oxford?
From your place in the world, what is humanitys greatest need?
Guidance:
The Rhodes selection criteria are powerful and have remained largely unchanged over the past 100 years, having been drawn directly from the founders Will.

In your personal statement we are asking you to reflect on your experiences, influences and intentions through the lens of those Rhodes Scholar qualities outlined in the three criteria: Energy to use ones talents to the full; Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship; Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in ones fellow human beings. [Note that the fourth selection criterion of Literary and scholastic attainments are evidenced in your transcript, academic statement of study and academic reference letters.]

The three prompts are set within the Rhodes leadership development framework that informs the Scholar Character, Service and Leadership Programme (CSLP) at Rhodes House in Oxford. It asks for reflection and engagement within three interrelated spheres of three voices self, others, and world:

1st self: Which Rhodes Scholar quality do you display most strongly, and how are other contexts and people helping you to develop the others? this asks you to reflect on which of the Rhodes selection criteria you best exemplify. But we dont expect you to be the finished product, we want to hear how you intend to evolve further.

2nd others: What would you like to learn from the Rhodes and wider community in Oxford? this asks you to reflect on the relationship between self and community, on how you want to learn from the Rhodes and other communities when you come to Oxford, and how you hope to grow through that experience.

3rd world: From your place in the world, what is humanitys greatest need? this asks you to look at the world from the place that you are now and to reflect on what is missing in society, whilst considering the complexity and nuance of the worlds challenges. We are seeking in Rhodes Scholars people who aspire to make a difference and contribute in some way to fighting the worlds fight. Here we want to know your thoughts on what is most needed in the world.

You can find further guidance on the personal statement on the Application Overview page of our website. By definition, each statement is individual; there is no single, right, model for the personal statement.

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