Fellowship Applicants Await Nomination

With the first round of applications for Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships and Fulbright Grants in the hands of various selection committees, all that anxious senior applicants can do is wait.

Fulbright applications were due Wednesday, while Marshall and Rhodes applications were due last Friday.

A committee of University officials will select applicants for Harvard's endorsement on Monday evening.

Fulbright applicants, however, do not require University endorsement. Their next step is to schedule an interview with College officials, who will write evaluations of the applicants.

"I feel relieved that the application is over," said Fulbright applicant Amir Zarrinpar '99, who applied for a grant to study Islamic art and architecture in Turkey.

"I was so caught up trying to get the application off that I didn't even think about what was going to happen afterwards, so now that it's after...I'm kind of relaxing," he said.

The number of applicants for the Marshall and Rhodes are down this year from last, according to Adonica Y. Lui, assistant director of fellowships.

Ninety-four students applied for American Rhodes scholarships, down from 101 applicants last year. Only 60 members of the Class of 1999 applied for Marshall Schollarships while 66 members of the Class of 1998 applied.

Canadian Rhodes scholarships were up from four last year to seven this year. Fifty-five students applied for the Fulbright, slightly more than last year, Lui said.

Marshall and Rhodes scholars pursue a graduate degree in the United Kingdom for two or three years with all of their expenses paid.

The process is competitive, with only 32 American Rhodes scholars, 11 Canadian Rhodes scholars, and 40 Marshall scholars selected each year.

There is no ceiling on the number of Fulbright Grants awarded each year, however. Winners pursue plans of study in various countries around the world.

The endorsement committee will determine which students move on to the next stage of the application process. Last year Harvard endorsed 41 percent of its Rhodes applicants and 44 percent of its Marshall applicants.

Marshall applicants who win Harvard's nomination will compete at the regional level, while Rhodes nominees need their state's endorsement.

Fulbright applications will be sent to the Institute for International Education in New York by October 23.