Rhodes Scholarship

• U.S. Citizen (There are opportunities for non-US Citizens. Please reach out for more information.)
• Minimum 3.7 GPA
• Must be 18-23 years of age as of the national deadline in October OR be under the age of 27 and have completed their undergraduate degree on or after October of the previous calendar year. 

Rhodes Scholarship selection criteria include:

• Literary and Scholastic Achievement (3.7 GPA minimum, 3.9+ avg.)
• “Energy to use one’s talents to the full”
• “Truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship” (Service)
• “Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one’s fellow beings” (Leadership)

• Application form that includes:
  • Biographical information.
  • Multiple essays based upon the specific prompts included on application form.
• Two-page resume consisting of college activities and honors.
• A completed waiver.
• Transcripts from other institutions attended (copies, screenshots, etc. are ok).
• 5 - 8 letters of recommendation emailed directly to fellowships@osu.edu.

Deadline for at least one draft in advance of campus deadline – July 21.
Campus Application Deadline – August 4, 2025

Campus Application Process

Because the university is required to nominate candidates for this opportunity, there is an internal application process. Complete this Intent to Apply form to request the campus application form. 

To be considered for campus nomination: Submit at least one draft of your application for feedback by July 21. UFO staff will send feedback within 48 hours, and the expectation is that you will revise your materials based upon this feedback. The rationale for this requirement is that, over the course of multiple drafts, you will develop your materials by clarifying your vision and incorporating feedback (or justifying the choice not to). You may request feedback throughout the summer by submitting drafts of your materials.

By 5 pm on the campus deadline, submit all of the materials listed above, including letters of recommendation, to fellowships@osu.edu. A panel of faculty and distinguished scholars will convene to review applications and conduct interviews with a select number of applicants. The nominees will then work with faculty and staff to create a competitive application for the national deadlines in October.

For support on your application, reach out to fellowships@osu.edu at any time while the applications are open.
 

National Application Deadline – early October 2025

Undergraduate Fellowship Office staff will communicate with nominees about revision processes and additional internal deadlines.