Requirements

College/School Eligibility:

  • Agriculture and Life Sciences
  • Architecture, Art and Planning
  • Arts and Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Human Ecology
  • Industrial and Labor Relations
  • SC Johnson Business - Dyson

Class Year Eligibility:

  • Fourth Year + (undergrad)

Open to:

  • Cornell Graduate/Professional Students

GPA Requirements:

Minimum GPA: 3.70

Cornell endorsement is required.

U.S. citizens who will hold the Bachelor's degree before embarking on the Scholarship and have graduated or will have graduated after April 2015.

Applicants first submit their materials to a campus committee for review in August. The Cornell Endorsement Committee interviews all applicants and chooses nominees to the national competition, which is conducted by region. All applications must be processed and endorsed through the CCS fellowships office to be eligible for the competition. Endorsement decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

Selection decisions on campus and in the Marshall regions are based on the criteria below.

  • Academic record: The Marshall requires a minimum GPA of 3.7. A GPA above 3.85 is generally competitive. The average GPA of Marshall Scholars in considerably higher. Students should excel in their chosen field, be widely read, and demonstrate intellectual flexibility.
     
  • The on-line application asks for evidence of extracurricular interests, including service to others and leadership experience. It requires a proposal of an academic program in which applicants describe their ability to undertake the program and its role in advancing them toward their long-term goals. The application also requires a personal statement and short essays on leadership and ambassador potential. 
     
  • Letters of Recommendation: Four letters are required. At least two should be from professors who have taught you at the undergraduate level. Your professors should be able to compare you to other students they have taught and to describe your readiness to pursue the UK degree program you have chosen. At least one letter should be from a person who knows you in a non-academic setting (e.g., from community work, extracurricular activity, employment, etc.).
     
  • Interview: Students face a panel of experts from a variety of fields. Interviewers may ask questions related to the student's field, pose philosophical dilemmas, ask questions related to current events, etc. Students should be prepared for a broad-ranging interview and should fully expect to be asked questions to which they do not know the answers. Information on the interview process is available from Beth Fiori. Mock interviews and preparation workshops are held during the fall.