Marshall Scholarship 2015-2016

[cwr]

I realized there wasn't any thread for the Marshall, and thought it was worth making one (even if it's a little late, given that most interviews are taking place very soon).

Anyone else getting ready for theirs? I go in tomorrow, and I'm really not sure what to expect beyond what I've read online. 

Best of luck to everyone else getting ready for theirs. 

[Horb]

You are probably one of the only ones who got an interview. Good luck!

[cwr]

Thanks for the well-wishes! 

[pterosaur]

Current Marshall here - best of luck!

[Horb]

I have a few friends who are thinking of applying next year. If you don't mind me asking, what do you think made both of you stand out? It is a pretty big deal to get an interview. The only thing I've been able to see from the profiles of selected candidates are that they tend to come from big name schools and have tons of unique experiences, but it obviously takes more than just that.  

[pterosaur]

It's not just about big name schools - don't let that discourage you. I'm definitely not from a big name school.

The biggest thing that stands out as a common factor between all the Marshalls is passion. Whatever it is that they're doing or studying, they're really, really passionate about it and they've demonstrated it through what they have been involved in. This doesn't mean you need to have 10 published papers or have founded a nonprofit in a developing country. I don't feel like I have some crazy unique experience; there aren't "hooks" like you talk about with undergrad admissions. It's about showing how much you care about what you're doing and showing that you can make an impact there.