Instructions for Recommenders: U.K. & Ireland Awards
Students: Provide this web page to each person who will recommend you to be nominated by UMass Amherst for Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Churchill, and/or Gates Cambridge scholarships. Be sure to give faculty adequate time to write a substantive letter.
Dear Faculty,
This student requests your support in his or her bid for UMass Amherst nomination to the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Churchill, and/or Gates Cambridge scholarship. To compete for these rigorous programs, your student requires an exceptionally strong letter. If you do not believe you can provide a detailed and enthusiastic letter, please decline to write; the student will be best served by the chance to seek another letter.
Please provide ample detail and evidence of the following information in your letter:
- familiarity with the candidate (i.e., nature and duration of your relationship)
- his/her current and past accomplishments
- his/her leadership potential (especially for distinction in chosen field and profession)
- a comparison of the student to his or her peers (i.e., top X% or other description)
- his/her preparation for research or study while abroad
- his/her ability to carry out the proposed research or study while abroad
- how such plans fit into the candidate’s long-range career goals
- why you believe that she/he merits strong consideration by the nomination committee
- don’t be afraid to be enthusiastic if this is a terrific student