Information For Recommenders
In your letter, please comment on the applicant's general fitness for the degree program(s) proposed, and the suitability of the university chosen (why their studies and proposed career would be best served by being at a British university). As much as possible, include details about the applicant's performance in your course(s) in terms of their writing, research, analytical ability, and contribution to class discussion, etc., to make a case as to why you think they will succeed in graduate school. Observations about the candidate's general character as well as academic standing and ability will be of great value to the selection authorities in deciding which candidates should be invited for an interview at the Regional Centre. If you can compare the student favorably with others you have taught (for instance, "this student is in the top 1% of students I have taught in 23 years), please do.
The Selectors look for candidates who have the potential to excel as scholars, as leaders, and as contributors to an improved UK-U.S. understanding. Reviewers will base their selection on the candidate's academic merit, leadership potential and ambassadorial potential. Preference is given to candidates who combine high academic ability with the capacity to play an active part in the life of the United Kingdom university to which they go, and who display potential to make a significant contribution to their own society. As you craft your letter, you may find helpful our suggestions for writers of recommendation letters. The director of fellowships is also happy to provide feedback on your letter before you submit it. Write to coverstreet@amherst.edu.
Format and submission: Kindly submit your letter by August 25, 2025 at NOON so that the Committee on Student Fellowships can review it along with the candidate's other application materials. Your letter provides information critical to the committee's endorsement decision, therefore the letter you write for the internal deadline should be your complete letter - not a preliminary draft. Marshall letters have a 1,000 word limit. It is expected that you will have a lot to say about the applicant and will need about that much space to say it. (If you don't feel you can write a robust letter, please decline the student's request. A scant letter will not help their candidacy and they should find someone else who can say more.) Note that the applicant must ask for three letters -- two that are academically-focused and one that primarily addresses leadership and ambassadorial potential. The applicant should make clear to you which kind of letter you are writing.
Letters are submitted by copying and pasting into an online portal. Your letter will be easier to read if you create a line of space between each paragraph in the text window. You will receive an email invitation from the Marshall Scholarship Application system providing a link and instructions for submitting the letter. Please address your letter to the Marshall Scholarship Selection Committee. In the portal, you will be able to see the applicant's materials, but they will not be able to see your letter content. Information for recommenders on the Marshall website.
