New Delhi: To many, being a Rhodes scholar might mean a future of success and celebrity. But the reality could be something else.
Two Harvard students, including an NRI — both of whom are currently Rhodes scholars at Oxford — have come out in public with a scathing attack on the academic system at the hallowed institution, saying that "the glitter and prestige of the big name scholarship may be less appealing under closer inspection."
"This admission may be shocking," Melissa Dell (23) from Oklahoma and Swati Mylavarapu (23) from Florida — both Rhodes scholars of 2005 at Oxford University — write in an opinion piece, titled 'Oxford Blues', on The Harvard Crimson, a newspaper produced by the Ivy League University.
"After all, William J Clinton, Kris Kristofferson and David H Souter ’61 are just a few former Rhodes scholars who immediately come to mind. But for those of us who have spent time at Oxford on the renowned scholarship, the title bespeaks a frustrating academic experience," they claim.
The duo complains of an "outdated" academic system, "irregular teachers" and "poor supervision" in this prestigious institution.
"As enchanting as the university’s ancient spires may seem, Oxford’s outdated academic system is far less charming. The university’s trimester system means students are out of school more than in. In contrast to Harvard professors’ regular office hours, Oxford advisors spend more time avoiding emails than supervising students," they write.
"Here, where D Phil students struggle to have supervisors read their dissertations before submission, poor supervision is the rule, not the exception," the two write.
The two say Oxford University is "frustrating" and dismissed its world famous Bodleian library as "less than inspiring".
Apart from other things, the article also talks of "high attrition" in the faculty rosters, "as top-notch professors such as Niall Ferguson leave for more lucrative posts in the United States."
"There are no breaks for Rhodes scholars; in Oxford, you’ll be a dime per dozen. If you’re a Harvard Rhodes, expect the H-bomb to blow up in your face. Your undergrad alma mater can stigmatise you in your department and Rhodes House alike," the students, whose courses are due to finish this summer, write.
The Rhodes scholarships were founded by the 1902 bequest of Cecil Rhodes, the adventurer-magnate who gave his name to Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.
Under this programme, 90 American and Commonwealth citizens are funded to study at Oxford each year and are regarded as among the world's most notable academic prizes.
Dell is studying economic and social history at Trinity College and Mylavarapu is taking the same subject at Wolfson.
"If you have visions of debates with famous Nobel prize winners, expect instead to be taught in a lecture half by an apathetic post-doc," they write about the status of the Rhodes programme.
Comments
0 comment