Senior ME major and Wolverine soccer captain Matt Niemeyer has seen his share of competition this fall, both on the field and off. Niemeyer was one of three U-M students nominated by the university to compete for an esteemed Rhodes Scholarship.
Rhodes Scholars are chosen through a highly competitive process. Only 32 scholarships are awarded annually by selection committees of the Rhodes Trust for two or three years of study at the University of Oxford. In the century that the Scholarships have been awarded, applicants from more than 300 U.S. colleges and universities have been chosen.
Criteria for a Rhodes Scholarship include outstanding academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential for leadership, and physical vigor, according to the scholarship Web site. Scholars are expected to make "effective and positive contribution[s] throughout the world" over the course of their lives and work. "Scholarships, in short, are investments in individuals rather than in project proposals."
Niemeyer says he pursued a Rhodes Scholarship to explore the social and economic history of medicine in order to learn about England's socialized healthcare system. "It would be an incredible opportunity to be studying abroad in England, and a beneficial experience prior to going to medical school, which is what I'm planning to do next fall."
During the selection process, interviewers draw questions from applicants' personal statements. Niemeyer fielded questions about soccer, the overlap between engineering and medicine and problems with healthcare policy in the United States and other countries. In preparation, "I tried to read as many articles in the Wall Street Journal and Economist magazine as I could in order to brush up on my current events and knowledge of healthcare." The interview, he says, was challenging, but thought-provoking. "Some of the questions I didn't have an answer for (for instance "What do you think should be done about the rising cost of pharmaceuticals in the United States?"), and most forced me to think on my feet."
In addition to his academic and intellectual pursuits, Niemeyer has volunteered at Mott Children's Hospital joining a group of athletes each week to visit with young patients and has served as a volunteer instructor for M Fit soccer clinics, teaching kids about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and smoking. But soccer has been his "major extracurricular activity" for the past four years. Five years ago, he was part of the first class to be recruited for the then new Michigan Varsity Soccer Team. "I've been fortunate to see the program grow from its humble beginnings to a nationally competitive program qualifying for the NCAA tournament the last two seasons."
As captain the past year he's played a key role in the team's success. He was recently named to the All-District IV men's soccer team and is the first Wolverine to earn Academic All-District honors. He was also just named to the ESPN Academic All-America team for men's soccer. He has earned three Academic All-Big Ten Conference citations and--not once but four times--the U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award.
Although Niemeyer was not among the 32 Rhodes Scholars chosen for 2005, he says the application process was an invaluable one. Having to write a short but descriptive essay about how his experiences in soccer, engineering and medicine and represent what's important to him "helped me solidify why I want to pursue medicine, allowed me to reflect on my athletic experiences, and forced me to put into words why they have been so influential."
The most rewarding part of the sometimes nerve-wracking process was "the interaction I had with people who supported me--the professors, coaches and administrators who wrote recommendations and helped me--really made the process a great one. And my friends, family and teammates were extremely supportive and encouraging. More than anything, these relationships have helped me grow and learn; they've made my college experience a great one."