For the first time in years more Harvard seniors have applied for Rhodes scholarships than for Marshalls.

Applications for the Rhodes scholarships rose from 88 in 1967 to 96 this year, while Marshall applications fell from 99 to 83. Over the past three years Rhodes applications have steadily increased while Marshall applications have consistently fallen off.

Quality, if not Quantity

Eugene Kinasewich, assistant dean of the College, expressed dismay at the decline in Marshall applications. He noted that this year's group was stronger academically and more active politically and socially than in previous years. "We have better Marshall material than Rhodes," Kinasewich said, "and I think we have the academic power to warrant more Marshall applicants."

Kinasewich offered three suggestions to account for the shift to Rhodes Scholarships.

More Rhodes

* Harvard has not done as well in winning Marshall Scholarships as it has in getting Rhodes. In the past 10 years Harvard has received only 5 Marshall awards. But Harvard seniors have won 33 Rhodes Scholarships in the past 5 years, over one-fifth of all the Rhodes in the country.

* The character of the two awards is very different. Kinasewich described the Marshall interview committees as looking for someone who would get the most out of a research library. The social side of a student's interests, he said, were less important than in the Rhodes.

* A Rhodes Scholarship appears prestigious enough to qualify as the basis for a draft deferment in a number of local boards. Kinasewich noted, however, that most draft boards are wary of giving special treatment to winners of either award.

"We will not be able to tell exactly what accounts for the increase in Rhodes over Marshalls until we have interviewed the applicants," Kinasewich said. He added that he hoped to see a greater increase in applications for the Sheldon, Shaw and Knox Travelling Fellowships.