Staying home all those Saturday nights may finally be paying off for dedicated students with eyes fixed on the prize-Marshall and Rhodes scholarships.

Select Rhodes and Marshall fellowship hopefuls received Harvard's nomination yesterday, bringing them to the next level of the scholarship application process.

Applicants found out if they made the first cut either by checking with their fellowship advisors or by going to the Office of Career Services (OCS). Because of security concerns, OCS did not post the list of students selected-as in years past-but required students to ask OCS staff in person.

Harvard nominated 42 of its 101 applicants for the American Rhodes, one of four applicants for the Canadian Rhodes, and 29 of 66 applicants for the Marshall.

This year, Harvard endorsed slightly fewer applicants. According to fellowships director Paul A. Bohlmann, the drop did not come about from a change in policy, but simply because of yearly fluctuation.

Also, the office has said in recent years that it has been asked by the British government to keep the number of Marshall nominees to the lower 30s.

"It's very nice; I'm glad to represent Harvard. It's such a competitive process," said Gopal Garuda '98, who was nominated for both the Rhodes and Marshall.

The Marshall and Rhodes are fellowships that pay for two to three years of graduate study in the United Kingdom. Students must apply with a certain area of study in mind.

Irene Ng '98-who was nominated for the Rhodes-wants to study British colonialism in Southeast Asia and to eventually serve as an ambassador or economic adviser to Malaysia, where she lived until she was 14.

"I'm excited, but I am still keeping a perspective," Ng said. "The road only gets tougher from now on."

The next step for nominees will be filling out the official Rhodes and Marshall applications and sending them to their respective home states or regions. Selected applicants will then take the final test-interviews in November or early December-and those chosen after the interview process receive scholarships.

"The Rhodes interview is supposed to be one of the toughest there is," said David F. Elmer '98, who was nominated for both the Rhodes and Marshall.

Former Rhodes Scholars include U.S. President Bill Clinton, author George Stephanopoulos, University President Neil L. Rudenstine and noted actor Kris Kristofferson. Harvard's Faculty boasts nine Marshall scholars, including Professor of the History of Science Anne Harrington '82, Bohlmann said.

"This whole process is such a crap shoot," said Steven R. Hill '98, who was nominated for a Rhodes. "The best you can do is the best you can do.