On Nov. 15, eight Harvard undergraduates were awarded the 2026 Rhodes Scholarship and will head to Oxford in Fall 2027. Five recipients are from international constituencies—Sazi Bongwe ’26, Je Qin “Jay” Choi ’26, Will Flintloft ’26, Hairong “Helen” He ’26, and Fajr Khan ’26—and three from the American constituency—Anil Cacodcar ’26, Yael Goldstein ’26, and Emma Finn ’26. They are among 106 recipients worldwide. Chosen for their academic achievements, leadership, and character, Rhodes Scholars represent some of the best and brightest students across the globe. Harvard has produced more American Rhodes Scholars than any other college globally, totaling 402 to date.
The Rhodes Scholarship, established in 1902, is the world’s oldest and one of the most prestigious international scholarship programs. It originally selected 57 scholars annually across nine constituencies: the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia), New Zealand, Bermuda and Jamaica, and Germany. After World War II, its geographic diversity expanded; it now includes 25 constituencies and a Global selection, cumulatively electing 106 scholars each year.
The United States Rhodes Scholarship awards 32 American students full funding for postgraduate study at Oxford University, selecting candidates on four criteria: literary and scholastic achievements; energy to use one’s talents to the full; truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness, and fellowship; and moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one’s fellow beings.
Of nearly 2,800 U.S. applicants, 965 first received institutional endorsements by submitting materials: Grade Point Average (3.7-4.0), five to eight references, and several essays to their college fellowship office. The official Rhodes application is due in early October, and candidates are placed into 16 geographic districts by residency. Each district hosts receptions and in-person interviews in mid-November, then selects two scholars, announced immediately after deliberations.
Anil Cacodcar ’26
A senior in Cabot House from Louisiana, Cacodcar double-concentrates in Economics and Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology. At Oxford, he hopes to pursue a Master of Philosophy in Economics, focusing on the intersection of public opinion research and public health for disease prevention.
“Junior fall, I started to think about what it would mean to study at Oxford for two years a bit more seriously, ” Cacodcar said in an interview with the Harvard Independent. “It was the first time since senior year of high school—when you write the Common App essay—I got to seriously reflect on how my experiences fit together and to really connect those dots.”
“To reflect on the village it has taken to get me here has been the most meaningful part of this process,” Cacodcar added. “Not just during the application process, but also after, thinking about everyone from my first-grade teacher to my senior thesis advisor who has made such a tremendous impact on my life and been so invested in my growth.”
American candidates learn whether they are among the 32 Scholars after a few hours of deliberations following final interviews.
“I literally think I said ‘wow’ out loud after my name was called. This is just one of those things that leaves you speechless; I remember the first person I called was my little brother… It was just really special,” Cacodcar said.
With a keen interest in global health, Cacodcar expressed his excitement in studying the operational challenges of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, which provides high-quality healthcare free at the point of use: “I am looking forward to not just the Rhodes community, but the Oxford community…learning about the people in the United Kingdom: their beliefs and their attitudes towards the economy, towards politics, towards healthcare,” he said.
Emma Finn ’26
Finn, a senior in Currier House studying Mathematics and Classics, plans to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics at Oxford. The Rhodes Scholarship will fund up to three years of her doctoral study. Currently, her research focuses on how machine learning models may better align with human values. Finn plans to continue her investigation of building and interpreting AI systems to ultimately inform future regulation.
“The technical research agenda I was pursuing seemed really interesting intellectually and really amazing and fulfilling,” Finn said. Finn knew she would be applying to Ph.D. programs but was unsure whether the Rhodes application would be worth it. She decided around spring break of her junior year to apply.
“Like a lot of people, I was kind of on the fence because it seemed so unrealistic…But I had some good conversations with my [Principal Investigator] and then a couple of faculty mentors at Harvard about what I wanted to do,” Finn said. “I had the opportunity and the obligation to contribute to the greater good in some way.”
During evaluation, prospective scholars have about two weeks to prepare for their first-round interviews in an already busy senior fall. “All of my mock interviews were by far my favorite part. It was a really good excuse to have people interrogate me about what my values were, what I wanted to do in the world, what mattered to me,” Finn reflected.
“At Oxford, there are so many faculty members whom I’m just so excited to meet, whose research I’ve been reading.” Finn continued, “To meet them, ask questions about their work, potentially collaborate with them, is just so exciting to me.”
Hairong “Helen” He ’26
A senior in Currier House, He studies Computer Science and East Asian Studies. At Oxford, she plans to obtain a Master’s in Computer Science and another in traditional Chinese Studies to pursue research on how technology can preserve cultural heritage.
He is a recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship for China, which made her application process slightly different. Two of her interviews were held virtually, and she attended a final in-person interview in Hong Kong.
International students may apply to constituencies based on citizenship and permanent residency, regardless of where they attend college.
“I felt very privileged that there was this opportunity where someone could read through all your materials and talk with you so in-depth about what I care about in the virtual interviews,” He said. “The final interview was pretty intense, but also a wonderful opportunity to meet other candidates from China coming from different universities across the world.”
Cacodcar, Finn, and He are looking forward to continuing their studies and joining the community of Rhodes Scholars, adding their names to the ranks of Harvard alumni.
All three said they look forward to joining the Rhodes community, exchanging research, and gaining a deeper understanding of the scholars they met during interviews and how those peers hope to shape the future.
“Listening and hearing, learning from every individual person in the community, is what I’m most excited about, because it’s such a diverse and vibrant, dynamic community,” He said. “I’m really excited to collaborate with them…to turn research into something that has societal impact.”
Sophia Gonzalez ’28 (sophiagonzalez@college.harvard.edu) hopes that these scholars’ stories inspire prospective candidates.