Jacob Wendell Scholarship Prize

The Jacob Wendell Scholarship Prize, which was established in 1899 by bequest of Jacob Wendell, is awarded to a Harvard College sophomore identified by the selection committee as the most promising and broad-ranging scholar in the student's class, without reference to financial need. This prize of $21,000 is awarded on the basis of a student’s first-year academic record, writing sample, short essay, and letter of recommendation.

Students who complete their first year at Harvard College in the top tier of their class are invited to apply for the Wendell Prize by the Prize Office in the July after their first year at Harvard.

For the 2026–2027 competition, all parts of the application will be due by 11:59 p.m. on September 17, 2026.