The Harvard Society of Fellows is a collection of luminaries selected by Harvard University to be held close to its bosom, given special honors, thrown elegant dinners, and upon whom various privileges are bestowed. Membership in the society is for life.

Fellows are selected based on their previous academic accomplishments, and are often financially supported for one or two years after induction into the Society, and encouraged to do whatever work or travel they wish during that time. Fellows are also called upon to give lectures at the university, both to specific departments and, famously, to the university at large.

Junior Fellows

Ten promising scholars are selected each year as Junior Fellows to give men and women at an early stage of their scholarly careers an opportunity to pursue their studies in any department of Harvard University, free from formal requirements. They must be persons of exceptional ability, originality, and resourcefulness. These Junior Fellows are selected by the Senior Fellows, who with the President of the University and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, ex officio, administer the Society. Those elected receive three year fellowships.

External links

• Society of Fellows, Harvard University - the official website (http://www.socfell.fas.harvard.edu)
• About the Society (http://www.socfell.fas.harvard.edu/about.html)
• Environment for Genius? (http://www.harvard-magazine.com/issues/nd98/genius.html)