Five Harvard men, selected last week as Rhodes scholars, will cross the Atlantic next fall to begin two or three years of study at England's Oxford University.

Of the 32 American students awarded scholarships in accordance with the will of Cecil Rhodes, three are Harvard undergraduates, Robert J. Cumming '38, A. Jerome Himelhoch '38, and Courtney D. C. Smith '38. One alumnus, Chadbourne Gilpatric '37, and one graduate student, Leslie G. McConnell, Jr. 1G, also received the awards.

Cumming, who is concentrating in Philosophy and Classics, said last night that he is planning to "read" for an A.B. degree in Theology. He is a member of the Classical Club, and a retired secretary of the Student Union.

"Great Responsibility"

An Economics and Philosophy concentrator, Himelhoch plans to read for a Ph.D. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. "It's a pretty serious responsibility," the retired vice-president of the H.S.U. said yesterday, "but I'm doing my best to read up on Oxford."

Smith, concentrating in English, will go on to take a Ph.D. in English.

All three have received large blue questionaires from the Boy Scouts of America, requesting such information as "What do you think of scouting?" and "Do you feel that scouting helped you to become a Rhodes Scholar?"

Provided for by the will of Cecil John Rhodes, who died in 1902 after establishing the British Empire in South Africa, the scholarships are awarded yearly to 32 male, single, American citizens who have completed at least Sophomore work in college at the time of application.

Qualifications Enumerated

The qualities which Rhodes specified as composing the criterion for selection included: literary and schoastic ability and attainments; qualities of "manhood, truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy, kindliness, unselfishness, and fellowship"; exhibition of "moral force of character and of instincts to lead and to take an interest in his schoolmates"; physical vigor.

Financial need does not constitute a special claim for consideration; some definite quality of distinction is the most important requirement.

The competition is organized by states, and by eight districts of six contiguous states. Prospective candidates may apply either from the state in which he lives, or that in which he has received at least two years of college education.