For those who are admitted, however, the ungraded seminars are among their favorite Harvard offerings.

This fall, 22 seminars are available on topics ranging from the "scientific analysis of materials" to "identity, authority and gender in Medieval Europe."

"I wanted a small class and I like discussion, so I'm happy about the seminar," says Anton D. Ford '98, who was accepted to three seminars and enrolled in one on the United States in the 1960s. "And of course the fact that they're pass/fail didn't hurt."

Guthke says the lack of graded work benefits those in the courses.

"The students are not working for a grade," he says. "All they get is a letter describing what they did that goes into their file."

"This creates a more relaxed atmosphere in which they can follow their intellectual instincts and explore," the professor adds. "They are searching for knowledge, for the joy of discovery."