A year after being shut out of the Rhodes Scholarship competition for the first time since 1930, Harvard nabbed five of the 32 spots awarded this year—the most of any college.

Neil R. Brown ’01, Albert H. Cho ’02, Stephen E. Sachs ’02, Andrew Park ’01-’02 and Robert R. Porter ’00-’02 were all named recipients of the prestigious award yesterday.

They will spend the next two to three years studying at the University of Oxford in England.

Harvard now boasts 300 Rhodes Scholars.

Sachs, who will be studying philosophy, politics and economics, said that he feels fortunate to have made it through all the “hoops” that applicants are forced to jump through.

He said that, while he enjoyed the more informal events like the final cocktail party, he was particularly unnerved when an interviewer asked, “What makes you sad?”

“I was so shell-shocked I can’t remember how I responded, but I guess they liked my answer,” said Sachs, who is also a Crimson executive.

The winners all completed the arduous application process, which includes a Harvard endorsement, a state application, a cocktail party and interviews for regional finalists.

The Rhodes Scholarship, which was established in 1902 by the will of British explorer Cecil Rhodes, is the oldest international study award for American students.

Sachs, a St. Louis native, said that he is looking forward to experiencing British culture, especially after writing his thesis on English commercial law.

Porter said that he decided to apply for the scholarship after hearing great things about Oxford from professors who were former Rhodes Scholars and friends who attend Oxford.

Porter will focus on political theory and hopes to eventually have a career in public policy and service.

“Having grown up in D.C., I experienced politics firsthand and have been enthralled ever since,” he said.

Porter, who now lives in Belmont, said he is still in “disbelief” that he won the renowned scholarship.

Cho echoed Porter’s surprise.