“I never in a million years dreamed this could actually happen,” Cho said. “Rhodes Scholars are those insane, really gifted people and I didn’t think that was me.”

The Tempe, Ariz. native will use the scholarship to pursue a masters of philosophy in developmental studies or economic or social history.

Brown said his mother burst into tears when she found out he had won.

Brown, who took the spring term of his junior year off to live in a refugee camp in Nepal, will work towards a masters in migration and development studies at Oxford.

Cho, whose dad was almost in tears after he told him the good news, said that he feels the honor belongs more to his friends and family than himself.

“It’s not something that I’ve earned,” Cho said. “It’s more of a tribute to people who have helped me along the way.”

Sachs said his parents were elated that he had won.

“They made sure to call my elementary teachers, who all claim to have predicted it way back when,” he said.

Cho said that he did not experience any of the “horror stories” that the Rhodes application process is notorious for, but made many new friends.

Park, from Wheeling, Ill., could not be reached for comment.

Winners of Rhodes scholarships this year were chosen from 925 applicants who came from 319 colleges.

Rhodes selections are made based on academic achievement, as well as personal qualities such as integrity and leadership.

—Staff writer Anne K. Kofol can be reached at kofol@fas.harvard.edu.