Cole studied Classics at Harvard University and later studied Ancient Philosophy at the University of Oxford, where he taught after graduation. Cole is a co-founder of NYPS and oversees teaching and academic quality for the Fellowship.
The Academy Fellowship
Fully Funded
No Tuition
Six-Week Intensive
Jul 12 – Aug 23
In Person
Midtown Manhattan
2026 Applications Closed
Reopens Early 2027
Mission
We believe learning should begin in wonder. Education should not only help students achieve their goals, but help them find goals worth pursuing, and develop character, moral courage, and a genuine love of wisdom.
The New York Philosophical Society brings together curious, driven fellows to form an intellectual community centered on the close study of the great wisdom traditions of the ancient world.
Structure
Fellows meet two to three times per week in Manhattan for extended seminars of two to four hours. Between sessions, they are expected to complete 10–15 hours of independent reading and encouraged to attend NYPS events around the city and at the Met Museum.
The program runs from July 12 through August 23, 2026. It is fully funded, and students with financial need will receive a stipend to help cover materials and transportation.
Curriculum
Pedagogy
The Fellowship combines expert guidance with open seminar discussion, drawing on two traditions: chavrusa, paired study through mutual questioning of a text, and the Socratic method, testing a claim by following its logical path.
From the texts, Fellows will select excerpts to write two triptychs: three-part essays that consist of the strongest charitable reading of the text, the strongest critique against it, and a synthesis of the two.
Core Reading
The curriculum spans the great philosophical traditions of the ancient world.
Nicomachean Ethics
The Analects
Dao De Jing
Zhuangzi
Proverbs
The Book of Job
Ecclesiastes
The Bhagavad Gita
The Dhammapada
Republic
Meet the Faculty
The scholars and mentors helping guide students through the Fellowship.
Harrison studied Mathematics, Astrophysics, and Philosophy at the University of Chicago before beginning his career at Bridgewater Associates. Harrison leads the admissions and interview process for the Fellowship.
Ren received a Humanities Scholarship to study philosophy at Brandeis University before transferring to New York University. Ren co-founded NYPS and leads program architecture, operations, and school partnerships for the Fellowship.
Ojan is pursuing study in the cognitive sciences at Princeton University and serves as managing editor of the New York Journal of Philosophy. He oversees evaluation for the Fellowship's written curriculum.
Frequently Asked Questions.
What type of applicant are you looking for?
We are looking for students who are intellectually curious, introspective, and willing to have their thinking challenged. We are more interested in how you think and what you care about than in your academic achievement. There is no ideal background or profile.
Do I need prior philosophy experience?
No prior philosophy background is required or expected. Many of our strongest fellows have never taken a philosophy class. What matters is your willingness to read carefully and engage honestly.
Who is eligible?
The Academy Fellowship is open to rising juniors, rising seniors, and incoming college freshmen. Applicants must be between 16 and 19 years old for the duration of the Fellowship.
How much does tuition cost?
The program is entirely free of charge. Students with financial need will receive a stipend to cover materials and transportation. Financial need is determined through a brief, confidential section of the application.
How often do we meet in person?
Fellows meet two to three times per week in person for extended seminars in Manhattan and are expected to complete 10–15 hours of independent reading to prepare for each session.
Is the fellowship an overnight program or a commuter program?
The program is a day program. Fellows commute to Manhattan for seminars. Transportation stipends are available for those with demonstrated financial need.
For any questions you have which were not adequately answered by one of our FAQs, please reach out to us at fellowship@nyphilosophy.org and we will be happy to speak with you.