The nation made history when it recorded the admission of five Malaysian students to the prestigious Harvard University for the 2026 session.
The five students are Chooi Je Qin and Herman Leong Xin Yang, who are both A-levels students and Ishant Shah, who is currently doing his matriculation.
The other two students are Carisma Michaela Wong, from Sabah and Lee Ee Jenn, from Kuala Lumpur.
The students would be pursuing their studies in various fields such as Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Economics, Environmental Science and Public Policy, Politics as well as Sociology.
In a recent statement, the Harvard College Alumni Interviewers for Malaysia said this is the highest number of students from Malaysia admitted in the same year to the undergraduate school throughout the country’s history.
“The five Malaysian students received offers of admission amidst stiff competition from a global applicantion pool of 61,220 students. The acceptance rate for the class of 2026 was the lowest in the school’s 386-year history, at 3.19 per cent.
“Until recently, we had at most two students admitted per year and sometimes even none. What is so remarkable is the variety of ways in which each of these five students showcased their outstanding qualities,” one of the interviewers said.
According to reports in the New Straits Times, Harvard said families making below USD75,000 (RM316,000) annually will not be charged tuition, an increase from the previous threshold for full financial aid of USD65,000.
“It has always been the mission of Harvard College to provide educational opportunities to the best and brightest students around the world from all backgrounds, regardless of their social or economic status.
“This singular focus on excellence is integral to Harvard’s vision to serve as a haven for the world’s most ambitious scholars and leaders.
“For families who earn between USD75,000 and USD150,000 (RM632,895) annually, the expected contribution for fees is between zero and ten per cent of their annual income.
“That makes Harvard amazingly affordable compared to many other higher education institutions, locally or internationally.”
