FOR the first time ever, five Malaysian students were accepted into the Harvard College class of 2026 despite the distinguished institution having its lowest acceptance rate since its establishment in 1636. 

In a statement, Harvard College alumni interviewers for Malaysia said this has been the largest number of Malaysian students admitted to Harvard College at the same time in the country’s history. 

“The five Malaysian students received offers of admission amid stiff competition from a global applicant pool of 61,220 students,” it said. 

“The acceptance rate for the class of 2026 was the lowest rate in the school’s 386-year history, at 3.19%.” 

According to the group, the Malaysian cohort of students comes from diverse backgrounds.

The five are Chooi Je Qin, Herman Leong Xin Yang, Ishant Shah, Carisma Michaela Wong and Lee Ee Jeen.

Chooi Je Qin, from Johor, completed his secondary school education at SMK Sultan Ismail and is now pursuing A level at Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar.

Herman Leong Xin Yang, from Penang, attended SMJK Chung Ling Butterworth and is now attending the A level programme at Kolej Yayasan UEM (KYUEM) on a Public Service Department scholarship.

Ishant Shah from Penang attended SMK Bukit Jambul and is now pursuing the Canadian International Matriculation Programme at Sunway College, while Carisma Michaela Wong from Sabah attended SM Stella Maris in Tanjung Aru and is now studying A level at KYUEM on a Yayasan Khazanah scholarship. 

The fifth student, Lee Ee Jenn, from Kuala Lumpur, is currently doing A level at Garden International School and received her early admissions offer from the college earlier this year. 

The five students plan to pursue studies in a wide range of fields from astrophysics, biochemistry, economics, environmental science and public policy to politics and sociology.

“We are thrilled that a record-breaking five Malaysian students were accepted to Harvard College in a single year,” said Wan Nadiah, a Harvard College alumni interviewer for Malaysia. 

“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,” she said. 

In announcing its admissions decisions, Harvard College also announced that families earning under $US75,000 (RM316,000) per annum will not be charged tuition, an increase from the previous threshold for full financial aid of USD65,000. 

Harvard practices need-blind admission, a process that ensures that the application process is independent of the student’s application for financial aid or their ability to pay academic tuition fees. – April 4, 2022.