For many students, getting into Harvard sounds like a faraway dream reserved only for geniuses or people who have planned for it their whole lives.
But for 18-year-old Malaysian Khow Jin Xen, a Sunway A-Level student, his advice is surprisingly simple: just give it a try.
After making Malaysia proud as the only Malaysian accepted into Harvard University this year, Jin Xen recently sat down with WeirdKaya to share what the moment felt like, why Harvard was never exactly his “dream school”, and what he hopes other Malaysian students can learn from his journey.
Found out while half-asleep
Speaking to WeirdKaya, Jin Xen recalled the nerve-wrecking moment he opened the Harvard admissions portal.
According to him, he was still half-asleep when he checked the portal, not expecting too much from it.
But after refreshing the page, he was greeted with the confetti animation, which meant one thing: he had been accepted into Harvard.
I was very surprised because when I opened the portal, I was half-awake,” he shared.
The moment, as expected, was an emotional one for him.
“However, when I clicked ‘refresh’, the confetti actually did pop up. It was a very exhilarating experience” he said.
Harvard was never his dream school
Interestingly, Jin Xen admitted that Harvard was never really his childhood dream.
In fact, he said he never had one specific dream school in mind.
I feel like Harvard was never really a dream. I never really had a dream school like that,” he said.
To him, getting into Harvard and the other top universities he applied to was more like a ‘cherry on top’ to the journey he had already built through his interests, efforts, and experiences.
Previously, WeirdKaya reported that Jin Xen also received offers from several other top institutions, including Yale, Princeton, Stanford, the University of California, Berkeley, Imperial College London, and the University of Bath.
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‘Harvard is not only for geniuses’
When asked whether Harvard is only for geniuses, Jin Xen said he does not see himself that way.
No, Harvard is not just for geniuses. I don’t think I’m a genius,” he said.
Instead, he believes universities like Harvard look for students who are not only strong academically, but also interesting as individuals.
He explained that admissions officers are trying to build a class made up of people with different stories, strengths, and perspectives.
“You want to create a class that is not just people who are good in academics,” he said.
For Jin Xen, students should not only chase achievements blindly, but also remember to build a school life that is healthy, meaningful, and happy.
Of course, he admitted that time management is still important, especially when trying to reach the highest level academically.
Bringing a piece of Malaysia with him
Despite heading to one of the world’s most prestigious universities, Jin Xen is still very much rooted in his Malaysian identity.
He jokingly shared that whenever he goes for international competitions, he loves bringing Maggi mee along with him, calling it something close to his heart.
As he prepares to begin his journey at Harvard, he said he is excited to attend classes taught by people who have written textbooks and contributed greatly to their fields.
At the same time, he admitted that he does feel nervous about the competition there.
“I’m quite scared because the competition there is quite strong,” he said.
Still, he hopes to find his own community and do well throughout his time there.
‘Belum try, belum tahu’
When asked what advice he has for Malaysians who dream of entering top universities, Jin Xen kept it simple.
“Tak pernah cuba, tak pernah tahu,” he quipped.
He added that some Malaysians may feel like they are at a disadvantage compared to applicants from the US or other countries, but he does not believe that should stop them from trying.
According to him, Malaysian students are more capable as we have our own unique culture, background, and identity, and that can become a strength too.
Malaysia is more capable than you think. You have a very unique culture and a very unique identity,” he said.
Jin Xen also hopes to see more Malaysians making it to Harvard in the future.
“Hopefully, I’ll be able to see more Malaysians at Harvard next year. Good luck,” he said.
His story is a reminder that sometimes, the first step is not about being 100% sure you will get it.
Sometimes, it is really just about trying.
