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PETALING JAYA: Three Malaysians have been selected to attend Harvard College, the undergraduate school of Harvard University, for the class of 2027.

They are Ho Shu Xin from Ipoh, and Pua E Rick and Sydny Lum from Kuala Lumpur.

The college received a total of 56,937 applications with a 3.4% acceptance rate.

The three Malaysians were among the 14.5% of international students from across 102 countries selected to attend Harvard College out of a total of 1,942 students admitted.

Both Ho and Pua are currently A-Levels students at Kolej Yayasan UEM while Lum is an A-Level student at Garden International School (GIS).

Ho intends to major in Educational Psychology, Pua will be pursuing studies in Biological Sciences while Lum plans to major in Economics.

In Malaysia, there are currently fewer than 10 alumni of Harvard College.

Harvard College’s financial aid policy

This year marks the second consecutive year that Harvard College has expanded its financial aid policy for low- and middle-income families.

The cost to attend Harvard College will be free for families with annual incomes falling below US$85,000 (about RM375,000), an increase from last year’s threshold of US$75,000. Nearly 25% of Harvard College students come from families earning below this threshold.

Since launching the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative in 2005, the university has awarded more than US$3 billion in support, and its annual aid budget has risen by more than 200%, from the initial US$80 million to US$246 million in 2023.

The college has also waived standardised testing requirements for the third year running.

Nadiah Wan, an alumni interviewer for Harvard College and Harvard Club of Malaysia president, said the college’s admissions is “need-blind and financial aid is 100% need-based”.

“This means that students are admitted solely based on their ability and character regardless of socio-economic background and financial ability to pay. If a student is admitted, Harvard is committed to ensuring that they can afford to attend.

“This gives an opportunity for talented students across the globe, including Malaysia, to access its world-class research and education system,” she said in a statement.