PETALING JAYA: It was a surprise for Khow Jin Xen, 18, when he was accepted into Harvard College at Harvard University as the only Malaysian admitted this year.
Thinking he would not be accepted, Khow was thrilled when he clicked on the “check status” tab on the institution’s application portal, only to be greeted with confetti on the screen, indicating a successful admission.
He was one of only three shortlisted from Malaysia this year, said Harvard alumni interviewer Wan Nadiah Wan Mohd Abdullah Yaakob.
“University applications have always been an afterthought until my teachers started to pressure me to apply,” he said.
The teenager from Puchong, Selangor, initially did not plan to apply to the Ivy League university but eventually did so due to its prestige.
This was reinforced by the fact that he had not participated in many extracurricular activities to “woo” admissions officers.
“I really just loved exploring and identifying issues in Malaysia, finding what I was passionate about and what I really wanted to solve.
“As much as the admissions process makes me feel like my admission is purely meritocratic, if you look at it statistically, it all boils down to luck.
“So, I am extremely grateful to have won what is essentially the lottery,” he said.
Besides Harvard, Khow received offers from other top schools such as Yale, Princeton, Stanford, the University of California, Berkeley, Imperial College London and the University of Bath, among others.
The elder of two children, Khow said his parents were not very strict when he was growing up and allowed him to explore his interests, even if the endeavour did not work out.
“I think that’s been really critical in allowing me to explore the world from many different lenses,” he added.
He will be pursuing a Bachelor of Arts and hopes to major in physics and economics at Harvard College.
“I hope to continue exploring contemporary global issues through different perspectives and Harvard’s breadth will allow me to take a wide range of in-depth courses with world-leading professors,” he said.
Khow hopes to bring the knowledge he acquires there back to Malaysia.
“Being a Malaysian, I’m excited at the prospect of contributing to groundbreaking global research and bringing it back to solve local issues,” he added.
He advised aspiring applicants to be their “authentic selves”.
“In a world full of high achievers, prioritise your personality. Pursue what you truly love and never lose your human spirit and what makes you human,” he added.
Khow, who completed his A-Levels at Sunway College and his IGCSE at Rafflesia International School, will be leaving for the United States in August.
He will receive financial aid from the university’s endowment programme to pursue his degree.
