<p>I'm a French national, who's ethnically Asian, and currently residing and attending school in a French school overseas. So how does Harvard (and other colleges) determine the country you're applying from? Is it nationality? Country of residence? I'm really confused about this.</p>
<p>I am not sure why it should be of any concern to you. You list your home address and school address, which could be different. You check off if you are an American citizen or permanent resident, and check off what is your ethnicity. </p>
<p>If you are an American citizen/permanent resident then you will be eligible for FA (not sure if Harvard offers FA to international students). Your application will be read with applicants from your school, school’s country/region (not with students from your home address).</p>
<p>As an example, we lived in Latin America for 2 years and our daughter went to a local high school. She was an American with overseas home address. She was compared with students from her high school. Her current university listed her as a student from LatAm, even though we moved back to the US after she matriculated.</p>
<p>If your home address is from some exotic part of Asia then list it by all means. Harvard may find it interesting, but I am pretty certain you will be compared with students from your French school.</p>
<p>Nope, east asia. That lowers my chances a whole bunch, I guess. Thanks for the quick answer!</p>
<p>“That lowers my chances a whole bunch” Any non-US citizen faces huge odds given the huge applicant pool (H gives generous Fin Aid). East Asia origin or not.</p>
<p>Errr…in the common application u have to mention ur country of birth, citizenship and ur current adress. So i think they’ll be able to figure out ur origin just fine.</p>