He started in UAE from grade 6, before he was in Belarus. But we are citizens of Belarus and never will be citizens of UAE. That country never given citizenship even if you will live all life here
He applied to Harvard EA. Now we are thinking about next steps
For sure he filled in common app list of schools. But that is just list - five years here, four years there…
Nothing about his efforts, problems, victories. My idea is that information can help to admissions to see his personality, not just his high statistics.
His application will be read be the AO handling UAE, and his academics/ECs will be compared to other applicants from the UAE, not Belarus.
In terms of Harvard, the next steps are sit and wait. The applications have been read by the AOs. Those applications in final review (which is just a percentage of the total applications) is currently being presented to the full admissions committee. It’s unlikely that anything he does now will impact the application.
Having said that, I hope he is progressing with writing applications for colleges other than Harvard. The Common App essay, which can be changed for future submissions, may be an opportunity for him to tell his story. There are several prompts from which to choose. For example: “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.” Now, perhaps the essay that he wrote for Harvard was a better essay; I can.t judge.
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No, to change Common App essay is not an option. He even didn’t show it to me. But I seen how he worked on it. He didn’t just wrote this essay, I believe he put part of his soul in it. I wouldn’t ask him to change this essay just to enter some additional information.
Some another ideas how to add this story to Common App?
On geographic diversity, when Harvard says that they have 137 countries represented, that is across the whole university. Many of the countries are represented by students in the graduate schools. Both Belarus and UAE are in this category. So, both countries are currently represented.
Yes, I know. I mean statistics for college, he applying for undergraduate. And as I got that is not so important
School specific essays may allow him the opportunity to highlight his background. Remember though, the essays should not be a mere factual “biography”, but should be about how his background has shaped him and brought forth attributes that will be a positive factor for the school.
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But as I know most of universities set obligatory topics for school specific essays
Many are pretty open ended.
See this one for Yale, “2. Reflect on your engagement with a community to which you belong. How do you feel you have contributed to this community?”
Or this one for Princeton, “Culture is what presents us with the kinds of valuable things that can fill a life. And insofar as we can recognize the value in those things and make them part of our lives, our lives are meaningful.” Gideon Rosen, Stuart Professor of Philosophy and chair, Department of Philosophy, Princeton University.”
The point is not to write a biography, but to use his unique background as a reference point for these kinds open ended topics.
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I’m not sure how many kids from Belarus are studying in UAE, but there are quite a few in the US. Also, many kids from all the “stans”, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. I do not think those kids are rare these days.
We know one kid from Belarus from our math circle and he is outstanding.
The point of the personal statement isn’t to explain your background or let them know how quickly you mastered English.
Ok, big thanks to All for clarification
@skieurope If not a secret, what is quota for UAE?
There are no quotas for any country. Currently there are 0 students from the UAE attending Harvard College.
http://www.hio.harvard.edu/statistics (filter for students, Harvard College, country).
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@BKSquared is correct; there is no min/max quota per country. That said, if you look at Australia, as an example, they have 25 students, so roughly 6 per year. Aside from the fact that probably half of them are athletic recruits for rowing, the number admitted this year will probably be close to 6, so there should be no expectation that there will be 15. Similarly, for UAE, the number may be 0 or 1 or 2, but I doubt it will be more.
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@skieurope I apologize that asking you question after question, but for me that doesn’t just curiosity. I’m confident that you very competent person in admissions. But from two your last answers I got that you don’t feel difference between “applicant from UAE” and “citizen of UAE”, though this difference is huge.
Only 10% of living in UAE people are citizens of UAE. All another came from all over the world so as me. In school of my son are children from several dozens countries. So when you saying that in Harvard now are zero UAE students that is one thing. After 8 years in UAE I know very well that majority of local people haven’t big interest to study so not surprise that nobody of them managed to reach Harvard. But 90% of people graduating from UAE high schools are not UAE citizens. I just trying to understand how Harvard admissions system will work for case of my son.
@Alezzz To be clear, I do not work in admissions; none of us do. I offer my own perspective as someone who has gone through the process and has gained some knowledge over time, including from users on this site where I’ve worked for several years.
That said, I am aware of the demographics of the UAE. You are correct that I did not differentiate between UAE citizenship and residence. I don’t know if Harvard admissions will make that distinction either. As I said, your child will be evaluated against other applicants from the UAE. If he were to be accepted and enroll, I don’t know if they will then say that he’s from UAE or from Belarus for classification purposes. Frankly, I don’t think it matters.
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I’m involved. But not an adcom. Ime, ski is right on his bullets. Your son’s high school academic experience is in the UAE. That affects his review. Some colleges may not use the same principle.
If he were only there for a year program, that’s different.
But what you’re hearing from us is he needs the same “more” that all applicants do, when you target a tippy top in the US. And they’re holistic, meaning, in short, that academic success matters, but also more: activities, personal traits, how one stretches by choice. It may be time for you to turn to that, rather than which country or his proficiency in English.
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It also lists 0 Harvard College students from Belarus.
It may not be completely clear whether the countries in that link are of citizenship or residence. The absence of “Stateless” in the country options suggests that it may not be citizenship, but the absence of “United States” (where there may be high school and college students on non-immigrant visas living) suggests that it may not be residence.