Hello! I made an account just to post this because I am so conflicted. I am a dual American/Iranian citizen and I’m not sure whether I should put that on my common app. Perhaps it’s too late to even ask for advice, I need to submit it in about 6 hours!
Anyway, my Iranian heritage is important to me, I’ve traveled to Iran many times throughout my life (although I didn’t write about that for my essay or supplements, just didn’t fit with any prompts) and am often in contact with my family there. My father was born in Iran and moved to the US for college. Because he was born there, I’ve an Iranian passport/dual citizenship. (His birthplace is already on the app.) My mother, who isn’t Iranian but is also an immigrant, is convinced my citizenship will hurt my chances because of poor relations with Iran. My father thinks I absolutely need to put it on the app because it’s part of who I am. I’m inclined to agree with him, but I’m scared it could ruin my chances, especially after a guidance counselor told me she wasn’t sure whether or not it would hurt me.
Does anyone have any experience with this? What are your opinions? Thanks!!
(The app I need to submit tonight is early action for Harvard. Fingers crossed…)
There are some majors that may reject you outright (e.g. nuclear engineering) but if you do not want to major in a national security-sensitive field, then it will have less of an impact.
@Catria Thanks for the reply!! I put that I want to major in astronomy/astrophysics. Do you think that will be a problem? Also, do you think it’ll impact me negatively in general?
@NavalTradition thanks for your reply! I don’t think it’s required to put it down, I just feel weird about putting “American Citizen” when “Dual Citizen” is sitting right below it on the list and that’s always been who I am… before I thought too hard about it, I had assumed it might give me some diversity points. Do you think it’s likelier that it’ll be ignored/positive or have a negative impact?
Harvard doesn’t offer nuclear engineering and astronomy/astrophysics isn’t a national security-sensitive field.
I don’t think anyone here really knows the answer to your question but the answer is most likely that it will not impact you negatively.
I believe the common app asks if you are a dual citizen, and then if you reply yes, asks with where you are also a citizen of.
If I am correct in that, you should answer ‘yes’ and ‘Iran’ because you should always be honest and forthcoming with college applications. Lying or withholding information is always, always more of a risk than answering fully and truthfully. I went to Harvard and worked (in a menial capacity) in the admissions office. I don’t have any special insight into the process but Harvard is a very cosmopolitan place and I did know one or two Iranian-Americans there who may well have been dual citizens.
Anyways, answer fully and truthfully, and fear no danger.
