How to get into Harvard? Dr. Tricia Robredo shares her best piece of advice
Getting into one's dream school is a life achievement for many, especially if the school in question is Harvard—one of the most prestigious and highly rated universities in the world.
It's a near-impossible dream for many, but there are actually several notable Filipinos who got the privilege of studying at the Ivy League School, including the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and accomplished businessman Jaime Zóbel de Ayala II.
One of the most recent additions is former Vice President Leni Robredo's second daughter Tricia, who got accepted into Harvard Medical School's Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery. In the program, she is set to be trained in "research, program design, and management that students need to become leaders in the emerging field of global health delivery."
In her Reddit discussion on Saturday, Oct. 1, the licensed doctor said that while it has always been her dream to get into the prestigious school, she left it to the hands of fate on whether or not it will be fulfilled.
"I've always dreamt of Harvard, but I didn't design my life around it. Mindset ko noon, I will work hard. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, maybe it was never for me," Tricia replied to a Reddit user.
When asked for advice on how to get into Harvard, Tricia said: "I think the first step really is to identify the program you would like to pursue. This will largely affect the way you frame your application, and it will give you an idea on who to approach (for advice, for scholarships, etc.)"
It's worth noting that Harvard isn't a prestigious school for nothing, and so it is exceedingly meticulous in its admission standards and accepts only a few applicants.
Education resource site BestColleges ranked Harvard as the hardest college to get into, with a record-low admission rate of just 3.19% for the class of 2026.