Four Malaysians Join Harvard’s Class of 2028

Four Malaysians have been admitted to Harvard College’s Class of 2028 a cohort that began their journey at the prestegious instituition a few months ago during the fall season, joining just 15.4% of international students selected from 94 countries. With an overall acceptance rate of only 3.59%, their achievement stands out in a highly competitive year that saw over 54,000 applicants.

The students—Bryan Lim, Elisa See, Victor Ngow, and Thamini Vijeyasingam—represent a range of backgrounds and interests.

Thamini, from Selangor, completed her A-Levels after graduating from ELC International School. During her gap year, she interned at Free Malaysia Today and KAF Investment Bank, gaining early exposure to business journalism and finance. She was also active in debate and Model United Nations. She plans to major in Economics and Philosophy.

Bryan, from Kuala Lumpur, attended Garden International School and aims to study Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. He has represented Malaysia in the national Mathematics and Computer Science Olympiads and played junior basketball at the national level.

Victor, also from Selangor, is a Petronas scholar and former SPM student at SMK Damansara Utama. He plans to pursue Environmental Science and Public Policy or Environmental Engineering. Among his achievements are inventing a micro biofuel cell and working with Project ID, an education NGO.

Elisa, from Johor, graduated from Marlborough College Malaysia and is considering a major in Government, Economics, or Computer Science. She has interned at Subang Jaya assemblywoman Michelle Ng’s office and contributed to youth advocacy efforts through Undi18.

The Harvard Club of Malaysia praised the four for their initiative, curiosity, and community impact. Each student demonstrated more than just academic excellence. They found ways to engage with the world around them and build meaningful projects beyond the classroom.

With fewer than ten Malaysians currently counted among Harvard College alumni, this group continues to mark a meaningful milestone for the country. Their stories reflect not just personal ambition but a growing spirit of purpose among young Malaysians aiming to make a global difference.