SIXTEEN-year-old Good Shepherd Catholic College student Kathrin Orda will take up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study at Harvard University.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kathrin was the only Australian student chosen to attend this year’s Harvard program and was overwhelmed by the news she had been accepted into the university.
Each year, 94 per cent of applications are rejected from Harvard.
After moving to Australia from Germany in 2008, Kathrin started school not knowing any English but through hard work, determination and a dedication to her studies, has now surpassed expectations.
Kathrin said she was approached by Good Shepherd Catholic College head of the English department John Harrop to apply for the program.
“At the end of last year my English teacher asked if I wanted to apply for the program,” she said.
“American students get first preference but in the end I was the only one in Australia to get in.”
“Thirty-two people in Queensland applied to do this program and somehow I was selected.”
Kathrin admitted it still hadn’t quite sunk in that she will be going to Harvard since receiving her acceptance email.
“I was overwhelmed. I didn’t think I had much of a chance to be selected and to be told I was selected was really great,” she said.
Kathrin applied to take neurobiology and biology of cancer courses while at Harvard, which once she has completed, will be recognised in any university in the world.
Kathrin said she will be living on campus and will be able to participate in activities within the university.
“You always hear about everyone going to Harvard and just being one of those people selected to go is just a fantastic opportunity,” she said.
“I think the curriculum will be very different for me because I haven’t experienced university before but I will still have a really great support system back here if I have any questions.”
In the future Kathrin hopes to study medicine at James Cook University focusing on development of medication in third world countries.
“I want to go straight to university and take advantage while I am young,” she said.
Mr Harrop said the applications and process to get into a university such as Harvard were rigorous.
“To be nominated for something like this a student has to have an outstanding record and Kathrin basically had straight As since grade nine in all subjects,” he said.
“In order to go overseas to a place like Harvard they must be mature beyond their years and be committed to their academics, and Kathrin gives 110 per cent.”
“What a lot of people don’t realise is that the average Harvard class is 30 students and almost 50 per cent of classes have 10 or less students.”
Mr Harrop said he once attended Harvard University and he believes the biggest issue for Kathrin will be taking on a full subject in seven weeks while prepping for her year 12 OP exams.
“This will stretch her and she will be in a classroom with the best of the best and that will be quiet challenging for her,” he said.
Kathrin thanked her parents and teachers, especially Mr Harrop for all of their support and help over the application process and acceptance of her trip to Harvard University.