Jeanine Wove Family History and Passion for STEM Into a Story that Got the Attention of Harvard

Her father’s journey from sweet potato farming in rural China to building a new life in the United States became the backdrop for Jeanine’s exploration of environmental science, seed proliferation, and the intersection of agriculture and biotechnology. But her application didn’t start out this way—it took real self-reflection to break out of the formulaic advice she’d been given and instead lean into the unscripted, meaningful moments that shaped her. By embracing the messy, honest parts of her story—and by choosing to apply where she truly fit—Jeanine showed that the most compelling applications come from students who aren’t afraid to be fully themselves.