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Jeanine Zheng
Big on biology. Even bigger on finding the meaning behind it all. Jeanine’s story isn’t about checking every box. It’s about looking inward, asking real questions, and letting her voice rise from there. She grew up with deep roots—her dad was a sweet potato farmer in rural China—and wove that into her application in a way that felt natural, thoughtful, and totally her. One of her essays was about a family dinner where they were served sweet potatoes—something her dad hadn’t touched since leaving the fields behind. It was simple. But powerful. And it helped her show Harvard who she really was. Her path started off pretty typical—standard advice, structured drafts—but something didn’t feel right. It wasn’t until she threw out the formula and leaned into reflection that her application took shape. Instead of trying to be the “perfect applicant,” she focused on the parts of her life that felt real. From environmental science research to helping farmers through seed studies, she connected her passion for STEM with her family’s story and future goals. Jeanine is also big on fit. She didn’t just apply to schools based on prestige—she asked herself: Where will I actually thrive? When she visited Harvard, she found students who didn’t have it all figured out yet—but were excited to learn, explore, and stay curious. That mindset matched her own. That’s when she knew. Message Jeanine if you’re figuring out how to turn a small moment into a big story, if you want your resume to reflect the real you, or if you care about environmental science and want to know how to turn it into something meaningful. She’s been through the college app maze—and came out the other side with clarity, confidence, and a story only she could tell.