DEARBORN — The number of Arab American students from Dearborn Public Schools who are getting accepted to Ivy League colleges is increasing every year. 

Since 2012, eight students from the district have been accepted to Harvard University, one of the most selective universities in the world with a 5.9 percent acceptance rate.

Mariam Jalloul, a Lebanese American 2012 Fordson High School graduate, is now completing her sophomore year at Harvard. She is studying Sociology and Global Health and Health Policy. 

In 2013, Fordson High School students Marwa Harp and Ali Elreichouni were also accepted to Harvard, and they are finishing up their freshmen year at the private college. 

Moiead Charawi, who graduated from Dearborn High School in 2013, was accepted into Harvard, but he instead decided to attend Stanford University in California. 

This year, Fordson High School seniors Sarah Mokh, Nagham Fawaz and Noura Chbeir were accepted to Harvard, and they will begin their studies there this fall. 

Khalid Tawil, a student from Edsel Ford High School was also admitted to Harvard this year as well.  

7 of the 8 students accepted into Harvard.

Harp, Elreichouni and Jalloul had the opportunity to meet the three Fordson High School students who will begin classes at Harvard this fall during Visitas, the visiting weekend that Harvard organizes for incoming freshmen. 

The three discussed the transition of leaving home with their Dearborn counterparts.

“We talked about exploring every academic field in order to discover where their genuine passion lies. I advised them to simply take advantage of every opportunity that Harvard has to offer, such as studying abroad, attending events that host prominent political and social figures, talking to and becoming inspired by their professors and to learn and grow from as many people around them as they can,” Jalloul said. 

Harp says she knew Jalloul and Elreichouni at Fordson, and while they didn’t communicate often there, at Harvard they see each other nearly every week, as they are all members of the Harvard Islamic Society. “It is crazy, we come here and we see each other even more,” said Harp.

She says one student from Dearborn Public Schools who is interested in attending Harvard recently contacted her about the application process. Arab American students who have been admitted to Harvard are encouraging other students to apply, and they are showing them it is possible to attend the prestigious school.  

Many students in the Dearborn Public School District have the same credentials as those who were admitted to Harvard, but they never apply, because they believe that they don’t have a chance of getting in. 

All of the students who have been accepted to Harvard were very involved in extracurricular activities and community service. Of course, they also performed exceptionally academically. At Fordson High School, Harp possessed a 4.4 GPA, Elreichouni maintained a 4.5 GPA, and Jalloul, who was valedictorian of her class and had seven AP classes, graduated with a 4.3 GPA. 

“I am positive that their hard work, diligence and motivation is what led them to Harvard. When I applied, one of my wishes was that students from our community would see that it is possible to attend an Ivy League and hopefully begin to apply as well. If my acceptance has prompted even one other student to merely apply, I feel accomplished,” Jalloul said. 

Harp says the workload at Harvard is manageable. She says there is so much success at Harvard that although you aren’t competing with anyone, you often compare yourself to others. Harp is planning on majoring in Chemistry. 

She was going to take on an internship in China this summer, but she recently decided she wanted to spend Ramadan with her family back in Dearborn. 

“Attending Harvard has completely changed my life. It has allowed me to find my passions, whether academic, social or professional, and pursue them with confidence. I consider it my second home, and the people I am surrounded by continue to challenge and inspire me in so many ways. Leaving home for college has been the most challenging, but also the absolute most rewarding experience. I would encourage all to do the same,” Jalloul said.