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Because every US college has a “soft quota” for international students. Although the numbers vary every year, Admissions usually reserves about 11% of their beds for international students. Harvard having about 1660 beds in total, seeks to admit about 180 to 190 international students every year. On another thread (<a href=“Should Harvard disclose the quota of International applicants pool? - Harvard University - College Confidential Forums”>Should Harvard disclose the quota of International applicants pool? - Harvard University - College Confidential Forums) someone calculated that about 6,100 international students are competing for those 180-190 beds. </p>
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All international students are not created equal. Harvard accepts more students every year from Canada, Great Britain and Australia than other countries. So, you’re not directly competing against those students, but rather you are competing against your fellow countrymen. So, you need to be the best of the best from your country – however you want to define that.</p>
<p>Currently there are 5 Egyptian students in total at Harvard College (the undergraduate school: <a href=“Statistics | Harvard International Office”>Statistics | Harvard International Office). So, Harvard admits about 1-2 students every year from your country. How many students apply form your country is anyone’s guess. Your chances really depend on how much better of a scholar you are than your fellow countrymen who are also applying. </p>