So You Want Your Child To Get Into Harvard? Doc Tricia Robredo Has Some Advice For You

When you have an entire family literally getting accepted and graduating from some of the top universities in the world, it’s easy to think it runs in the genes.

However, an insightful convo between Harvard student Dr. Janine Patricia “Doc Tricia” Robredo and Reddit netizens proves hardwork plays a big role in getting into one of the most exclusive universities in the world.

Well, that and a little push from her parents, too, she says.

The future of health

Doc Tricia is the middle child of Atty. Leni Robredo and the late Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

She is currently taking up her master’s in Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery at the prestigious Harvard Medical School where she will be trained in research, program design, and management in the emerging field of global health delivery.

Just recently, former Vice President of the Philippines Leni joined her daughter at the same campus after being selected by the Harvard Kennedy School of Governance to become a Hauser Leader. There, Atty. Leni will teach leadership skills to both students and faculty of the University.

Known to many, Jesse and eldest child Aika, also went to the Harvard Kennedy School of Government for their Master’s Degrees. The youngest Robredo, Jillian, meanwhile, recently graduated with a double degree from New York University.

RELATED: Jesse Robredo Signed Letters to Daughter Aika With 'Labs Parati!' or 'Labs na Labs, Pops'

So, is it genes, hard work, or tons of parental guidance? Doc Tricia definitely agrees with the second one but says, her mother’s strict style when it comes to her and her siblings’ academics contributed to where she is today.

Get some sleep

One netizen asked Doc Tricia, “Which study habits/tips have consistently worked for you and which ones didn't?”

She replied by saying she hardly crams and she writes her own notes after reading an assigned text. She also said, she gets some sleep when needed.

“I get enough sleep! When I was reviewing for the boards, Mama was very strict with my sleep schedule. She wouldn't let me stay up later than 10PM, otherwise ang counterproductive na. I'm happy she insisted on this because I eventually realized that I really did not function well at night,” she replied.

'I learned the value of commitment and hard work, and have been more disciplined since! –Dr. Tricia Robredo on her past failures

Another asked if she would apply the same parenting style that she grew up with to her future kids where the standards set for academics and extra-curricular activities were high.

Doc Tricia answered that initially, she told herself she would raise her kids differently ‘because it felt like too much stress, but looking back now, the 28-year old said that she sees the value of how they were raised and ‘potentially, yes’ she, too, would raise her kids the same way but ‘with reservations.’

Another asked if it’s possible to still take up medicine if her undergraduate course is not related to any hard sciences at all. Doc Tricia said that she had a batchmate who graduated in a culinary course but went ‘from cakes to cadavers real quick.’ “You have to take extra science units,” she advised.

A Filipino in Harvard

Many look up to the Robredos because of their academic achievements and getting scholarships from top universities, both here and abroad. 

One netizen sought Doc Tricia’s advice on how to get into a University like Harvard to which she said the first step is knowing what kind of program one wants to get into.

“Identify the program you would like to pursue,” she says. “This will largely affect the way you frame your application and it will give you an idea on who to approach for advice, scholarships, etc.,”

RELATED: Full Scholarship And Double Major! Jillian Robredo Graduates From New York University

For post-graduate studies, she said work experience is just as important as grades. “My grades weren’t above average, so I was worried about my application but I’m glad they took a chance on me anyway.”

Another asked if Harvard has always been her dream school to which she answered ‘yes’ but that she did not design her life around it. “Mind ko noon, I will work hard. If it happens, it happens, If it doesn’t, maybe it was never for me.” Well, we all know how things turned out for the young doctor.   

It wasn’t all a consistent trajectory in academics or in her career, says Dr. Tricia. She, too, experienced several failures in life. She reveals that she failed a subject in medical school which set her back a whole year and that her residency training was delayed twice.

Looking back she says, “I learned the value of commitment and hard work, and have been more disciplined since!”

Check out Dr. Tricia’s answers to many more questions on the same Reddit thread and find out how one-third of the Robredo siblings is currently slaying her stay at Harvard.

One day, your child might just might follow in Ate Tricia’s footsteps.