Tauranga Girls' College student Nina Chernova says it would be a dream to attend Harvard University, and now she has a chance for that dream to come true.

Nina says she initially applied to the Harvard University Pre-College Summer School Programme as a joke knowing her chances were very low.

“I was overwhelmed with joy.”

When asked if she would like to attend Harvard University after high school, she says “I would love to, it would be an absolute dream as it is too many, but I just do not have the funds to cover international student fees.

“I would be just as happy to attend a university in New Zealand.”

Nina is the only student in New Zealand who has been selected for this opportunity this year.

“It puts into perspective how great of an opportunity this is.

“The course is during the July school holidays. It goes on for two weeks.

“I am nervous that there are going to be very intelligent people there, but I can learn a lot from them. I am mostly excited to see what life on campus is like.

“I have chosen an oncology-based course titled The Introduction to Cancer: Diving Into Research.

“We will be taught a foundation of what cancer is, then we will determine where a patient’s present tumour is cancerous.

“Besides attending the daily course there are many other opportunities to explore the entirety of the campus as well as being given advice for the future.”

Nina’s future plans are based around medicine.

“It’s what I’ve always been interested in,” she says.

“When it comes to the topic of specialising I tend to change my mind every week as it all interests me so much, if I could I would do it all.

“At the beginning of this year I attended a similar programme at the University of Otago called Hands-On at Otago.

“This has inspired me to venture further out internationally. I then searched through Google and landed on Harvard Summer School.

“I sent in my official academic transcript, so they had an idea of what kind of student I am and then wrote a few short essays totalling around 3000 words for them to grasp the idea of what kind of person I am.”

Nina says she was interested in the programme due to the array of courses to be chosen.

“They ranged from humour writing to neurobiology. As well as all the positive feedback given from all past students.”

Nina has been overseas many times and has recently returned from a trip to Canada where she competed in rhythmic gymnastics.

“I have only travelled either with family or with my sports team,” she says.

“I am quite excited to travel alone for the first time as I love to be independent.”

Nina says her mum is her biggest inspiration.

“My mum is a chartered accountant while it is much different to an oncologist, I look up to her hard work and determination to be who she wants to be the greatest version of that self.”

This course is the opportunity of a lifetime, but it comes at a cost.

“The course cost $9000. The company Modcom had been so kind enough to fund me with a generous amount which I am eternally grateful for.

“I plan on paying off the rest with my own money.”