Harvard University is not just the oldest institution of higher learning in the US; it is also the hardest Ivy League school to gain admission to. Yale University is up there too, giving Harvard a serious run for its money.
In 2024, Yale University received an overwhelming 57,465 applications for the class of 2028. Of these, only 2,146 (3.7%) were fortunate enough to be accepted, the lowest acceptance rate ever in the university’s history.
Yet, against all odds, two Malaysian students defied these stats and earned a spot at one of the world’s most prestigious universities. One of them is Lee Wei Lun.
Lee having a meal with his colleagues at ALPHV Technologies. Source: Lee Wei Lun
When one door closed, another led straight to Yale University
Lee has always leaned toward the STEM fields. He was all set to study computer science at Sunway University in Malaysia, especially with the full scholarship he’d received.
But when the subject wasn’t offered, he chose economics instead — and it turned out to be the best decision he could have made.
“I ended up loving economics more than anything else,” he says. “I just found myself spending hours on it, and it felt like the natural path for me.”
When the time came to choose a university, he chose Yale University for its holistic approach to education.
“Yale’s liberal arts and sciences structure offers a great deal of freedom,” he said. “It’s perfect for someone like me who wants to become a well-rounded individual.”
Lee and his team after the StemFest project. Source: Lee Wei Lun
Experience is the best teacher
Every high school leaver knows that extracurricular activities play a significant role in the admissions process. Lee was no exception.
In high school, he was the President of the STEM Club, and later, at Sunway, he was the A Level Student Council President.
He was doing everything right, the kind of résumé that makes admissions officers take notice. But instead of diving straight into university, he hit pause.
“A lot of people think a gap year is wasted time,” Lee says. “But for me, it was an investment.”
He compared it to money: “Saving feels safe. If you put away a thousand dollars, you have a thousand dollars. But investing? There’s a risk, but also a chance for greater rewards. That’s how I saw my gap year. And looking at how I got into Yale University, I’d say it already has.”
Initially, he had considered taking a gap year before A Levels to start a YouTube channel. But as his ambitions grew, so did his plans.
His main goal? To build a steady stream of passive income before finishing university.
He spent his gap year diving into internships, projects, and more. One defining moment came when he joined a hackathon with friends. Their team placed second, impressing a particular judge who later became a key connection.
“That judge really liked our pitch,” Lee recalled. “Through networking with him, I landed a four-month full-time job at ALPHV Technologies, a software company in Kuala Lumpur.”
Alongside this, he co-founded Tanya Jiwa, which he continues to develop (when he is in Malaysia), and KITS Malaysia, a student-led initiative that supports underprivileged youth.
“It all started as a passion project,” he shared. “As STEM Club President, I organised a charity concert in collaboration with the Leo Club during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event raised around RM12,000, won several awards, and became one of my proudest achievements at Sri Kuala Lumpur. Plus, that’s when my co-founder at KITS and I realised our ability as students could truly make a difference.”
One of their most impactful projects was StemFest, a collaboration with STEM for All. “STEM for All hosted a massive STEM carnival, but there was an entry fee. We stepped in, negotiated a discount, raised funds to sponsor nearly 100 kids, and organised volunteers to guide them through the experience,” he says. “Seeing everything come together was incredibly fulfilling.”
Reflecting on his decision, Lee is confident that the gap year was the right move.
“If I had followed the traditional path, I wouldn’t have gained the clarity I have now,” he says. “I discovered that coding isn’t my passion, but consulting and management are. This insight allows me to approach my time at Yale University with focus and purpose.”
Lee is the co-founder of Tanya Jiwa, a startup that develops mental health software for schools. His role is currently limited due to F-1 visa restrictions while he’s studying in the US. Source: Lee Wei Lun
The long, but successful, application process to get into Yale University
Success is rarely accidental. To Lee, his secret to successfully applying to one of the hardest US universities to get into was to start young.
“My mom was the one who taught me discipline, she was a disciplinary teacher. Back in primary school, after class, she would sit us down at the table with a rotan (a cane) in hand and make us study. Only after that could we watch YouTube videos,” he explained.
His father, on the other hand, taught him ambition. “He works in management and runs a pretty big company. Growing up, we had a lot of conversations about careers, money, and navigating people. That shaped how I think about my goals and what I want to do.”
When Lee got into Yale University, his parents each had different, but interesting reactions. “My mom didn’t know what Yale was at first. She wanted me to study at the National University of Singapore so she could visit me more often, which is totally understandable. But after learning more about the university, she said, ‘Okay, you should go to Yale.’”
His dad? No questions asked. “He already knew Yale was a great school. He’s always trusted my decisions, so when I said Yale was the right fit, he just said, ‘Go for it.’”
That trust was something his parents had built over time. “Looking back, they made some of the most important decisions that shaped who I am today. One was sending me to a Chinese primary school,” he says. “At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but now I see the value, especially with China’s growing global influence.”
Later, they made another strategic choice: moving him to an international school. “They wanted me to have a global perspective, meet different people, and have more opportunities. If I hadn’t moved, I doubt I’d be where I am now.”
Still, even the most well-planned journeys come with setbacks. At one point, he was juggling a full-time job while running two organisations. The toll set in, pushing him to a breaking point.
That night, feeling “completely burned out” he binge-watched K-dramas instead of working, slept for only two hours, and went to work the next day.
“That was when I realised I had pushed myself too far,” he says.
That moment forced him to rethink his approach. “I told myself that my first semester at Yale would be a recovery period,” he says. “I didn’t take on too many extracurriculars, I planned a manageable course load, and I focused on building my friend groups. That time to reset was really important.”
Despite his busy schedule, Lee makes sure to take breaks and travel. Source: Lee Wei Lun
A future product manager with a vision
Lee is currently juggling a double major at Yale, Economics with Statistics and Data Science, with his sights set on becoming a product manager. For him, the role is the perfect mix of tech and business.
“Most product managers have MBAs because it’s such a business-driven role,” he explains. “But you also need to understand what your engineering and sales teams are doing and why. That’s why a broad education like Yale’s is so useful; it lets me take psychology courses, for example, which helps with stakeholder management and exposes me to different fields.”
Outside the classroom, Lee’s experiences with KITS and charity work have shaped how he sees his future. “I know I want to do something that benefits people. I don’t want to be part of an industry that makes money by taking advantage of others.”
That’s why entrepreneurship appeals to him. “If I run my own company, I can control its direction. I don’t want to be stuck in a system where profit always comes first. I want to create something that actually makes a difference.”
