From Crafton to Harvard: One student’s journey to the Ivy League

YUCAIPA, CA—- Crafton Hills College (CHC) transfer student José Aaron Rosales is packing his bags and heading to Harvard University in the fall.

The Rialto resident received the news via email on March 31 while having dinner with family at a Texas Roadhouse.

“It was such a hard week after burying my grandmother, and here I am bawling,” the 33-year-old recalled after opening his acceptance letter on his cell phone. “I turned the phone to my wife and showed her what it said. She gave me a big hug. Only a few people knew I applied because it was not a guarantee I’d get in.”

Rosales is a first-generation college student, and he credits the height of the COVID-19 pandemic for changing the trajectory of his life. Rosales said the pandemic was “an eye-opener.”

“I was limited in what I could do to help without a medical background,” he said. “So, my wife and I talked about me going back to school.”

Rosales connected with two nonprofits dedicated to providing military veterans like him with an accelerated, clear path to college. He decided on CHC after hearing about their high transfer rate.

Rosales said both resources worked with him to prepare application requirements for consideration. As a result, 954 applicants were accepted into Harvard, and Rosales was one of only 18 veterans included.

Rosales is preparing to move back east to attend the university with his wife, Christina, and eight-year-old daughter Audreyana. He expects to graduate with the Harvard Class of 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in Physics. After graduation, Rosales plans to attend medical school and eventually give back to the veteran community.

“I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of my family, the nonprofits I worked with, and Crafton,” Rosales said. “It was a team effort.”

Author: Wallace