Priscilla Chan, who has become widely recognized as a physician and philanthropist and as a co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, almost abandoned her studies at Harvard University early in her undergraduate tenure. This decision, however, was altered by a defining encounter that reoriented her vision and led her to complete her education at the prestigious institution.
During an interview conducted in 2019, Chan revealed she came very close to transferring out of Harvard. She disclosed, "I had my transfer paperwork done," illustrating just how seriously she had considered leaving the institution shortly after her arrival. Although she had secured admission to one of the nation's top universities, Chan wrestled with feelings of displacement — a challenge she relates to her background as the daughter of Chinese refugee parents who escaped Vietnam prior to her birth.
Born in February 1985 in Massachusetts, Chan grew up in a working-class immigrant household, where economic resources were limited. Upon entering Harvard, the reality of such a prestigious academic environment felt initially overwhelming, even to someone with her strong scholastic record. She recounted becoming aware immediately upon stepping onto campus that her acceptance was a remarkable achievement. Yet, despite this recognition, she admits that she struggled to find her footing and even contemplated giving up.
The turning point for Chan emerged outside the rigors of academia, through her involvement with an after-school program catering to underserved children. This program offered her a sense of belonging and a meaningful connection to a community facing significant hardships — challenges much more severe than any she personally confronted. She described this as a moment of clarity, understanding that the support and opportunities she could help provide were vital to those children’s futures. The experience solidified her decision to persist with her studies, motivated by a growing sense of mission beyond her own situation.
Overlap with Mark Zuckerberg's college trajectory occurred during this period, as Chan met Zuckerberg at a social gathering at his fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, in 2003. In recollecting their initial interaction, Zuckerberg noted that he invited her to a date at a time when he was dealing with disciplinary considerations related to his early project Facemash, the precursor to Facebook. Though Zuckerberg chose to leave Harvard to focus on developing Facebook, Chan remained and successfully graduated in 2007. She extended her education by attending medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, earning her medical degree in 2012.
The year 2012 marked significant milestones for the couple: Priscilla Chan completed her medical training, the same year she and Zuckerberg married, and Facebook transitioned to a publicly traded company. Following these events, Chan has dedicated herself to educational and philanthropic causes. She co-founded The Primary School, an institution focused on providing quality education to disadvantaged children. Moreover, alongside Zuckerberg, she launched the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, channeling their resources toward inclusive progress.
Both have committed to high-impact philanthropy, pledging to donate 99% of their Facebook shares throughout their lifetimes toward advancing the foundation’s objectives. This reflects a strategy to leverage their extensive financial assets to foster social development. As tracked by the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, Zuckerberg's net worth stands at $220 billion, while Celebrity Net Worth estimates Chan's wealth at approximately $30 billion.
Chan’s journey from a hesitant Harvard student contemplating departure to a committed physician and philanthropist exemplifies how personal experiences and a sense of social responsibility can influence educational and career trajectories. Her alignment with causes aimed at reducing disparities in education illustrates the continuation of her purpose originally shaped during those formative college years.
In summary, Priscilla Chan’s near exit from Harvard was reversed by an involvement that revealed to her the scale of challenges faced by vulnerable populations. This realization not only fostered her decision to stay but also guided the direction of her life’s work in advancing health and educational equity.