Fact check: Did malia obama attend harvard

1. Summary of the results

Yes, Malia Obama did attend Harvard, though there are conflicting reports about her completion. Multiple credible sources confirm she was accepted and enrolled at Harvard in 2017 after taking a gap year ^{[1] [2]}. Two sources definitively state that she graduated in 2021 with a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies, even receiving the Thomas Temple Hoopes Prize ^{[3] [4]}. However, some sources claim she dropped out in 2019 citing mental health issues ^{[5] [5]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are worth noting:

• There are suggestions that Malia may have been admitted through the "Harvard Z-List," a special admission pathway for children of influential families ^[1]
• Her reported major varies between sources: some cite Visual and Environmental Studies ^{[3] [4]}, while others mention Psychology ^[5]
• Multiple sources specifically address and debunk rumors about her being suspended or expelled for drug use ^{[6] [2] [7]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The simple yes/no question about attendance masks several important considerations:

• Political motivations: Those opposing the Obama family might benefit from spreading narratives about dropout or expulsion, which multiple sources explicitly identify as false ^{[6] [2] [7]}
• Class privilege discussions: The mention of the Z-List admission pathway ^[1] could fuel debates about privilege in elite education
• Mental health stigma: Some sources' focus on alleged mental health struggles ^{[5] [5]} could be used to either humanize or criticize, depending on the narrative being pushed
• Achievement recognition: Sources supporting her graduation highlight academic achievements like the Hoopes Prize ^[4], which could be used to counter narratives questioning her capabilities