What are your plans after high school?
To go to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
What made you choose MIT?
[It’s] the best engineering school [in]the world.
Describe to me your reaction to finding you matched into MIT.
I was in the library, and I started jumping like a weirdo. Everybody was staring at me.
What led you to choose your major of Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making?
AI is the most prevalent technology right now, and I think there’s a lot of room for
change and [it] has a very large impact on people. I think it could be really powerful in healthcare, especially with making access easier for people with lower income so they don’t [have to] spend thousands of dollars getting diagnosed.
Where do you hope this major will take you?
I have no clue, hopefully somewhere where I can make an actual impact and do interesting research.
How were you first introduced to the QuestBridge program?
I was told by a friend at Academies (the Academies of Loudoun). He told me to apply and look into it.
What did the application process look like for you as a QuestBridge scholar?
The main difference between QuestBridge and the Common App is that the Common App puts a much heavier focus on your extracurriculars. You have 10 slots in the Common App, and you have 10 slots for awards. The Common App only has one main essay, 650 words. QuestBridge is more heavy on your story, so you have an 800 word essay, a 400 word essay, and a 200 word essay, like triple the writing of the Common App. Then, you have your five extracurriculars and five awards. The supplementals are slightly different because of the sheer writing you have to do through QuestBridge. Some schools take away a couple of supplementals like Stanford, who [regularly] has four supplementals but you have to only do one.
What teachers have really inspired or left an impact on you?
Christopher Kopel. [He was] a very fun teacher; I liked him a lot. My Computer Science teacher at Academies, Dr. John Chapin. [They are] very interesting people and very enthusiastic about their teachings.
Even though graduation is over 100 days away, how does it feel to have the next phase of your life already planned out?
I don’t think it’s planned out. I could end up being homeless on the streets of Boston if I fail. It’s nice knowing that I’m going somewhere and I can do cool stuff. I’m very excited. I like the difficulty of the school, especially.
How have the past four years at Dominion and the Academies of Loudoun prepared you for MIT?
I think the rigor is really helpful, because I know stacking APs on APs on APs has already put me in the mindset of ‘you don’t have time to waste’. Get on top of your work, or else you’ll see the consequences.
What advice do you have for underclassmen, on receiving admissions to top level universities?
Make sure to craft a story throughout your essays. If you have something you’re really passionate about, make sure you talk about it, at least to some extent, in everything. Craft that narrative that portrays you in a good, positive light, and that shows your growth as a person.
