A 13-year-old boy from Long Island, New York, Joe Petraro-Hyppolite, is expected to begin a master’s degree at New York University next year.
Petraro-Hyppolite, who has an IQ of 168, is currently completing his undergraduate studies and is expected to graduate in May 2027, according to CBS News.
The teenager has already reached several academic milestones at a young age. He scored 1,590 out of 1,600 on the SAT when he was 10 and completed high school at the age of 11.
Petraro-Hyppolite said he has been admitted to an NYU master’s programme in sports management, with additional studies in kinesiology and biology.
He said he was both excited and somewhat nervous about beginning the next stage of his education, describing the programme as an opportunity to explore new possibilities.
The teenager has previously studied at Louisiana State University and currently takes classes alongside students considerably older than him.
He said some students are surprised when they discover his age.
His mother, Anne Petraro-Hyppolite, said her son’s academic achievements were especially remarkable because he had previously been placed in special education classes after being diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.
She described his academic journey as “surreal”, saying he has a strong desire to learn and absorbs new information quickly.
Despite his academic record, Petraro-Hyppolite said he does not believe his abilities mean that learning comes without effort. He explained that he still needs to study new subjects before mastering them.
Outside academics, the teenager volunteers at a nursing home in the Five Towns area of Long Island, where he helps residents.
Petraro-Hyppolite said he hopes to eventually build a career in palaeontology.
If he completes the master’s programme as planned, he could graduate at around the same time he reaches the legal driving age.
Source: PUNCH
