A 13-year-old boy from Long Island, New York, Joe Petraro-Hyppolite, is set to begin a master’s programme at New York University despite still working towards completing his undergraduate degree.
Petraro-Hyppolite, who has an IQ of 168, is expected to graduate with his undergraduate degree in May 2027 before beginning the NYU programme.
The teenager has already achieved several academic milestones, including scoring 1,590 on the SAT at the age of 10 and obtaining his high school diploma at 11.
Teenager combines studies with volunteering
Petraro-Hyppolite said he had been accepted into a master’s programme in sports management, with his studies also involving kinesiology and biology.
He said, “My master’s is going to be sports management but other than [that] it’s also kinesiology and biology.”
Despite his unusual academic journey, the teenager said he was both nervous and excited about what lies ahead.
Petraro-Hyppolite added, “Yeah, I mean, who wouldn’t be? But then again, I am also excited, because new doors are opening.”
The teenager has studied at Louisiana State University and currently attends classes alongside students considerably older than him.
Teenager says he wants to become palaeontologist
His mother, Anne Petraro-Hyppolite, said his academic progress was particularly remarkable because he had previously been placed in special education classes after being diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.
Petraro-Hyppolite, however, stressed that his abilities did not mean everything came naturally to him.
He said, “It’s not like I was shot out the womb knowing everything I know. I have to learn it once or twice. Then I’ll know.”
Outside academics, he volunteers at a nursing home in Long Island and hopes to pursue a career in palaeontology.