A 13-year-old boy from Long Island, New York, Joe Petraro-Hyppolite, is preparing to take another major step in his education after gaining admission to a master’s programme at New York University (NYU).
Petraro-Hyppolite, who reportedly has an IQ of 168, is currently completing his undergraduate studies and is expected to earn his bachelor’s degree in May 2027. He is scheduled to begin his master’s programme the following year.
The teenager has already achieved several academic milestones well ahead of the usual age. At 10, he scored 1,590 on the SAT, while he earned his high school diploma at just 11 years old.
He has now been accepted into an NYU master’s programme in sports management, with additional areas of study including kinesiology and biology.
“My master’s is going to be sports management but other than [that] it’s also kinesiology and biology,” Petraro-Hyppolite said.
Although he is excited about entering another stage of his education, the teenager admitted that the experience also comes with some nervousness.
“Yeah, I mean, who wouldn’t be? But then again, I am also excited, because new doors are opening,” he added.
Petraro-Hyppolite has previously attended Louisiana State University and currently takes classes alongside students who are considerably older than him.
He said some students are initially surprised when they discover how young he is.
His mother, Anne Petraro-Hyppolite, said her son’s academic journey has been remarkable, particularly because he was previously placed in special education classes after being diagnosed with Tourette syndrome.
“It’s just surreal. When he graduated high school so young, it was surreal, but this is … everything he does is surreal. He just loves to learn. He is like a sponge,” she said.
Despite his exceptional academic record, Petraro-Hyppolite said he does not simply know everything without studying. He explained that he still needs to learn and understand new subjects like other students.
“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,” he said.
Beyond his studies, the teenager also gives his time to community service. He volunteers at a nursing home in the Five Towns area of Long Island, where he helps residents.
Petraro-Hyppolite has also revealed that his long-term ambition is to become a palaeontologist.
If he completes his master’s programme according to plan, he would finish the degree at roughly the same age that he becomes legally eligible to drive.
Source: CBS News
