A 13-year-old boy from Long Island, New York, Joe Petraro-Hyppolite, is preparing to start a master’s programme at New York University next year. He currently has an IQ of 168 and is expected to complete his undergraduate degree in May 2027.

Petraro-Hyppolite has already achieved several academic milestones at a young age. He scored 1,590 on the SAT at the age of 10 and obtained his high school diploma at 11. He has also studied at Louisiana State University alongside much older students.

He has been accepted into an NYU master’s programme in sports management, which will also involve studies in kinesiology and biology. The teenager said he feels both nervous and excited about the next stage of his education, noting that new opportunities are opening up for him.

His mother, Anne Petraro-Hyppolite, described her son’s progress as remarkable, especially since he was earlier placed in special education classes after being diagnosed with Tourette syndrome. She said he simply loves to learn and absorbs knowledge quickly.

Despite his high achievements, Petraro-Hyppolite stressed that learning still requires effort. He also spends free time volunteering at a nursing home and hopes to eventually pursue a career in palaeontology. If he finishes the master’s programme as planned, he would graduate around the same time he becomes old enough to drive.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper