http://news.emory.edu/stories/2016/11/er_marshall_scholars/campus.html
In the spirit of a poster over in the Duke forum, I decided to post this accomplishment. This isn’t just a brag about how Emory empowers students to pursue these much more than one would expect (again, Emory over-performs in producing these scholarship winners considering its standing in the rankings and how different its admissions thresholds are from most private peers). However, realize that wherever you go, these 2 can be you. It is called taking full advantage of your education once admitted to these types of schools. Really challenge yourself if you have the background and talent to do so. Don’t let others steer you toward “safer” (yes, even at schools of this caliber and higher, even peers may encourage this. Even advising apparatuses are complicit sometimes), yet more boring paths if you see yourself learning at higher levels and using that training to do great things and go great places. Do not sell yourself short. These places are expensive, but provide excellent resources in and out of the classroom to truly maximize your potential. There are many more examples I can point to just at Emory. Truly talented folks who use their talent ASAP at Emory are basically always rewarded with things like this!
If anyone interested is good and knows it, do not settle for merely getting into a top school and then falling in line with whatever crowds. These two are among many who got where they are by going far beyond expectations and what “the crowd” would do. Often more unconventional paths at these level of institutions have better courses, teaching, mentoring, and opportunities in general. Sometimes playing it safe is not all it is cracked up to be. Seriously, Noam did not have to opt to take graduate level courses as a sophomore. Emilia did not have to take herself that far that quickly(like Emilia fully enrolling at a university for 2 years while technically in HS) either. They could have sat back, chilled, and took courses far below their level or not have gone for the big opportunities they were offered in college, yet they managed to push themselves hard, yet obviously had an enjoyable experience. Being pushed to high levels early on will not necessarily ruin or put your social and emotional experience in jeopardy especially if your background clearly says you can handle it. Don’t let anyone tell convince you otherwise. I think many great mentoring and personal development opportunities are squandered when you sell yourself short (for example, if you are great at a discipline and have been heavily engaged with it since HS, do not forfeit all of your AP credit and start over with the most introductory of courses…remember that you will compete with the likes of Emilia and Noam if you apply for the big time scholarships).