Who was the 13 year old Harvard student?
Asked by: Coralie Adams | Last update: May 7, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (39 votes)
The most famous 13-year-old Harvard student was William James Sidis, a math prodigy who enrolled at the university in 1909 at age 11 and lectured on complex mathematics by age 13, becoming a legendary figure in the early 20th century. Other notable young students include Eugenie Carys de Silva, who completed a master's degree in the 1990s, and more recently, Cameron Holt, who began studying quantum mechanics at 13 in 2025.
Who was the youngest student at Harvard?
The youngest student ever to enroll and graduate from Harvard is widely considered to be William James Sidis, who enrolled at age 11 and graduated at 16 in 1914, though some sources mention younger individuals in the extension school or newer, less verified prodigies. Sidis, a child prodigy in mathematics, delivered a lecture on four-dimensional geometry at 12 and was the youngest graduate at the time. More recently, Eugenie de Silva graduated with a Master's degree at 16, making her potentially younger than Sidis's graduation age, and some reports mention extremely young prodigies like those in viral videos, though details are less official.
What happened to 13 Harvard students?
The Harvard graduating students denied their degrees over Palestine protest. The decision by Harvard to delay degrees for 13 students for one year has caused outrage at the university and a mass walkout from its graduation ceremony.
Who was the 14 year old Harvard graduate?
Eugenie Carys de Silva. Eugenie Carys de Silva is an academic known for being the youngest person to ever graduate from Harvard University. De Silva completed her master's degree in Intelligence Studies at age 16. Dr.
Who is the youngest person to get accepted to Harvard?
Sidis was admitted in September 1909 at age 11, becoming the youngest person to enroll at Harvard University. The transition to university life was challenging for the young prodigy. Despite his intellectual abilities, Sidis struggled with the social aspects of university life.
Meet The 14-Year-Old Quantum Physics Whiz Who’s Already Graduating College | TODAY
Who had an IQ of 300?
William Sidis: IQ 250–300
The real-life Sidis enrolled at Harvard University at the age of 11 and graduated at 16.
Can you get into Harvard at 13?
There is not an age requirement for applying to Harvard, though applicants are expected to have some secondary school experience.
Who is the most famous graduate from Harvard?
There's no single "most famous" as it's subjective, but Barack Obama (44th U.S. President) and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook founder) are consistently ranked at the top for global recognition, alongside historical figures like John F. Kennedy and tech titan Bill Gates, though Gates is a dropout. Other highly famous alumni include Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, actress Natalie Portman, and former VP Al Gore.
Who is the world's youngest graduate?
Michael Kearney
Michael Kearney is widely recognized as the youngest college graduate ever. He earned his first bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of South Alabama at just 10 years old. A true child prodigy, he spoke his first word at 4 months and began high school when he was 6 years old.
Can a 2.5 GPA go to Harvard?
Getting into Harvard with a 2.5 GPA is highly improbable, as their admitted students typically have GPAs well above 3.8, but not strictly impossible due to holistic review; however, you'd need truly extraordinary achievements (like national awards, exceptional athletic recruitment, or major life overcoming) or a massive donation to stand out against the average applicant with a 4.2 average GPA, making it an uphill battle.
Which famous person dropped out of Harvard?
Perhaps the most famous of the Harvard dropout is Bill Gates. Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975. In 2011, Forbes estimated Gates' net worth to be $56 billion. Mark Zuckerberg is a computer programmer and Internet entrepreneur -- and Harvard dropout.
Which ivy has the lowest graduation rate?
Of the top 10 schools in U.S. News' National University Rankings, MIT is the Ivy League with the lowest graduation rate, landing at No. 51. (Brown University's 83% gives it the lowest position of any Ivy League, placing it at No. 60.)
Who is the richest student at Harvard University?
Harvard University has the most billionaire alumni, with its richest student being Mark Zuckerberg.
Who was the girl who went to Harvard?
Elizabeth Murray (born September 23, 1980) is an American memoirist and inspirational speaker who is notable for having been accepted by Harvard University despite being homeless in her high school years. Her life story was chronicled in Lifetime's television film Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story (2003).
Who is the most brilliant student in the world?
Kim Ung-Yong - This South Korean prodigy was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the person with the highest IQ in the world, with a score of 210.
Has a 12 year old ever graduated college?
Yes, it has happened, most notably with Clovis Hung, who graduated from Fullerton College in 2023 at age 12, earning five associate's degrees, and Sho Yano in 2003, who graduated from Loyola University Chicago at 12 with a bachelor's degree, and others like the Elling siblings (Tycho, Athena, Zora) achieving similar feats, demonstrating that young teens can graduate college by starting early, often through homeschooling or accelerated programs, and completing coursework rapidly.
Does Trump have a Harvard degree?
No, Donald Trump did not graduate from Harvard; he graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1968 with a degree in economics after transferring from Fordham University. He attended Fordham for two years before moving to Wharton, an Ivy League institution, to complete his undergraduate studies.
Which billionaire went to Harvard?
Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg were Harvard alumni, even if they technically didn't finish their education there.
What GPA is required for Harvard?
Harvard doesn't have a strict minimum GPA, but successful applicants typically have nearly perfect unweighted GPAs (3.9+) or weighted GPAs (4.18+) in the most rigorous courses (AP/IB), demonstrating top-tier academic achievement alongside strong extracurriculars, essays, and test scores (often 1580 SAT/36 ACT) to stand out in their extremely selective admissions process.
What is the #1 hardest school to get into?
There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as rankings fluctuate, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the most difficult to get into globally, often with acceptance rates below 4-5%, seeking exceptional academic and extracurricular profiles, with some sources placing Minerva University even lower at 1%. The difficulty depends on the specific year and applicant pool, but these elite institutions remain extremely selective.
Can I go to Harvard even if I'm poor?
We've created a financial aid program to help ensure that admitted students can afford their Harvard education. Our financial aid officers will work closely with your family to understand your financial situation, then create a comprehensive financial aid package that accounts for the full cost of attendance.
Who is the oldest person to go to Harvard?
Harry Gersh. Harry Gersh (December 1, 1912 – July 30, 2001) was an American writer and historian. He was the oldest known student ever to enroll as a freshman at Harvard College. Before enrolling in school he was a writer for over 50 years.