13-Year-Old Long Island Prodigy Accepted to NYU Master's Program

Joe Petraro-Hyppolite, a 13-year-old from East Rockaway, Long Island, has been accepted into New York University's master's program in sports medicine, potentially making him the youngest graduate student in the university's history. His acceptance comes after he battled leukemia and Tourette's syndrome.

Petraro-Hyppolite, who reports an IQ of 168, has demonstrated exceptional academic ability from a young age. He achieved a near-perfect score of 1590 on the SAT at age 10 and graduated from high school the following year. He is currently completing his undergraduate degree at Louisiana State University, where he is often younger than his peers.

"My IQ is 168," Petraro-Hyppolite told CBS. "Whenever I tell people, it's like, ‘Oh, Young Sheldon, Doogie Howser.’" Albert Einstein's IQ is estimated to have been around 160.

He expects to begin his master's studies at NYU next fall. "I am also excited, because new doors are opening," he said. "My master’s is going to be sports management but other than [that] it’s also kinesiology and biology."

His journey has included significant health challenges. He was diagnosed with leukemia in September 2021 and also navigated undiagnosed Tourette's syndrome, which previously led to him being placed in special education classes. Petraro-Hyppolite acknowledged that his giftedness did not make his learning effortless, stating, "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."

His mother, Anne Petraro-Hyppolite, expressed pride in her son's achievements, calling his accomplishments surreal. She noted his innate curiosity, describing him as a "sponge" who loves to learn.

Historically, 13-year-old Chiang Ching-liang of Taiwan was admitted to NYU's undergraduate program in 2017. While NYU is reportedly investigating whether Petraro-Hyppolite will officially hold the record for the youngest graduate student, the average age for starting graduate school in the U.S. is 33, according to the Council of Graduate Schools.