Two colleges in the US have offered to give admission to Tanishq Abraham for their medicine course. Nothing unusual about that. But what if we told you the boy is only 12?
Q Which universities have selected you?
Two universities in California have said that they are ready to admit me. I have also got a scholarship at University of California, Santa Cruz.
Q How do you react when people call you ‘super’ intelligent?
Everyone has this assumption that I study hard. They will be surprised to know that I put in a few hours of study after school. Like any other teenager, I like to watch TV, play with my sister and friends.
Q Do your friends try to test how intelligent you are?
When I was in public school, there were some bullies who would do that. But now I haven’t had any such issue.
Q When did your parents realise that you are an extraordinary kid?
When I was very small, my mother would read out stories to me. Later, she would ask me questions on the stories and I would reply instantly. She didn’t think it was really unusual, but when she told others they said it was extraordinary. Some suggested that my IQ should be tested. So I was put on a rigorous IQ test. The results, it seems, proved that I was, well, ‘different’.
Q You have delivered lectures on dinosaurs and astronomy. Would you like to tell us about them?
Those topics interested me in the past. Now I want to focus on biology and bio-engineering.
Q Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Hopefully I’ll be working on my PhD and MD. There are many occupations that interest me - doctor and medical researcher are the ones that are on my priority list.
Q In an interview you said you wanted to become the president of the United States someday. What are the qualities that would make you eligible for the post?
I have leadership qualities. I was the founding vice-president of the astronomy club in my community college. Moreover, I’m the one who leads students in most projects.
Q How do you connect with India?
I like to watch Bollywood movies and Indian channels. My parents tell me a lot about India. I haven’t visited the country yet, but we are planning to make a trip soon.