The college admissions process can be daunting, but for Salman Chowdhury, years of hard work paid off. The recent PCTI STEM Academy graduate from Wayne, New Jersey, was accepted into 10 of the top 25 universities in the U.S. - including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania. This fall, he will attend Harvard University.

Salman says, "My proudest accomplishment? Leading a NASA HUNCH team that designed a lunar rover built to survive the moon’s harsh terrain. We were invited to present our design at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, directly to NASA engineers and astronauts."

He credits his success to three key aspects of his foundation. First, his family prioritized sleep, nutrition, and health - knowing that research links these habits to better academic performance. His parents ensured he had healthy meals and a supportive home environment. Second, he was raised with strong morals and a sense of purpose. His parents immigrated to the U.S. without a formal education and taught him that success is rooted in character, not just grades. Giving back to his parents, community, and supporters is what he values most about his Harvard opportunity.

Finally, he was encouraged to explore opportunities - including leading a NASA HUNCH team that designed a lunar rover to withstand the Moon’s harsh terrain. He presented the design at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to engineers and astronauts, and reflects back at his leadership with his HUNCH project to be his proudest accomplishment.

For Salman, this is just the first step in a lifelong mission to dream big, work hard, and make an impact that reaches far beyond himself.

Find the CNBC Article Here: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/31/i-got-accepted-to-harvard-stanford-princetonmy-parents-did-3-things-at-an-early-age.html