13-Year-Old With 168 IQ Set to Begin Master’s at NYU

Joe Petraro-Hyppolite, a 13-year-old prodigy from Long Island, New York, is preparing to start a master’s programme at New York University next year, CBS News reports.

With an IQ of 168, Petraro-Hyppolite has already achieved remarkable academic milestones.

He scored 1,590 on the SAT at age 10, earned his high school diploma at 11, and is on track to complete his undergraduate degree by May 2027.

The teenager has been accepted into NYU’s sports management master’s programme, which also includes studies in kinesiology and biology.

“My master’s is going to be sports management but other than [that] it’s also kinesiology and biology,” he explained.

Despite his extraordinary achievements, Petraro-Hyppolite admitted to feeling a mix of nerves and excitement about the next stage.

“Yeah, I mean, who wouldn’t be? But then again, I am also excited, because new doors are opening,” he said.

His mother, Anne Petraro-Hyppolite, described his journey as “surreal,” noting that he had once been placed in special education classes after being diagnosed with Tourette syndrome. She praised his love of learning, saying he “is like a sponge.”

Beyond academics, Petraro-Hyppolite volunteers at a nursing home in Long Island and hopes to pursue a career in palaeontology.

If he completes his master’s programme as planned, he will graduate around the same time he becomes legally eligible to drive.