One such individual is Fayez Ahmad. The HSC batch 2026 student from Notre Dame College has secured confirmation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). While his HSC exams has just now finished in July, his classes at MIT are already set to start in September.

I reached out to Fayez to learn more about his journey.

Fayez was born in 2008 in Rajshahi. He grew up in a home where learning was not forced; rather, it came naturally. He lived with his parents and three older siblings, and according to him, much of his interest started while following their lead.

He learned to play chess at the age of four with the help of his siblings. That early exposure slowly turned into a pattern of exploring beyond academics.

Fayez describes his family as his ultimate source of strength. He shared, “In Bangladesh, many parents discourage extracurricular activities out of concern for academics, but my parents never limited me in that way. Their support made my journey possible.”

Beyond academics

Fayez’s journey did not start with a sudden breakthrough. It started early and stayed consistent.

In Class 1, he participated in a national chess tournament. By Class 3, he entered Olympiads and became a regional champion. In Class 6, he began debating, which he continues to this day.

The actual turning point came in 2021. In Class 8, he started competing in national camps in Biology and Physics, as well as the Junior Science Olympiad. What began as participation gradually became direction, which eventually led to establishing something greater than personal achievement.

In 2025, Fayez founded OlyPara, a non-profit platform with members from 13 countries. Initially, it was created to mitigate the resource gaps that Fayez had to face. It basically aims to make Olympiad preparation more accessible.

While talking about OlyPara, he shared, “I built a website where students can search topic-wise questions, practise full-length tests, create customised exams, and read articles written by past Olympiad medallists. The core goal is simple: to make quality resources freely available so that students, regardless of their economic background or country, can prepare effectively for Biology Olympiads.”

Alongside this, he was also selected as the only high school intern in the GSA Bioinformatics Internship and later presented his research at the BSM International Conference 2025, again as the only high school presenter.

The MIT dream

MIT had always been part of Fayez’s dream, but it became a defined goal after a key moment: winning a bronze medal at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) in 2023.

He quickly started acting on his ambition. Without relying on formal coaching, Fayez prepared for both the SAT and the Duolingo English Test (DET) independently. He scored 1550 on the SAT (790 in Math, 760 in Reading & Writing) and 140 on the Duolingo English Test, which is roughly equivalent to an IELTS score of around 7.5.

His preparation was structured around self-study and consistency rather than shortcuts. Fayez mainly used BlueBook to prepare for the SAT. Alongside that, he used Khan Academy and standard SAT prep books (“Princeton Review Digital SAT Premium Prep”, “The Critical Reader: The Complete Guide to SAT Reading” by Erica L. Meltzer, and “SAT Vocabulary: A New Approach” by Erica L. Meltzer).

For the Duolingo English Test, he did not have to put in much effort. He shared, “I do not think separate preparation is very necessary if someone already has a strong foundation in English.”

He started preparing his MIT application in late October 2025. He started by carefully organising his achievements. For recommendation letters, he reached out to his teachers. While explaining his application procedure, he suggested, “I would strongly recommend starting at least two months before the deadline.”

He also acknowledged the role of his agency, “Auctus Admissions”, which supported him with application strategy, essays, and interview preparation. With months of careful preparation, he submitted his application right on the deadline.

After being selected, he was called for an interview. He shared that, “The interview was informal and more like a conversation. I discussed my research, non-profit work, and other extracurricular activities in detail.”

HSC and MIT

For now, Fayez stands in a rare position, balancing the end of one system and the beginning of another.

He has not yet completed his HSC, and he describes the experience as “surreal”. At the same time, he places it within a broader context:

“Getting accepted before HSC is actually the standard timeline for US admissions. Even if I had gotten in after HSC, my reaction would have been exactly the same.”

Many were confused about whether Fayez needed to attend the HSC or not; so, to address their confusion, Fayez clarified, “In most cases, completing a high school diploma (HSC) is required. However, if it is not completed before classes begin, universities like MIT have previously made exceptions.”

What sets applicants apart

Throughout the conversation, one idea remained consistent: strong academics alone are not enough.

Fayez shared, “Academics are important, but many applicants already have strong academic records. What differentiates applicants is their extracurricular involvement.”

For Fayez, those extracurriculars were not last-minute additions; they were built over years, with direction, intention, and consistency.

As of now, Fayez has just finished his HSC exams, and his visa has just been granted a few days ago.

Before ending the interview, he shared a message for students aiming for similar paths:

“Explore different extracurricular activities and try to find something you are genuinely passionate about. Starting early helps, but it is never too late. Use online resources wisely, and do not hesitate to reach out to people who have already achieved what you aim for. Stay consistent in your efforts. You will fail many times, but that is part of the process. The key is to analyse your mistakes, learn from them, and keep moving forward. Remember, students do not get into top universities because they are born geniuses. They get there by working hard and building meaningful achievements over time. So, it is important to believe in yourself.”