Empowerly Student Cracks the Code to Top Computer Science Programs

Growing up in California and attending a public school in the Bay Area, Empowerly student Miko was a naturally bright student with a creative mind for problem-solving. Studying amongst similarly competitive high school peers, he persevered despite challenges and found himself on the cutting edge of one of the most competitive fields in academia. Want to know how he managed to rise above the rest?

Here’s how one Bay Area Empowerly student cracked the code to top computer science programs.

During the summer before his sophomore year, his mother asked him to help bring heavy groceries from the garage. Naturally, Miko wondered how he could move them more quickly and efficiently. 

However, what he did next set him apart from other high-achieving peers. He researched, designed, and assembled an autonomous robot from scratch using materials around his house—including a hoverboard and commercial off-the-shelf electronic products. Today, that very robot has become a helpful addition to mundane household tasks. 

As a matter of fact, this would be only the first of many robots Miko would build himself.

Noticing this uniquely impressive aptitude for constructing and coding machines, Miko and his mentors began to unravel his talents. With the help of his counselor, Miko delved deeper into the nexus of autonomous vehicles and software development. 

• Academic Course Selection: On campus, Miko brought his best to high school with confidence in his choices. Miko took nine different Advanced Placement courses while remaining in the top 10 percent of his class, graduating with a 4.0 unweighted GPA.
• Passion Project Guidance: Continuing to develop and refine his robotics work, Miko even began applying his skills to his concerns about food supplies with the world's growing population.
• Support with Internship Search: Miko’s counselor supported him in reaching out to high-quality mentors and internship opportunities that would further his resume and firsthand experiences, ultimately landing him in collegiate labs and alongside a team of NASA engineers.

On his own, he excelled in student leadership by delving into engineering, robotics, and ethics organizations with his fellow peers. With guidance from his counselors, Miko’s work led him to shine. 

The summer before his senior year, Miko applied and was accepted as an intern with the research software team at NASA. As a result, he spent the semester working with engineers on various challenges. The project focused on developing new simulations that could help astronauts use autonomous landers on a planet like Mars or aid farmers in avoiding injury by having them use robots to perform potentially dangerous tasks. 

This amazing experience changed the direction of his student story. Miko focused even harder on his dedication to making our world, and the next, more manageable. This passion and his remarkable accomplishments as a student earned him acceptance to Rice University’s freshman class. There, he will continue to solve problems on the cutting edge of one of the most competitive fields in academia, and beyond!