The son of a farmer in a remote Uttar Pradesh village, Anurag Tiwari has obtained 98.2 percent in his Class 12 examinations and secured a place in New York’s Cornell University, which is one of the eight Ivy League Universities in the US.
The 18-year-old student hails from Sarasan village in Lakhimpur Kheri district. He scored 95 marks in Mathematics, 97 in English, 99 in Political Science, and a full 100 both in History and Economics, as per the exam results announced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday.
Anurag Tiwari now is waiting for his online classes at Cornell to start from September 1. Due to the spread of coronavirus pandemic, most of the universities in the US are conducting online classes for students.
Jonathan R Burdick, Vice Provost for Enrollment, in a letter to Anurag in December wrote, “Congratulations! The admission selection committee in the College of Arts and Sciences has approved your early decision application to Cornell University for the fall of 2020. I am honoured to share this wonderful news with you and to welcome you to the Cornell community.”
He also shared with PTI another letter from the varsity that offered him a full scholarship.
Anurag revealed that his journey has not been smooth so far. Coming from a weak financial background, he had to move to a residential school in Sitapur district for education. Anurag studied at the VidyaGyan Leadership Academy, run by the Shiv Nadar Foundation in Sitapur.
“My parents were initially reluctant to send me to Sitapur. My father is a farmer and mother a home-maker. They thought if I go away for studies, I may not return to farming. But my sisters convinced them to allow me to study,” Anurag said.
Talking about his decision to study abroad, Anurag said he was always inclined towards Humanities and Liberal Arts. After Class 10, he opted for the Humanities stream. Many questioned his choice and suggested him to opt for science and commerce.
“Eventually my teachers and counsellors in Delhi advised I could try for Ivy League colleges if I wished to pursue Liberal Arts. There are various good colleges in our country but even those abroad can be good based on my preference for studies. Thus, I applied to Cornell University and took the SAT,” he said.
The 18-year-old humanities enthusiast said he would have gone to Cornell University in August but due to certain travel and visa restrictions that is unlikely now and expects to land there only by February 2021.
Son of farmer Kamlapati Tewari and homemaker Sangeeta Tewari is hoping to study Economics as a major subject and Mathematics as minor and also pursue post-graduation abroad.
“I’m hoping to study Economics as a major subject and Mathematics as minor and also pursue post-graduation abroad only and eventually decide if I can get into Data Analysis. But after completing my education and gaining some work experience, I would certainly want to return to India to work here and also contribute in the education sector,” Anurag said.
