Class 12 boy gets Rs 2 cr aid to study economics from Boston University

A 17-year-old Indian student has bagged a scholarship totalling approximately Rs two crore for studying economics from the Boston University in the US.

Arnav Misra, who stays in Noida, is among the select 20 students globally and the only Indian chosen for the Boston University Trustees Scholarship.

"Congratulations. I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected as Boston University Trustee Scholar. You were chosen for this most prestigious award because of your outstanding academic record, your contributions to your school and community, and your potential to contribute to both Boston University and society at large," read a communication from the university.

Misra said he has scored 1,500 out of 1,600 marks in the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and 99 marks in the scholarship exam of the varsity in which 60,000 students from around the world participated.

"I intend to pursue economics as a major and want to explore econometrics (economics plus math) because of the job potential in this area," he told PTI.

"Of course I am happy with the scholarship, more so because it won't burden my parents with the huge cost. I'll be getting USD 78,000 per annum for four years (approximately Rs two crore)," he added.

Every year, BU welcomes approximately 20 outstanding students to the Trustee Scholars Programme.A Trustee Scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition plus mandatory undergraduate student fees, and is renewable for four years if certain criteria are met, according to the varsity's website.

Misra, who studied at Amity International School in Noida, said he had scored 10 CGPA in class 10 and was expecting above 90 per cent marks in class 12 exams, whose results are awaited.

"I have to send the university my consent by May and the course begins in September," he added.

His mother Anupama Misra is a home maker, father Amit Nath Misra is a doctor, while elder brother Ahan is a student at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Bengaluru.

"We are very happy and proud of him. But all credit goes to his hardwork. He has been studying really hard for the last two years and did not get distracted despite temptations. Also, thanks to his school which has guided the student really well," she said.

She said a couple of years ago the school had provided her son an opportunity to visit NASA, which had exposed him to global sensibilities which altered his life.

"We are proud to inform that a class 12thstudent of Amity International School Noida has been offered a scholarship worth Rs two crore from the prestigious Boston University to study economics and admission offers from Emory College of Art and Sciences, Atlanta, Georgia and UC Berkeley.

"Arnav Misra is the only Indian to be selected for the Boston University Trustee Scholar after scoring 99 marks in the scholarship exam," the school said in the statement.