A Student from Milton Was Just Admitted to Harvard

Last Thursday, one of my students was admitted to Harvard.

A few years after I was fortunate enough to get accepted into Harvard myself, I had the chance to support another student through that same process. Sami received his acceptance on Thursday, and I couldn't be happier for him.

Sami worked incredibly hard throughout high school. He earned a 1580 on the SAT, stayed deeply involved in his community, took on leadership roles, and consistently showed up with discipline and humility. Our work together focused on shaping his essays into a clear, honest story that reflected who he is and what matters to him. His acceptance is a result of his effort and character — I'm simply grateful to have played a small role along the way.

Two years ago, I was in a similar place: newly accepted into Harvard, excited, and anxious about what came next. It's meaningful to now see Sami step into this next chapter, where he is now tutoring SAT and mentoring more students throughout this process.

When we spoke today, the message I shared with him was simple: focus on doing meaningful work and investing in people, and the success will follow.

Through working with students aiming for many different goals — whether that's a top-tier school or a strong score improvement — I've come to appreciate how impactful this process can be. Not everyone is applying to Harvard, and they don't need to be. What matters is helping students build confidence, structure, and belief in their ability to improve.