Tamil Nadu teen skips JEE, NEET route to secure Rs 3.55 crore scholarship to Brown University

Pranav Ilango, a 17-year-old from Erode, Tamil Nadu, has been awarded a full scholarship worth Rs 3.55 crore to study at Brown University, one of the prestigious Ivy League institutions. This scholarship is the result of a mentorship program called Dexterity Global, which helped Pranav with college applications, personal development, and service to society.

He grew up switching schools between Erode and Coimbatore, eventually attending an IGCSE school in class 6, where he scored the highest possible grade in both IGCSE and A-level exams. This success was due to a mentorship program that taught him about college applications and the possibility of studying abroad.

Pranav's interest in data led him to create the Tamil Nadu Cancer Statistics Project (TNCSP) in class 11, working with his friend to collect and analyze cancer data from the Adyar Cancer Institute. This project helped raise awareness about cancer screening and led to the development of a website, tncsp.org, and pamphlets in Tamil for public distribution. In his free time, Pranav plays competitive chess, holds a FIDE rating of 1800, and co-founded HS Incubator, an online notes platform for A-level students.

At Brown University, Pranav will study an 'Open Curriculum', which allows him to choose courses without declaring a degree until the end of his second year. He plans to combine applied mathematics with public health, aiming to start a startup or non-profit focused on healthcare in India. Brown's program will provide him with technical skills in applied mathematics and management knowledge relevant to the Indian healthcare system.

Pranav hopes to return to India after completing his studies, leveraging his background in public health to contribute to the country's healthcare system.