Young Sheldon in real life: Boy with IQ 168 gets into NYU master's at 13 after overcoming cancer, Tourette's Syndrome

Thirteen-year-old Joe Petraro-Hyppolite has been making waves with his exceptional intellect. From Long Island, New York, the prodigy has been accepted into a master's program at New York University, where he plans to study sports medicine next year. If admitted, he would become the youngest graduate student at the school. Petraro-Hyppolite's academic prowess has been evident since he scored 1,590 out of 1,600 on the SAT at age 10, leading to speculation that he is the real-life version of "Young Sheldon" or "Doogie Howser."

Despite facing health challenges, including a battle with leukaemia diagnosed in September 2021 and undiagnosed Tourette's syndrome, Petraro-Hyppolite has persevered. His mother, Anne Petraro-Hyppolite, expressed her pride in her son, noting that his love for learning sets him apart. "He just loves to learn. He is like a sponge," she said.

Petraro-Hyppolite's journey to academia began with his impressive SAT score, and he is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree at Louisiana State University. Before transferring to NYU, he remains the youngest student to be admitted to an NYU master's program. His interests span several fields, including sports management, kinesiology, and biology.

Beyond academics, Petraro-Hyppolite is actively involved in community service, having volunteered at a nursing home. While it remains unconfirmed whether he is the youngest student ever admitted to an NYU master's program, NYU's representative is investigating his claim.