The college admissions process is a rollercoaster for most applicants, but fortunately this was not the case for Michael Brown. Brown applied to 20 colleges including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern, Stanford, and Georgetown and went 20 for 20 with full-rides at each one.

Brown’s situation stands out nowadays when colleges and universities expect more from applicants than ever before. Each year, top schools become more selective and look for well-rounded applicants. To achieve acceptances from these top schools, Brown applied with a 4.68 weighted grade point average, 1540 on the SAT and an ACT score of 34. In addition to his impressive GPA and test scores, Brown was a member of the debate team, had multiple internships and was part of other activities such as Key Club.

Brown had always dreamed of attending Stanford University, the most selective school in the United States, and applied there early decision. Brown’s mother, Berthinia Rutledge-Brown, commented on her son’s acceptance to Stanford, saying, “That’s all he ever wanted. But after that, other acceptances he didn’t expect started to trickle in.” Stanford was only the beginning for Brown.

Michael Brown proves to be an example for other students at Lamar High School in the Houston Independent School District in which over half of the student body is considered at risk of dropping out.” Principal James McSwain commented on this to the Houston Chronicle saying, “If you look strictly at statistics and demographics, then the cards were stacked against him.”

Brown’s mother also attributed  programs such as Breakthrough Houston and Emerge, which help students from low-income and underrepresented communities find ways to go to college, for making college an option for her son. She told the New York Times that after she became aware of this, she was brought to tears telling them “I cried because I realized that there was a chance that my child would get the education he deserves — the one I could not afford to pay for.”

Brown now has less than a month to make his decision. He plans on majoring in political science, but is also considering a second degree in economics. Although he was set on Stanford, he now says he’s not sure. His mother said that all of the media attention he has been jarring for her son, who is usually shy, but wanted to share his story with the world to give other students hope.