Detroit high school senior Milton Jennings has been accepted to Stanford University, along with 10 other prestigious schools, and awarded over $3 million in scholarships.
With a 4.3 GPA, Milton plans to major in psychology with a focus in neuroscience. He hopes to become a neurosurgeon and is also interested in modeling during his undergraduate years.
Milton says he felt relieved when he opened his Stanford acceptance letter early. He and his mom and sister were all wearing Stanford gear, and he admits he would have been embarrassed if he hadn’t been accepted.
Stanford became a top choice for Milton during his sophomore year. While he wouldn’t call it a “dream school,” he says it felt achievable thanks to the encouragement of his support system. He chose Stanford for its calm academic climate, uplifting classroom environment, and world-renowned psychology department.
Milton opened his decision letter with his mom and sister. He reacted quietly, but his sister danced and cheered, and his mom cried. His friends were excited but unsurprised, telling him they always believed he would get in. Milton credits his mom the most, saying his success would not have been possible without her.
In high school, Milton took part in many science and medical symposiums and competitions. Often the only African American male in the room, he became passionate about encouraging other young Black men to enter STEM early. He hopes to help increase representation and address health disparities in medicine.
He was also accepted to Princeton, Columbia (Columbia Scholar), NYU, Emory, University of Richmond (Richmond Scholar), Tulane, the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Vassar, and Wayne State (Med Direct), among others.
Milton’s advice to students: Learn the material—but also learn how to succeed in the classroom. Show up, ask questions, and find what works best for you.
His journey from Detroit to Stanford is just beginning.
