When Salman Chowdhury opened his acceptance letters this spring, he had more than a few to read. The New Jersey student received offers from 10 of the nation’s top 25 universities, including Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania. Harvard will be his home this fall.
That level of success might sound like the result of elite tutoring or costly prep programs, but Salman’s family couldn’t afford those. Instead, his parents built a foundation for learning and resilience through everyday habits and values. Let’s look at the three things they focused on early, the choices that shaped Salman’s path to the Ivy League and beyond.
What his parents did to help him succeed
Salman grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, and attended PCTI STEM Academy in Wayne. His parents, who immigrated to the United States without formal American degrees, set priorities that had nothing to do with chasing prestige. They concentrated on his health, his access to opportunities, and the values they believed would guide him for life. Their approach started years before college was even on the horizon.
They instilled a sense of moral direction and purpose
From a young age, Salman was taught that integrity, gratitude, and perseverance mattered as much as grades. These lessons, rooted in his Islamic faith, shaped his curiosity about the world and his interest in science. In their recommendation letters, teachers didn’t just talk about his academic record; they wrote about his character, which helped him stand out in a competitive admissions pool.
They created an environment where opportunities could flourish
While Salman initially concentrated solely on academics, his parents encouraged him to explore activities outside the classroom. They suggested he try clubs and projects without the pressure to commit if he didn’t enjoy them. That freedom led him into robotics, Future Business Leaders of America, and SkillsUSA.
He eventually headed a NASA HUNCH team designing a lunar rover for the moon’s harsh terrain, a project that took him to the Johnson Space Center to present before engineers and astronauts. Those experiences gave him a clearer sense of what he wanted to study and how to apply his skills in real-world settings.
They placed a strong emphasis on health
His father drove him to school so he could sleep an extra hour instead of taking the bus. His mother prepared high-protein breakfasts before dawn, making sure he started the day with energy. They arranged their work schedules so that he never came home to an empty house, keeping both structure and emotional support in place during his busiest years.
By the time applications went out, Salman wasn’t just another high-achieving student. He was someone with a track record of leadership, hands-on projects, and a reputation for reliability and kindness, the kind of qualities elite schools look for but can’t be captured by test scores alone.
As Salman prepares for Harvard, he sees his journey less as a personal victory and more as a continuation of what his parents taught him: to work hard, seek out opportunities, and remember the values that keep success meaningful.