A Louisiana high school senior has gotten over 170 college acceptance letters and almost $9 million in scholarship offers.
Dennis Maliq Barnes, a senior at International High School of New Orleans, told CNN that he wasn’t attempting to break any records at first.
“As I applied to more schools, as my numbers went up, with financial aid and acceptances into universities, I became intrigued,” Barnes explained, adding that when he was told he was near to the record, he “just went for it.”
Barnes stated that he began applying to colleges in August 2022 and took delight in seeing the acceptances and scholarships pour in. “It was never really a surprise for me once I reached that number,” Barnes remarked.
According to Clark Castle, a representative for the school and Barnes, Barnes’ achievement sets a new global record, and school administrators have sought out the Guinness Book of Global Records to make it official.
Barnes has a 4.98 GPA, is graduating two years early, and has not determined where he will attend college in the fall.
“I don’t know where I want to go,” Barnes admitted, but added, “I intend to pursue computer science,” followed by law school.
Barnes attributes his success to his family and friends, as well as his faith in God.
“I am a God-fearing young man; I keep God first,” he explained.
Barnes has applied to 200 colleges and expects to make his final decision in early May, before graduating on May 24th.
And for anyone following in his footsteps, Barnes had some words of wisdom: “If you keep your school, your education a priority, and keep God in the mix, then you are definitely going to be successful no matter what you do.”
