This Latina Prodigy Got Accepted to Every College She Applied to, Including All The Ivy Leagues

Malena Galletto, 17, is arguably the smartest young woman in the country. The Bronx native graduated in June with a 97% GPA from Bronx Science High School. Now, she’s been accepted to all 28 colleges she applied to, including all the Ivy Leagues.

“When I was about to open a [admissions] letter, I would prepare for it to be the first rejection letter. And then I would open them and always say, ‘Congratulations on getting accepted!'” Galletto told the New York Post. “I didn’t expect to get accepted everywhere.”

This Latina genius always had her priorities straight

Malena Galletto is the daughter of Argentine immigrants who arrived in Washington Heights in 2000. Her parents, tango teachers who did not manage to pursue an academic career, always supported their daughter in her studies.

“For as long as I can remember, school has always been my number one priority. Even in elementary school, I remember always wanting to be at the top of my class,” Galletto said, adding that her parents always instilled in her that ‘education was the most important thing.’

At Bronx Science High School, one of the most competitive schools in the country, Galletto took 11 advanced classes. She was also captain of the Speech and Debate Club and founded a student group dedicated to gender equality.

The future is definitely Latina

As the New York Post continued, Malena Galletto estimates she spent about 200 hours writing 70 supplemental essays for college applications. In addition, she spent countless hours studying for the SAT, on which she scored 1560 out of 1600.

Galletto explained that she did not have to pay the application fees, which ranged from $50 to $85 each, thanks to a College Board funding program.

“Malena is an example of the true meaning of the American dream,” says Frances Kweller, founder of the tutoring company Kweller Prep, who has worked with Galletto since she was in sixth grade.

A dream come true for Malena Galletto

The young Latina’s dream is to pursue a double major in government and physics at Harvard University. However, she kept her options open and applied to 28 colleges. In December, the responses from the universities began to arrive.

The first was from the University at Albany. “I was like, ‘Yes, I’m going to college!” recalls Malena. But then, in March, the Ivy League Schools started replying as well.

“The first one I opened was Cornell [University], and when it was a ‘Yes,’ it changed my life…. But when I opened the Harvard [University] one, I was absolutely screaming,” Galletto said. “Deep down, it was always Harvard for me,” Galletto said.

“I’m very excited,” she concluded. “I can’t wait.”