Bethpage High School senior Aaryan Rupesh has achieved one of the most prestigious academic distinctions available to high school students in the country, earning the title of National Merit Finalist. Initially recognized as a semifinalist in September, Aaryan is now among just 15,000 students nationwide who were selected as finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation from a pool of approximately 1.3 million entrants.
Earning Finalist status is no small feat. Beyond an exceptional PSAT score, students must demonstrate sustained academic excellence through strong SAT results, an outstanding academic record, a school official's recommendation and a comprehensive application that includes coursework, extracurricular involvement, volunteer work and a personal essay. Finalists receive a Certificate of Merit and become eligible for National Merit Scholarships.
For Aaryan, one of his proudest academic achievements has been his perfect math scores across the SAT, PSAT and ACT. I feel they serve as a reflection of my hard work during prep, he said. His preparation, notably, was something of a happy coincidence. He began SAT prep the summer before junior year, with his first SAT scheduled for October, just a week before the PSAT. Inadvertently, I was studying for the PSAT, he explained. His advice to underclassmen looking ahead to the test: start early and take practice seriously.
A student with wide-ranging academic interests, Aaryan counts AP Physics II, AP Government, and AP Statistics among his favorite subjects. Outside the classroom, he is deeply involved in robotics, jazz band, and the math team. He also founded Future Engineers Academy, a nonprofit that reflects his commitment to making engineering accessible to younger students.
A pivotal moment in shaping his path came during sophomore year, when he enrolled in Mrs. Strauch's Principles of Engineering I course. Although Aaryan had already been involved in robotics since his freshman year (drawn in by his experience with Lego League in middle school), it was that class that cemented his decision to pursue engineering in college and beyond. It really solidified my decision, he said.
Balancing a demanding course load with a full slate of extracurricular commitments requires discipline, and Aaryan has developed a practical approach. He makes the most of his lunch periods to chip away at homework, leaving his afternoons and evenings free for the activities he loves. His advice to fellow students is straightforward: Don't waste your free time. As much as you want to just flop onto your bed and start doomscrolling, take the time to finish your work, and then afterwards you can enjoy yourself stress-free.
As graduation approaches, Aaryan is looking forward to everything college has in store. I am most excited for all of the new people and opportunities I will encounter, he said, and also to see where college will take me. The Bethpage community congratulates Aaryan on this remarkable achievement and wishes him every success in the exciting journey ahead.