Daya Brown’s Remarkable Feat: Admissions to Over 50 Colleges and $1.3M in Scholarships
Daya Brown, a recent high school graduate from Westlake High School in Atlanta, has achieved an extraordinary feat that has left many in awe. During her college search, she gained admission to over 50 prestigious colleges and institutions and secured an impressive $1.3 million in scholarship funds.
“It really wasn’t about the number of schools I applied to; it was really about making sure that I had options for my parents to really sit back and relax,” Brown explained in an interview with Good Morning America.
A Meticulously Planned Strategy for Success
Brown’s remarkable accomplishment was not a stroke of luck but the result of meticulous planning and unwavering determination. In a candid interview with Harvey Bracken-Smith’s “Personable” YouTube channel, she revealed that early in her high school years, she intentionally studied the trajectories of successful students before her.
“I saw what they were doing…they were the SGA president…the BSA presidents…the Beta Club presidents…in National Honor Society,” she recounted. “I’m not trying to pay for college.”
Extensive Research and Strategic Extracurricular Activities
Seizing the opportunity presented by the COVID-19 pandemic’s constraints, Brown immersed herself in extensive research and curated a list of schools that provided programs aligning with her interests. Her diligence extended to exploring prestigious scholarships, from Coca-Cola to sorority and fraternity offerings.
Brown strategically pursued extracurricular activities aligned with her passions, including poetry, writing, and film production. “I think a lot of the time students don’t understand that you have to be more than just a student,” she asserted.
Choosing Duke University and Aspiring for Greater Heights
After her remarkable journey, Brown chose to attend Duke University, where she began her freshman year in fall 2023. “When I first visited Duke, I had this euphoric feeling – I was like, ‘Wow, I could see myself conquering a lot here,'” she said.
With aspirations to pursue visual media studies and a minor in journalism, Brown’s entrepreneurial spirit has manifested in the creation of her own production company, Elom & Co. Productions, dedicated to emerging creators.
Her accolades include becoming the youngest intern at Warner Studios as a teen, securing a coveted spot in a Harvard Debating project, and launching the Scholar Social podcast.
A Village of Support and Unwavering Determination
Brown credited her success to the unwavering support of her “village” – her father, mother, grandmother, and brother.
Her determination and strategic approach to securing her future have paved the way for a promising career in the fields of media and journalism.
