The Long Island high school senior who was accepted to all eight Ivy League schools says he is heading to Yale.
Kwasi Enin announced his decision during a news conference at William Floyd High School Wednesday with the type of fanfare usually reserved for college football and basketball recruits.
Enin, who scored 2,250 out of 2,400 on his SAT, was accepted by Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania earlier this year.
He also was accepted at Duke and three State University of New York campuses.
Enin said the school's inviting atmosphere, emphasis on music and financial aid offerings all contributed to him choosing Yale.
At the news conference in the school gym, Enin thanked his parents and educators who helped him along the way.
"Without their assistance, I would not be in this position," he said. "I would not have had the initial drive to strive for excellence."
His proud mother said her son is "proving himself to be on the right path." She and her husband have sought to instill "strong moral qualities" in Enin and his sister since they were young, she said.
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"We are so proud and so excited about all that he has achieved," she said.
His father said he has always been strict about his children's academics.
"I told him, 'Look, your worst grade in school should be a 95,'" he said.
Principal Barbara Butler said Enin "exemplifies the greatness in William Floyd, and how hard work, dedication and taking advantage of opportunities pays off."
Enin said he would like to go to medical school and become a doctor. He said he hoped the attention to his story inspired other kids to appreciate higher education.
