Erode: Seventeen-year-old Praveen Elango from Erode district has secured a full scholarship worth Rs 3.55 crore to pursue a four-year undergraduate programme at Brown University in the United States. The scholarship covers his tuition fees and accommodation expenses, besides other educational and living costs.

Founded in 1764, Brown University is one of the oldest universities in the US. It is also a member of the prestigious Ivy League, which includes Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Columbia universities, among others. Praveen will study Public Health and Applied Mathematics at Brown University.

In an exclusive interview with Dinamalar Kalvimalar, Praveen spoke about his journey, application process and future plans.

The journey began in Class 8
“When I was studying in Class 8, I read a news report about a girl from Erode who was pursuing her studies at the University of Chicago with a full scholarship. That inspired me greatly.

“From Class 9 onwards, I began focusing seriously on personal development, leadership training and developing various skills, along with a fellow student. While maintaining a strong academic record at school, I also participated in a chess competition held in France,” he said.

Applying to 27 universities
Praveen said he has so far applied to 27 universities across the US, Hong Kong and Singapore.

“The application process for foreign universities is challenging. However, I gathered information about scholarship opportunities through extensive online research and guidance from mentors. The requirements vary from one university to another, and the details are clearly provided on the respective university websites,” he said.

Praveen said he did not use artificial intelligence while preparing his applications.

“I did not use AI in the application process. Its use is prohibited under the application rules. Brown University is among the leading universities in the US that offer substantial financial aid to students. The admission and financial aid applications have to be submitted together,” he said.

He spent around four months preparing his applications before submitting them in January. The admission decision was announced towards the end of March.

“After receiving the admission decision, I focused on the procedures for obtaining a US student visa. I recently received my visa. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, accommodation and health insurance,” he said.

Plans to return to India
Praveen said his long-term goal is to return to India after completing his undergraduate studies and establish a startup in the public health sector.

“I plan to complete my studies, develop my skills and return to India to start a venture in public health. I have not yet decided whether I will pursue postgraduate studies. However, my ultimate goal is to establish a startup in India,” he said.

'Clear goals make achievement easier'
Praveen believes that setting clear goals at an early stage can make it easier to achieve them.

“If we set our goals early and work hard towards them, achieving them becomes easier. If we act with the confidence that something is possible, we can certainly succeed,” he said.