Bangladeshi-American Salman made it to Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and more — here’s his secret sauce

Sketch: TBS

In 2009, Salman's family won a visa lottery that allowed them to immigrate from Chattogram to the United States. However, their journey was not just a matter of luck. His parents—Shafiq Chowdhury and Fathema Begum—were determined to raise their children in a way so that they could accomplish big things. 

Bite-Sized: Bangladeshi-American Salman shares his Harvard secret sauce

Today, Salman has been accepted into 10 of the top 25 universities in the US, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania. This fall, he will be attending Harvard University to pursue Applied Mathematics. He is considering a focus on Economics with a secondary in Electrical Engineering and a concurrent master's in Computer Science. 

"The reason my parents came to this country is because they wanted their children to have great opportunities. The least I could do is try my best," Salman said.

"A lot of my success is because of the way they raised me," Salman added.

Salman was born in Dubai where his father has a family business. He recently graduated from Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI) STEM Academy in Wayne, New Jersey. The academy has produced Ivy League acceptances before, but he has achieved more in a single year than anyone else.

Salman has shown a rare gift for Mathematics at an early age. In 2019, he became one of only 16 students to ace the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments standardised test. What made the feat so historic is that he also got a perfect score on the language test—the first in the school district to do both in the same year, Paterson Press reported.

"In eighth grade, I finished the geometry curriculum and moved on to algebra, pre-calculus, and bits of calculus. That carried over to high school—I became the only freshman in my year to be placed into honors algebra 2 and trig," Salman recalled. 

He also joined the school's first-ever robotics team—for his capstone project he designed a lunar rover that could withstand the moon's harsh environment.

The secret sauce: What made all the difference? 

Recently, writing for CNBC, Salman identified three key practices that worked for his academic excellence. 

"It started long before high school, with the way my parents raised me. We couldn't afford college consultants or expensive enrichment programmes, so they focused on simple, consistent routines that laid the foundation for my success," he wrote. 

1. Sleep, food, and health: Studies show that good sleep and proper nutrition lead to better academic performance and Salman's parents took it seriously. 

"To make sure I got enough rest, my dad would wake up early so that he could drive me to school every morning before heading into work. Not having to catch the bus gave me an extra hour of sleep. My mom would similarly get up before sunrise, sometimes as early as 4:30 am, so that she could make me a nutritious breakfast—usually a couple of eggs, some protein, and garlic toast."

He mentioned that his parents always arranged their schedules so that he'd never come home to an empty house. As soon as he was done with school, they'd be home from work.

2. Exploring opportunities: When Salman began high school, he was focused on academics. However, his parents encouraged him to explore clubs. Having grown up without access to extracurricular activities themselves, they wanted him to have those opportunities. Salman considers himself fortunate.

Salman went on to become one of the most active students in his district and, to his surprise, thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He joined Robotics, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), and SkillsUSA, while also contributing to real-world engineering projects, such as improving mathematical models for school initiatives.

"My proudest accomplishment? Leading a NASA HUNCH team that designed a lunar rover built to survive the moon's harsh terrain. We were invited to present our design at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, directly to NASA engineers and astronauts," Salman noted.

His parents taught him that one can become talented through skill development, but he or she needs opportunities to put that talent to good use. 

3. Strong morals and a sense of purpose:  Salman's parents taught him that success means more than grades. It's also about character.

"They instilled in me values rooted in our Islamic faith: curiosity about the world, honesty, gratitude, and perseverance. Our faith also encourages us to observe and appreciate the beauty of the world, which is initially what got me interested in science," he wrote.

These values influenced every aspect of Salman's life, from his academics to his relationships with teachers and classmates. When it was time for recommendation letters, his teachers highlighted not only his achievements but also his character. 

"What matters most to me is giving back—to my parents, my community, and everyone who helped me along the way. I believe that's how I'll truly make the most out of my Harvard education," he concluded.

Salman's journey is marked by relentless dedication and unwavering support and sacrifices of his parents. He stands as a shining example of how perseverance, strong values, and family support can turn dreams into reality. His story serves as an inspiration for others to believe in the power of discipline and hard work.