A Louisiana high school student has more than 170 acceptance letters from colleges and more than $9 million in scholarship offers.
Senior at International High School of New Orleans Dennis Maliq Barnes, 16, told CNN he didn’t set out to break any records.
Inquisitive, Barnes said, “as I applied to more schools, as my numbers went up, with the financial aid and acceptances into universities, I became intrigued,” adding that when he was told he was close to the record, he “just went for it.”
Barnes claimed he started his college application process in August 2022 and took satisfaction in seeing the acceptances and scholarships pour in. Barnes remarked, “Once I reached that amount, it wasn’t really a surprise to me.
According to Clark Castle, a spokesman for the school and Barnes, school authorities claim that Barnes’ accomplishment sets a new global record and have contacted the Guinness Book of global Records to make it official.
The Guinness Book of World Records was contacted by CNN for a response.
Barnes has a 4.98 grade point average, is graduating two years early, and is still deciding which university to enrol in for the autumn.
Barnes said, “I don’t know where I want to go,” but added, “I intend to pursue computer science,” adding that she would later attend law school.
Barnes attributes his success to his trust in God, his family, and his friends.
“I am a God-fearing young man; I keep God first,” he declared.
Barnes has submitted applications to 200 colleges and intends to make his final choice public in early May in time for his May 24 graduation.
And Barnes had some words of wisdom for those who would follow him: “If you keep your school, your education, and God in the mix, then you are definitely going to be successful no matter what you do.”
