Meet Soborno Isaac Bari, the 12-year-old American math prodigy who impressed Obama at 4, gave physics lectures at 7, and scored a perfect 1500 on the SAT at 11

At just 12 years old, Soborno Isaac Bari has already graduated from high school and is preparing for college, where he plans to study mathematics and physics. The Malverne High School graduate became the youngest student in the history of his Nassau County school to graduate, according to the Malverne Union Free School District.

His academic journey has included skipped grades, advanced university-level coursework, a 1500 SAT score and invitations to lecture at colleges in India. Now, he is setting his sights on New York University and eventually hopes to earn a Ph.D. and become a professor, as per several reports by ABC7, CNN and Rashidul Bari blog.

How did Suborno become a prodigy?

Suborno's interest in mathematics began remarkably early. His father, Rashidul Bari, recalled that his youngest son started solving addition problems with his mother when he was only one year old.

One day, while Shaheda Bari was teaching him basic addition, Suborno began asking questions that went beyond what he had been taught, as per a blog by Rashidul Bari in the Times of Israel.

“If 1 +1 is 2, then n + n must be 2n!”

Rashidul said the unusual questions continued. At first, he thought his son might simply be trying to get attention, particularly because his older son, Refath Albert Bari, was also academically gifted. But Suborno kept showing an ability to turn basic mathematical ideas into abstract concepts.

Rashidul, who was studying mathematics at the time, eventually shared what he had observed with one of his professors. The professor encouraged him to take the child's abilities seriously.

Suborno's academic development soon attracted attention beyond his family. At two and a half, he was interviewed by Sabrina Chowdhury Dona of Voice of America after CUNY Medgar Evers College Vice President Jerald Posman tested his chemistry skills. He was later interviewed by Dr. Daniel Kabat, chair of the Physics Department at Lehman College, who tested his calculus skills.

What made his school journey unusual?

Suborno's path through school was anything but conventional. He skipped 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th and 11th grades, completing his 4th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades within the Malverne Union Free School District. He also passed the New York State Regents examinations required for graduation.

His unusual academic schedule was developed through cooperation between the school district and his family. Rebecca Gottesman, director of K-12 school counseling at Malverne Union Free School District, first met Suborno when he was a fourth grader.

How did Suborno finish high school at 12?

Speaking to Good Morning America, Suborno described his high school experience as a long journey, despite completing it at an age when most students are still years away from graduation.

"It's been an absolutely wonderful experience," Suborno said of his high school career.

He said his time at Malverne gave him the opportunity to meet people, learn across different subjects and prepare for the next stage of his education.

"I met so many great people and I've learned a lot in both math and science and other disciplines. But I think I'm ready to move on and pursue my higher education to the best of my ability," Suborno added.

Rebecca Gottesman, director of K-12 school counseling at Malverne Union Free School District, first met Suborno when he was a fourth grader. After 25 years in education, she described him as a prodigy and said he was the most exceptional student she had encountered academically.

"Every year, school counselors are asked on behalf of the students that are applying to these colleges to answer the question, 'Is this one of your most exceptional students that you've ever seen in your career?' ... and I can say without any doubt that Suborno is the most exceptional student I've ever met academically," Gottesman said. "He's really a prodigy."

Rather than simply moving him through grades, the school district and his family created a tailored arrangement. Suborno took high school-level core classes at the middle school before taking a bus to the elementary school, where he could join his same-age fifth-grade peers for electives and after-school activities.

Despite the unusual schedule, Suborno said he felt accepted by the school community.

"They treated me just like any other high school student ... and that's how I really wanted to be treated by the community," the young whiz said.

How did Obama recognize Suborno?

Suborno's accomplishments eventually reached the White House. In 2016, then-President Barack Obama sent him a letter recognizing his hard work and accomplishments. According to his father's account, the family learned about the recognition after Suborno's older brother, Refath, told their father that a letter from President Obama had arrived.

Rashidul described the moment as an emotional one for the family. Suborno reportedly jumped up and down after opening the envelope and reading the letter, as per a blog by Rashidul Bari in the Times of Israel.

The recognition quickly attracted attention in Bangladesh, where Rashidul was born. He said newspapers and television channels reported on the story, while a documentary titled “Little Einstein,” produced by Ahsan Himel, was broadcast on Channel 24.

Suborno's exposure continued to grow after interviews with university officials in the United States. One particularly notable interview came from City College of New York President Lisa Coico. During a four-hour interview on April 21, Suborno reportedly solved more than 80 Ph.D.-level physics problems.

By 2020, when Suborno was 7, his father said colleges in India had begun inviting him to teach. He now gives lectures there three times a year, according to his family.

What is Suborno planning next?

Suborno graduated from Malverne High School on June 26 and plans to attend New York University in the fall as a commuter student on a scholarship.

He earned a 1500 on the SAT, a 34 on the ACT and completed five AP classes. During 12th grade, he also took nondegree classes at NYU, Stony Brook University, the City University of New York and Brooklyn College.

Despite moving through school much faster than his classmates, Suborno said his teachers and fellow students accepted him and allowed him to follow his interests.

"They treated me just like any other high school student ... and that's how I really wanted to be treated by the community," the young whiz said.

Gottesman also praised his attitude toward learning, describing him as a young person with an exceptional thirst for knowledge.

"He really a wonderful, wonderful young man. He's got an inquisitiveness and a thirst for knowledge, like nobody I've ever seen," Gottesman said. "He's been a joy to work with."

He said the university coursework presented a different challenge.

“That was a whole new challenge for me,” he shared. “You’ve got much more homework, much longer classes, (many) more new subjects and material and it’s all condensed into a far shorter time than in school," CNN affiliate WABC-TV reported.

His ambitions extend well beyond his bachelor's degree. Suborno hopes to graduate from college at 14, earn a Ph.D. and eventually become a professor of mathematics and physics.

“It’s absolutely insane,” he said about starting at NYU in the fall. “I can’t wait for all the opportunities I’ll have, I’ll be able to meet people who are actually interested … fully in math and science, and people who are also majoring in math and physics and who want to find out these mysteries behind the universe," as per a report by CNN.

For Suborno, the goal is not simply academic achievement. He wants other people to develop the same enthusiasm for mathematics and science that has shaped his own life.

"Many people are doing it only because their parents said so or because engineers just make the most profit, not because they actually love what they're doing. So I hope to fix that and help other people understand math and science and love it in all its beauty," Suborno said.

"Do what you do because you like it because of the passion you feel when describing it or doing it," he added.

FAQs

How old is Soborno Isaac Bari?
He is 12 years old.

What will Soborno study at NYU?
Mathematics and physics.