BHS Senior Scores Perfect on SAT, Named Merit Semi-Finalist

Bolingbrook High School senior Suraj “Neil” Sheth is on quite a roll.

After learning that he had been named a National Merit Scholarship Corporation Semi-finalist in September, he found out he scored a perfect 800 on the biology and chemistry SAT subject tests he took in early October. And he also received the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award.

“I’m very, very happy,” said Sheth, who ranks second in the BHS Class of 2014 with a grade point average of 4.744. 

Sheth credits all of his teachers, in particular Sylvia Noga, Nanette Davies and Stacey O’Connell, for his chemistry and biology success, and his parents, Anu Krishnaswamy and Umang Sheth, for his overall success.

“It has taken quite a bit of practice and hard work,” Neil said. “But the knowledge I received from them gave me the foundation.  My teachers are excellent educators and really helped me achieve this.”

Sheth’s life isn’t all work and no play. He is an active member of the BHS Scholastic Bowl squad, the Speech Team and Science Club. He is President of the Environmental Club and the Asian American Club, and is the founder of the new Model UN at BHS. He also helped found and is President of the Future STEM and Health Care Leaders of America.

As a junior he was a finalist in the U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad competition, coming within an eyelash of earning a trip to the International Olympiad in Russia. He also won the Silver Medal in the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering state competition.

Last summer he conducted neuroscience research at the Harvard University.

One of only 16,000 students nationwide to be named a National Merit Semi-finalist, Sheth now must wait until February to find out if he becomes a Finalist.

To qualify for the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award, the former Pioneer Elementary School and Brooks Middle School student logged over 250 volunteer hours over a 12-month period.

Does he have any advice for students just starting high school?

“Work hard at school and work hard at home. Stay determined through thick and thin,” he said. “Set clear goals and use the resources around you, your teachers and principals, to help you achieve those goals. Most of all, enjoy what you do and have fun with it.”

As for the future, Sheth hopes to obtain both an MD and a PhD in neuroscience.

“I’d like to become a neurosurgeon and help people on a daily basis but at the same time be able to do some research,” he said.