Dalal’s exceptional math abilities came to light very early. He was only 4 when his parents realized that he could easily multiply simple numbers. Describing his early years at school, his father Mukesh Dalal says, “He was bored, but was able to advance at the end of grade 4.” As a fifth- and sixth-grader, he was traipsing off to a nearby high school to take classes in algebra and geometry.

Dalal has applied for a JHU CTY physics course this summer. It will cover one year’s high-school curriculum in three weeks. “He is very excited about this opportunity to study advance science since the regular science courses are not challenging enough,” says Mukesh Dalal. CTY has invited him to be a member of their study of exceptional talent (SET) program and have also awarded him a $1K Davidson/Stanley Merit Scholarship.

However, this wiz kid doesn’t feel out of place amongst his peers. While others at school struggle with numbers, Dalal admits that he is only average in English writing.

For the future, Dalal has his sights set on a career in physics or math, probably astrophysics. For now, he is happy being a gifted young man who enjoys regular stuff like computer and board games, reading, and playing with his friends and siblings.