USAP Brazil Profiles
We are extremely proud of their great achievements and successes. Below are the profiles of some of our Brazilian students from the Class of 2017.
| More USAP Brazil profiles |
Renan Ferreirinha
Harvard University '17
A native of São Gonçalo, a city close to Rio de Janeiro, Renan studied for seven years at the Military School of Rio de Janeiro (CMRJ), one of the country's most demanding high schools. There he was a member of the Cavalry, doing horseback riding frequently; vice-president of the Student's Union; director of the Union of Catholic Students; Valedictorian; and Olympiad medalist, with 14 medals in Chemistry, Essay, Astronomy and Mathematics competitions, getting a Scholarship in a Junior Scientific Initiation Program. Due to his outstanding academic performance, Renan held the rank of Colonel Student – the top-ranked student in the senior year class - the highest position that a student can achieve. In 2010, he was introduced to SOMAR, an NGO created to improve education in poor areas and help the needy. After two years participating in SOMAR's community activities, he and his cousin founded SOMAR – English, in which they teach English to kids and adults in an underprivileged community in Rio de Janeiro every Saturday morning.
On the junior and senior years in high school, Renan participated in the ILRIO Prep Program and in the Opportunity Grants Program from EducationUSA, which financed all his expenses during the application process. With the marvelous help of both institutions, Renan was admitted early to Yale University, becoming the first Brazilian Opportunity Student to be admitted early, and was also accepted in other 7 American universities, including Harvard, Princeton and Columbia. Furthermore, he got the second place with full-financial aid in FGV (Getúlio Vargas Foundation), the best institution of higher education in Brazil according to MEC (Brazilian Ministry of Education). At college, Renan intends to study Economics and Political Science. After graduating, he wants to come back to Brazil to work with public education and to fulfill his dream: create his own foundation with the intention of providing the future generations with similar - if not better - opportunities than those that have been given to him.