13-Year-Old From St. Louis Park Accepted Into U Of M Ph.D. Program

ST. LOUIS PARK, MN — St. Louis Park native Elliott Tanner has not had the typical educational track for someone his age.

At the age of 11, Elliot graduated with an associate of science in math degree from Normandale Community College. He is now set to graduate with a bachelor of science in physics — plus a minor degree in math — from the University of Minnesota this May.

After that, Elliot will enroll in the University of Minnesota's doctorate program for physics. His ultimate goal is to become a high-energy theoretical physicist and professor.

“He had started reading when he was maybe 2, just 3," Michelle Tanner, Elliott’s mom, told KSTP "We said, 'Oh, well, that’s interesting. You’re reading. We didn’t teach you to read.'"

"I’m hoping to become a professor at the University of Minnesota in order to also spread this joy and passion for physics with other people," Elliott told the news station.

Elliot's family said they did not receive a financial package from the university, however, so they are fundraising to pay for his advanced degree.

"We can't stress enough that we are incredibly grateful to the University of Minnesota for accepting him into the program," reads the GoFundMe page established for Elliot.

"Only 3% of incoming physics Ph.D. students in the U.S. do not receive a tuition waiver and/or financial package, so we never imagined that we would be scrambling to fund Elliott’s education at 13 years old."

So far, $28,315 has been raised of the family's $44,000 goal.

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