Chesterfield Student Recognized for Mastery of Science, Math Courses

A Chesterfield student is being recognized for her mastery of AP courses and has some advice for her fellow scholars, plus big plans for a future in physics or electrical engineering.

Uttara Chakraborty was recently named one of two state winners for the 2012-13 Siemens Award for Advanced Placement. The homeschooled student is being recognized as one of the nation’s top achievers for her scores in the college-prep courses, specifically in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Along with Ladue Horton Watkins High School senior Runpeng Liu, Chakraborty will receive a $2,000 college scholarship. She has been accepted into MIT and Stanford, but hasn't yet reached a decision on which university to attend. 

Those currently enrolled in AP classes would do well to take notes on the following Q&A Siemens conducted with Chakraborty.

Favorite AP Class: Physics C

Advice to other AP students: “To reap the full benefits of an AP course, you should be willing to devote a lot of time to mastering even the minutest details.”

Proudest Accomplishments: Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Google CS Connect Award; Siemens Competition Semifinalist; author of original research published in a scholarly journal (all 2012)

Plans for College Study: Electrical Engineering, Physics. 

Anticipated Career: Professor of electrical engineering or a physicist at a university or a research lab

Favorite nonacademic pursuits: Mentoring students at Washington University’s Math Circle and at Parkway Central High School’s Academic Center; National Junior Classical League; Badminton