“Did I Really Get Into MIT?” A Nepali Student Shares Her Surreal Acceptance Story

For many Nepali students, getting into a top U.S. university like MIT feels like a dream that only belongs to someone else. For Pragya Neupane, that dream turned real — in the most unexpected way.

“I was literally at the airport, about to board a flight. I got an email from the program director saying, ‘Congratulations.’ And I thought… is this spam?”

Finding Out at 30,000 Feet

The acceptance decision came out on Pi Day — March 14 (3.14) — a tradition at MIT. But Pragya wasn’t refreshing her email like most applicants.

“I was in California, about to fly to Mississippi after spring break. It was such a random moment.”

She opened her inbox and saw a message from MIT. Her first instinct?

“This must be fake. There’s no way this is real.”

As she boarded the plane and sat mid-air, the weight of the moment began to hit her.

“I kept thinking, ‘Did I actually get into MIT?’ I couldn’t wrap my head around it.”

What It Means for Nepali Students

For Nepali students applying abroad, Pragya’s story is a reminder that big dreams don’t always come with big announcements. Sometimes, they show up quietly — in your inbox — just before takeoff.

“Even when I landed, I couldn’t fully believe it. It didn’t feel real. But it was.”

Final Thought

If you’re a student in Nepal wondering if schools like MIT, Harvard, or Stanford are too far out of reach, Pragya’s story is proof: they’re not.

Sometimes the biggest moments come when you least expect them — but only if you dare to apply.