Vandan Patel, a remarkably gifted seven-year-old from Georgia, has recently been inducted into American Mensa, making headlines as one of its youngest members. A first-grade student at Savannah Country Day School, Vandan has demonstrated advanced understanding across several academic disciplines and a hunger for learning that surpasses his age.
His father explains that Vandan’s interests reach well beyond schoolwork, ranging from space exploration to religious texts and language studies. His intellectual passions are vast and varied, but his family says he is still every bit a child at heart.
“Vandan is loving, intelligent, silly, and full of joy,” his mother Rima shares. She adds that when he’s not diving into educational subjects, he enjoys cartoons, video games, traveling, outdoor play, and tennis. He’s also fond of Snapology activities and dreams of exploring the cosmos as an astronaut.
Mensa, an organization for individuals with exceptionally high IQs, reports that youth members now make up nearly 9 percent of its U.S. membership. Programs tailored for young minds—such as scholarships, a reading initiative, and college prep series—are part of its growing outreach to children like Vandan.
To become a member, applicants must score in the top 2 percent on approved standardized IQ tests. For children under 14, scores can be submitted from a wide variety of evaluations conducted in schools, clinics, or by certified psychologists. Older applicants also have the option to test directly with Mensa across the country.
With approximately 45,000 members in the United States and over 140,000 worldwide, Mensa is a global hub for exceptional intellect. Vandan’s acceptance not only celebrates his personal achievements but also highlights the increasing representation of Indian Americans among high-achieving youth.
Vandan’s story serves as a reminder that brilliance can be found at any age—and with the right guidance, imagination, and drive, even the youngest minds can reach for the stars.
