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This 9-Year-Old Boy Is Already in College - And Aiming to Be a Brain Surgeon!

Pennsylvania prodigy 9-year-old Aiden Wilkins, is taking neuroscience classes at Ursinus College while still in high school.

By Sohini Sengupta

If you're impressed when kids solve Rubik's Cubes or say the alphabet backwards, you should meet 9-year-old Aiden Wilkins!

He lives in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. While other children his age are on playground swings, Aiden spends his time in college classrooms. He attends neuroscience lectures at Ursinus College.

Most nine-year-olds are learning basic math, but Aiden is studying brain plasticity. Aiden, who's just 15 and technically a high school sophomore, is now the youngest student at Ursinus College. His family and professors agree: he's not just surviving college-level work --- he's excelling, it seems. His obsession with the human brain started when he was three.

While other toddlers watched cartoons, Aiden fixated on anatomy videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP0t720huYg But his difference showed up even earlier. At age two, his mom, Veronica, noticed something unusual. He could read street signs fluently while most kids his age struggled to form basic sentences. "I could just read them," Aiden told 6 ABC, "when most kids my age (...) could barely even speak." Formal testing confirmed what was already clear: his mind worked differently. From that point, his education shifted into overdrive. Now, between his regular high school classes and college-level neuroscience courses, Aiden is building the foundation for his future career: pediatric neurosurgery. "The reason why I want to be a pediatric neurosurgeon is mainly because I like helping kids around my age," he told NBC 10. "It’s sad to see kids around my age with neurodisabilities, so I want to help them out." ALSO READ: Adding This ONE Food Item to Your Breakfast Will Prevent Dementia and Improve Your Brain Health His mother, Veronica Wilkins, says pride doesn't capture her feelings. What excites her most isn't just Aiden's record-setting achievements but also knowing her son feels truly understood. "It’s exciting because he’s making history, and you know he feels great," she shared. "I think it’s so important to be seen and heard." The faculty at Ursinus College quickly warmed to their new student. Kelly Sorensen, who oversees academic programs, clearly remembers Aiden's first day. He showed up in a suit and tie last March, ready to discuss everything from brain science to Shakespeare. "We’re delighted to be a part of Aiden’s journey," Sorensen mentioned that the real task is keeping his "hungry mind well-fed." As for Aiden himself? He's looking ahead without hesitation. While other kids his age tackle times tables, he's studying neural networks. His focus is fixed on using his unique abilities to help others someday. If that doesn't sound like the start of something remarkable, what does? NEXT UP: Cristiano Ronaldo Pays $83,000 For 10-Month-Old’s Brain Surgery

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