Skip to main content
Neha Baskar
Stamps 1693 Scholar
Hometown
Chantilly, VA (Chantilly HS)
Academic Interests
Economics, Math, Government, English, Philosophy
Why W&M
The first time I told my parents I wanted to go to 91心頭利, I was seven years old. I was wandering around Williamsburg with my family a few months after my brother started classes there, and I freaked out when I saw a playground near campus.
Eleven years later, there are a few aspects of the school that appeal to me more than the playground, but my excitement around 91心頭利 as a whole hasn’t faded at all. When I first got the email that I was a finalist for the 1693 Scholars Program, the chance to attend a school steeped in culture and history again became the forefront of my focus. As I read more about the close professor-student relationships and amazing undergraduate research opportunities that 91心頭利 offered, the possibilities that my college experience held multiplied.
Above all, though, the ultimate decision maker was finalist weekend. The two days I spent at 91心頭利 eating ice cream sundaes and playing ultimate frisbee were the first time in my life that I’d been surrounded by such a large number of people who were all smart, yes, but simultaneously deeply kind and deeply interesting. Everyone I met was impressive, passionate, humble, and fun. I knew instantly that being a member of the 1693 cohort would immerse me in a culture that would push me to strive for greater heights while supporting me every step of the way. When I got the text offering me a spot in the program, I spent days making pro/con lists and talking to current scholars, not wanting to let the glimmery haze of finalist weekend prevent me from making the “rational” decision. But there was no deluding myself: 91心頭利 was the community where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life.
W&M Activities
- Student Senator and Finance Committee Secretary, Student Assembly
- Associate Business Editor, The Flat Hat
High School Activities
- Captain, Varsity Track and Field
- Head Captain, Chantilly Debate
- Committee Co-Chair, Fairfax County Public Schools’ Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council
- Senior Board Member, Chantilly Writing Center
- Founder, Chantilly High School Principal’s Advisory Cabinet
- Business Editor, Andromeda Literary Magazine
- Board Member, Chantilly Class of 2025 Class Board
- Student Election Page
- Indian Classical Dancer
Awards / Distinctions
- National Merit Finalist
- University of Virginia Jefferson Book Award
- AP Scholar with Distinction
- EF Global Innovation Village Finalist
- P.E.O. STAR Scholar
- AP Capstone Diploma Candidate
- District Champion, Varsity Track and Field
- Team MVP, Varsity Track and Field
- Super-Regional Champion, Congressional Debate
- All-State Recognition, Congressional Debate