Luther High School senior accepted into MIT, first student in school history to attend

ONALASKA, Wis. (WKBT)--

When Rileigh Olson opened the email from MIT, she couldn't believe her eyes.

"I didn't think I would be getting into this school at all," she tells News 8 Now.

After all, only four percent of applicants are accepted into the research school. But Olson isn't like most students. The 17-year-old from Onalaska received near-perfect scores on her standardized tests a 1500 on the SAT and a 35 on her ACT, she credits her success to old-fashioned hard work.

"I just kind of been taking really hard classes and just studying hard and doing well in them," she explains. "It also helps to do a lot of extra curriculars. I was on my school's tennis team. I've done show choir for two years."

Olson doesn't know what she will be studying when she heads to Boston this fall, but she has a few ideas.

"One of my major ideas is AeroAstro engineering so that's one thing I'm interested in. I'm also interested in like mechanical engineering, especially the biological side of it," the LHS senior tells News 8 Now.

It's also where MIT's legendary research opportunities lie.

"They really focus on applying the knowledge, not just learning things in the classroom," she says. "I visited the city with my dad after I got in and we kind of visited around Boston. It's just a really cool city and I'm just excited to go. I wanted to do something different and fun."

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