“Friends and relatives around here suggested going to Middlesex College. You get the same college experience while saving money. Also, it was easier for me to adapt to the American system by going to a school with small class sizes rather than going to a large university.”

Patel plans to study biochemistry and molecular biology at Rutgers. She shared that her parents in Kenya are proud of their daughter’s academic success in America.

“They are really excited about everything I have achieved so far,” she said.