Greetings!

My name is Marclus Marite. I am an alumnus of Nova Pioneer Tatu Boys (Class of 2022) and an incoming freshman at The California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

After sitting for my K.C.S.E, I spent most of my time at home, anxiously awaiting my results. As expected, I achieved an outstanding A, scoring 83 out of 84 points. However, what I did not anticipate was being recognized as one of the top students nationwide! This incredible honor opened doors to numerous opportunities and profoundly shaped the trajectory of my life.

Shortly after receiving my results, I was invited to join the Equity Leaders Program (ELP), a prestigious initiative designed for Kenya’s top-performing students. I underwent an intensive two-week induction at Sportsview Kasarani before interning as a corporate teller at Equity Bank’s Kenyatta University branch for seven months. During this period, I also participated in college counseling provided by ELP.

In October 2023, I took the SAT and achieved an impressive score of 1500/1600. That same month, I enrolled at the University of Nairobi to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. Unfortunately, my college applications abroad were unsuccessful, and I did not secure admission anywhere. However, what seemed like a setback turned out to be a blessing in disguise. This experience reignited my determination and strengthened my resolve to navigate the grueling application process once more.

With renewed clarity and motivation, I applied to top U.S. universities in November 2024. In March 2025, my perseverance finally bore fruit. By God’s grace, I was accepted to both the California Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), each offering me full funding.

I am honored to be attending Caltech this fall, where I plan to major in Applied and Computational Mathematics and later explore the field of Quantitative Finance.