At Just 10 Years Old, Alisa Perales Graduates From College in California With Two Degrees After Starting Her Studies at Age 8; True Story Featured in People Magazine in 2024.
In May 2024, the story of Alisa Perales, a 10-year-old girl from California, gained international media attention. The report published by People and confirmed by CBS News highlighted how the young prodigy became the youngest graduate in the history of Crafton Hills College, earning two college degrees even before completing her elementary education.
An Early and Extraordinary Journey
Alisa began her college studies at 8 years old, after her parents noticed that the regular school curriculum was too simple for her intellectual level. She was accepted into a special program that allows gifted students to attend college classes, regularly attending the campus and studying alongside adults.
While other children were learning multiplication and basic grammar, Alisa studied behavioral and human sciences, liberal arts, and child development—fields she showed interest in from an early age.
-
An entire island in the Pacific wants to surround itself with a colossal barrier against the ocean to try to escape increasingly violent waves and not be swallowed by the sea in the coming decades.
-
Seen from space, an African lake possibly born from an ancient impact has transformed into a colossal silver mirror in the heart of Chad, in a phenomenon so rare that it can only be seen in this perfect alignment with the Sun.
-
Santa Maria has become Brazil’s fortified city by bringing together military command, training centers, simulators, Leopard maintenance, and the sensitive part of the machinery that supports the heavy troops of the Brazilian Army.
-
Brazilian cities shining from space impress in a new image from NASA that reveals São Paulo, Rio, BH, and other urban centers during the historic Artemis II mission, which also captured the Moon like never before.
According to the professors at the institution, she exhibited a level of interpretation and analysis comparable to that of advanced undergraduate students.
Impressed Teachers and Peers
In an interview with People, academic coordinator Heather Smith stated that Alisa “has the emotional maturity and intellectual curiosity of someone much older.”
Even in classes with adults, the girl consistently performed above average and excelled in debates and presentations.

Her peers, many of whom were already graduated or seeking professional requalification, also reported being surprised to see the girl express herself clearly and confidently on complex topics. Despite her young age, Alisa was respected by everyone as an exemplary student.
The Intense Routine of a Young College Student
At 10 years old, Alisa’s daily routine included in-person classes, online studies, and time reserved for play and sports. Her parents stated that they seek to balance their daughter’s academic pace with typical childhood activities.
During her degree, she dedicated an average of five hours a day to studying, worked on group projects with adult students, and presented projects at internal university conferences. Even so, she did not give up her love for games and shows—especially those in the science fiction genre.
Plans for the Future
After graduation, Alisa has already been invited to participate in educational research programs focused on developing gifted children.
Her parents and mentors are cautiously evaluating the next steps, but she has already expressed a desire to pursue a career in neuroscience or cognitive psychology, aiming to study how the young brain learns at an accelerated pace.
The faculty of Crafton Hills College believes that the girl could become one of the youngest researchers in the world if she continues at the same pace of progress.
A Symbol of Inspiration
Alisa Perales’s achievement represents more than an academic curiosity — it is an example of family and educational investment in gifted talents. In the United States, cases like hers have become more common, especially with the expansion of programs aimed at advanced education and flexible teaching for children with above-average IQ.
The young prodigy now joins a list of brilliant minds that challenge the limits of age and show that genius can flourish early when given space to develop.



-
-
-
3 pessoas reagiram a isso.