![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ESOKK2PB4SSQLVBGBYDHPVOVYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f304c481569e174bd5d7c2c4641e1e2dc75076cffdf0630c0300b68647e87358&width=400&height=225)
Solal and Vedant are looking for corporate sponsorship in return for a work placement or internship.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V2DWQZRA2NMIQVYDKPKVS76XZY.jpg?smart=true&auth=3cc1ff7beb3cf1c4379961cc3ac8c3585bafa802b96000afc8bb33f6ccc4ea11&width=400&height=225)
Vedant Khanna, (R), and Solal Afota will move to the US in September to study at Stanford University. All photos by Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AJHA2RF6NXIINLEMCXBHXNJJZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=3aa36f8e33e371372d11a6a305e747f46a3062c244a0b2e5ee69cde1f90f3b09&width=400&height=225)
The duo spent years talking about attending some of the best ranked colleges, and both have now secured a place at the world's number two.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3OGIIK7IZD2FMPLIJ47K7SOFOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6f7aefc3575e2e1e4f826886ff7ad4e90f906dfbf1e9ebd6b77a39360132d334&width=400&height=225)
They both turned down placements at some of the world’s best campuses, including the University of Cambridge in the UK.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G4PA224RW35FPAYTEDPPLWG7SM.jpg?smart=true&auth=42b2d0fef194541fdeee170b1970891f63143f626a3c4f81234eea216b5515e5&width=400&height=225)
Vedant Khanna, 18, wants to study physics and computer science.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LFUGVEDXYZQ36VSR2EOMCXZ4Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=81f50383610c992abc37509135ecbf822ee89cfff27ee3983ed63a393fe7a745&width=400&height=225)
Solal Afota, 18, says he wants to be the founder of the next generation Google or Amazon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EFFEMNSMK5CVY4AOX6O47KSQOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6153a6457d96a9a78b6211a8714adc71e1e489a7a98c4bc052bbc6694e15b2c2&width=400&height=225)
Both boys spent months on their university application and had to submit eight short-form essays.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ESOKK2PB4SSQLVBGBYDHPVOVYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f304c481569e174bd5d7c2c4641e1e2dc75076cffdf0630c0300b68647e87358&width=400&height=225)
Solal and Vedant are looking for corporate sponsorship in return for a work placement or internship.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/V2DWQZRA2NMIQVYDKPKVS76XZY.jpg?smart=true&auth=3cc1ff7beb3cf1c4379961cc3ac8c3585bafa802b96000afc8bb33f6ccc4ea11&width=400&height=225)
Vedant Khanna, (R), and Solal Afota will move to the US in September to study at Stanford University. All photos by Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AJHA2RF6NXIINLEMCXBHXNJJZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=3aa36f8e33e371372d11a6a305e747f46a3062c244a0b2e5ee69cde1f90f3b09&width=400&height=225)
The duo spent years talking about attending some of the best ranked colleges, and both have now secured a place at the world's number two.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3OGIIK7IZD2FMPLIJ47K7SOFOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6f7aefc3575e2e1e4f826886ff7ad4e90f906dfbf1e9ebd6b77a39360132d334&width=400&height=225)
They both turned down placements at some of the world’s best campuses, including the University of Cambridge in the UK.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G4PA224RW35FPAYTEDPPLWG7SM.jpg?smart=true&auth=42b2d0fef194541fdeee170b1970891f63143f626a3c4f81234eea216b5515e5&width=400&height=225)
Vedant Khanna, 18, wants to study physics and computer science.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3LFUGVEDXYZQ36VSR2EOMCXZ4Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=81f50383610c992abc37509135ecbf822ee89cfff27ee3983ed63a393fe7a745&width=400&height=225)
Solal Afota, 18, says he wants to be the founder of the next generation Google or Amazon.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EFFEMNSMK5CVY4AOX6O47KSQOM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6153a6457d96a9a78b6211a8714adc71e1e489a7a98c4bc052bbc6694e15b2c2&width=400&height=225)
Both boys spent months on their university application and had to submit eight short-form essays.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ESOKK2PB4SSQLVBGBYDHPVOVYM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f304c481569e174bd5d7c2c4641e1e2dc75076cffdf0630c0300b68647e87358&width=400&height=225)
Solal and Vedant are looking for corporate sponsorship in return for a work placement or internship.
Abu Dhabi friends first in their school to be accepted into Stanford University
Solal Afota, 18, plans on founding a next-generation Google or Amazon
![Kelly Clarke](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F0d1398b1-947f-4bc8-a663-69c6b02cb849.png?smart=true&auth=168c867e0c9f9e3320a65ec2cb755dfde78d4c07327944646c4aad65792033ee&width=70&height=70)
Kelly Clarke
13 May, 2021
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