BetterMind Alumni | Batch June 2024
Manvika Kanukuntla
Artificial Intelligence Grad, University of California, San Diego
The Starting Point: Growing up without a map
During her early years in high school, Manvika explored a range of academically rigorous and technology-oriented pursuits. She took on leadership roles in student organizations, participated in STEM-focused programs and research initiatives, and engaged in collaborative technical projects such as hackathons and app development.
Alongside these experiences, she pursued an early college pathway, earning college credits while completing her high school education. Together, these opportunities helped her develop strong problem-solving skills, discipline, and time management, while deepening her interest in applying technology to real-world challenges.
Exploring AI @ BetterMind Labs
During high school, Manvika joined a hands-on internship at BetterMind Labs while exploring early technical experiences. At the time, she had limited exposure to applied AI and no experience with Android development. What helped was not just the material, but the support structure. Mentors broke projects into manageable parts, held separate help sessions when needed, and focused on understanding rather than rushing outcomes.
Her College Application Strategy
When it came time to apply to college, Manvika approached the process thoughtfully. She focused on finding universities that aligned with her academic interests and learning style rather than making decisions based on reputation alone. She applied primarily to University of California and California State University campuses and chose University of California, San Diego for its strong research environment and opportunities in artificial intelligence.
“Before this, AI felt very theoretical. Once I started writing the code myself, it finally made sense.”
Her experience at UCSD
At UC San Diego, she values the intellectually focused atmosphere and the chance to learn alongside peers with shared interests. She continues to explore areas such as AI, data science, and research, remaining open to how her interests may evolve over time.
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Her Advice to High School Students
Her advice is simple and unsentimental:
Try more things than you think you should & Don’t expect clarity on the first attempt
“You won’t like everything the first time. Try things, see what sticks, and don’t rush the decision.”
Ready to Apply?
Jump in and start your journey!
We encourage students to fill out the application themselves it gives us a clearer sense of their interests and intent. Please take a moment to read through the questions and answer them with care. Each application is reviewed thoughtfully, so genuine, well-considered responses really do make a difference.
