A High School AI Project That Strengthens College Applications: Ishaan’s Story

Introduction: AI Project That Strengthens College Applications

In the world of finance, one question keeps rising: how do you teach a teenager to build something that protects thousands of people? This project started with that curiosity.

This is the story of Ishaan Indukuri, who set out to create an AI-powered Credit Card Fraud Detector a project that blends finance, machine learning, and real-world impact.

About the Student

Ishaan has always been drawn to the logic of markets and the behavioral side of money. Finance felt like a natural home for him, but he wanted to push past theory. He wanted to understand how technology shields people from financial risk.

That curiosity led him to fraud detection. While most students explore simple prediction models, Ishaan wanted to solve a problem that affects millions of consumers every year. His motivation wasn’t technical ambition, it was responsibility. “If financial systems are built on trust,” he reasoned, “then safeguarding them is one of the most meaningful things a young builder can do.”

About the Project

Fraud detection is a global challenge. Every transaction carries a question: Is this genuine or suspicious? Banks deploy complex systems to answer that question, but even the best systems can fail.

Ishaan designed an AI project that mirrors real systems used in financial institutions: a model that flags unusual transactions and learns patterns of legitimate vs. fraudulent behavior. His Credit Card Fraud Detector evaluates transaction features, identifies anomalies, and produces a risk score.

Student Impact & Outcomes

By the end, Ishaan didn’t just build a model he built a portfolio piece that demonstrates financial literacy, AI competency, and real-world reasoning.

This project strengthens his academic narrative in business, finance, and computer science. It showcases a student who goes beyond textbook knowledge and takes on a problem trusted by industry professionals. It is the kind of work that stands out in selective admissions: high-impact, technically grounded, and ethically aware.

He now has a deeper understanding of risk modeling, anomaly detection, and responsible AI skills that translate directly to future internships, advanced coursework, and research opportunities.

Ishaan’s thought on BetterMind Labs

“I really enjoyed the program, both the live sessions and mentorship calls were very helpful in developing a solid foundation in AI and learning more about a niche intersection of AI and Finance.” — Ishaan

Check out all Students @ BetterMind Labs

FAQ

1. Why is fraud detection a strong student AI project?

It combines high-stakes financial reasoning with real-world machine learning concepts. Colleges value projects that show problem relevance and ethical sensitivity.

2. How does mentored AI learning change outcomes?

Students build faster, make fewer mistakes, and learn industry-standard thinking. Mentorship ensures depth, not just code.

3. Does this project help with college admissions?

Yes. It demonstrates initiative, data literacy, modern technical skills, and the ability to tackle impactful problems. It fits naturally into portfolios and supplement essays.

4. Is this project beginner-friendly?

With structured guidance, yes. Students don’t need a deep CS background just curiosity and discipline.

Conclusion

Ishaan’s journey shows what meaningful AI education looks like: clarity, mentorship, and a project rooted in real-world stakes. This is the kind of work that builds confidence, strengthens applications, and shapes thoughtful future technologists.

To explore more student stories, visit bettermindlabs.org.