UB student earns degree at 18 — just like dad

After only two years and at 18 years old, Michael Reyf will receive his bachelor’s degree from UB on Sunday morning. He’s following in the footsteps of his father, who also earned a bachelor’s degree at 18.

Michael Reyf, who began his college career at 16 years old, originally came to UB in fall 2024, focused on pursuing a degree in engineering. Instead, he found himself drawn to mathematics.

“I always liked numbers growing up,” Reyf says. “Math felt like a good fit because it opens up a lot of possibilities afterward. It’s a versatile field that allows me to keep my options open while exploring my interests in analytics, business and technology.”

That versatility was part of what drew him to UB in the first place.

Originally from Brooklyn, Reyf spent part of his childhood in Staten Island before moving with his family to the Catskills region near Monticello. After arriving at UB, he quickly found himself drawn to the university’s options and opportunities.

“I went to a pretty small high school, so I liked the change from something small to something bigger,” Reyf says. “What I really liked about UB was how flexible it was with taking classes. I could explore a lot of different interests.”

Reyf entered UB with more than 30 credits earned through Advanced Placement (AP) exams. With those credits, along with consistently taking 20 to 21 credits per semester, he was able to complete his undergraduate degree in four semesters.

Despite the accelerated timeline, Reyf insists the experience was never about rushing through college.

“I think I perform better when I’m challenged,” Reyf says. “It wasn’t really about graduating quickly. It was more about challenging myself and building a strong foundation before college so that once I got there, I’d have more freedom to take courses I actually wanted.”

There’s also an interesting family connection with graduating college early. Aleksandr Reyf, Michael’s father, graduated from New York University’s College of Arts and Sciences in May 2000 at the age of 18, making him the youngest graduate in the class of 2000

“I wouldn’t say I graduated at 18 because he did,” Reyf says. “But having him as an example showed me it was achievable.”

Reyf says his father’s experience also gave him confidence.

“My dad said he was happy he finished early and didn’t have any regrets about it.”

When asked about balancing that heavy courseload with the social aspects of college, Reyf notes he made a point of staying involved on campus and creating balance outside the classroom.

“Joining organizations helped me build a community around myself,” Reyf says. “I knew I wanted to have a good overall experience and meet a lot of people.”

Shortly after arriving at UB, he joined the Chess Club, eventually serving on its executive board during his senior year. He also became involved in Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional business fraternity, and other business-focused organizations. And although he lives off campus, Reyf says he spends most of his time at UB attending events, meeting friends and staying connected to campus life.

“A lot of people say it’s harder to stay involved when you live off campus, and I think that’s true at first,” he says. “But once I realized that as long as I came to campus often, it wasn’t hard to stay connected.”

In addition to classes and clubs, Reyf was also building professional experience through internships and part-time work at a technology company. He says that long term, he hopes to work at the intersection of business and technology, potentially in corporate strategy or technology investing.

“Math has been really useful because it supports both areas,” he says.

Now, as graduation approaches, Reyf will be walking across stage for his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and minors in statistics and law. He is currently weighing several graduate school offers, including one from UB. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in a business-related field, such as finance or business administration.