Grad Student Wins Big On TV

On Friday afternoon, rather than courting a thesis advisor or working on research, Harvard graduate student Nathan Kaplan was watching himself on TV, reviewing his performance on ABC’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”

“It was awesome,” said Nathan, who studies mathematics. “I’ve always wanted to be on a game show. I’ve always loved trivia and random facts.”

Kaplan finished the contest $25,000 richer. “As a starving grad student, it’s nice to earn what you make in a year in twenty minutes,” he said.

“But it will be like half that after taxes,” he added.

Math Professor Noam Elkies, who teaches Kaplan, said he was proud of his pupil but could not take any credit for his success. “He didn’t need my help,” said Elkies. “We looked at some chemistry charts, but he had his own training regiment.”

Elkies, who said he does not watch “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”— or any TV shows—said he was looking forward to viewing the episode that features Kaplan.

Kaplan said he did some strategic preparation for the show and used all of his lifelines. “

I knew one of the questions would be one where it was a disadvantage to be only 24 years old, so I called my father about a ‘Gone With the Wind’ quote,” he said. “He had no idea.”

Kaplan said he especially enjoyed talking with the host, Meredith Viera. “I did a little Google and Wikipedia stalking,” said Kaplan. “She definitely looks good for an older woman.”

According to Elkies, some of the graduate students are planning a viewing party of Kaplan’s episode.

“I would recommend anyone to audition,” said Kaplan, who added that he was open to competing in other game shows.

“It’s a great experience, and it isn’t a hard process,” said Kaplan.

Earlier this year, Kaplan found out about a “Millionaire” audition nearby, and decided to try his luck. Four weeks later, he found himself in the studio, and six weeks after that, his episode aired.

The question that stumped Kaplan was about the origin of a particular textile. “It’s from India,” he said, “but it doesn’t look Indian because it was Anglicized in a weird way,”

Kaplan has one question, however, that hasn’t been answered.

“I haven’t popped the [dissertation] adviser question yet,” said Kaplan.

“I go to the gym with [Noam Elkies], though,” he said. “That’s a great way to court an adviser. First work out with him, then work out with him mentally.”