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Schools

Meet Roswell's Whiz Kid of the Week: Willy Chen

The Roswell High School junior joined perhaps the most exclusive club any student can join.

Willy’s Age: 17
Willy is a: Junior at Roswell High School
Willy is this week’s Whiz Kid because: He recently earned a perfect score of 2400 on the SAT, one of the reasoning tests used to measure the problem-solving and critical thinking skills of college and university applicants.

Willy said the key to his “awesomeness” was: Doing a lot of studying and preparation, and having a bit of luck on his side.

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When Willy Chen accomplished the feat of earning a perfect SAT score, he not only increased his already-favorable odds of acceptance at the college or university of his choice -- he also joined one of the world’s most elite groups to which a person could belong.

The junior said that he felt good about his performance after finishing the hours-long test last fall. “[October 2010] was actually the second time I took the SAT,” Willy said. “I took it before in January of the same year and did really well. I did worse on the math section than I had hoped, though, so that’s why I decided to take the test again, which ended up being a great decision.”

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Indeed. According to statistics provided by College Board, a non-profit organization that administers SAT as one of its programs, only 382 of 1,547,990  students who took the test in 2010 earned the best-possible score of 2400. Willy’s impression after taking the test was a mixed bag. “I didn’t find the test especially difficult,” he said, “but it wasn’t too easy, either.”

To prepare for the SAT, Willy used some practice books to help him become familiar with the kinds of questions he might see on the real test, but he “didn’t look over anything specific to getting a perfect score,” he said. “When I was really doing some cramming for the test in the weeks leading up to it, I would try to do a practice test every few days. I didn’t think that I would actually make a perfect score -- I was thinking that I probably missed some questions carelessly throughout the test, actually.”

Because a perfect SAT score is an accomplishment that almost all but a fraction of people can lay claim to, Roswell Patch had to ask: What does the moment feel like when you see that 2400?

“My reaction was basically surprise, disbelief, and then happiness, all in about 3 seconds,” he said.

Understandably, his teachers and friends shared in Willy’s elation, but it’s his parents that he gives the lion’s share of credit to for his success. “Both of my parents are very intelligent and always did well in school,” he said. “I have to owe it to them for [encouraging] me to try hard for these things.”

Although Willy has yet to decide what he wants to study in the future, he said he hopes gain acceptance in one of the Ivy League schools when he begins the application process.

Now that Willy no longer has a need to perfect his SAT-taking skills, he is able to offer advice to students aspiring to do well on the test – or perhaps to those who want to earn the perfect score that automatically grants membership in what is perhaps the most exclusive club in the world.

“The best advice I can give is to be ready and prepared for the test,” he said. “Know the general types of questions on the test, and stay concentrated while taking it.”

Without question, his are words of wisdom.

 

Each week, Roswell Patch accepts nominations from readers for students, youth civic or church groups, or sports teams whose accomplishments and stories of good works will leave us saying "WOW!" Each Wednesday, we will  feature one individual or group as the Roswell Patch Whiz Kid(s) of the Week. Submit your nomination in our comment box below, or e-mail information about your Whiz Kid suggestion to jay.scott@patch.com.

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