Vincent Chen
Murray 1693 Scholar
Hometown
Taipei, Taiwan (The Taft School)
Academic Interests
Pre-med, Computational and Applied Mathematics, Biology, Environment & Sustainability, Music Composition
Why W&M
After the 1693 Finalist weekend, I was on the train, traveling back to boarding school in Connecticut. Despite the long flights, car rides, and train journeys to various college campuses during my spring break, I was surprisingly invigorated. I would have expected to feel utterly exhausted, as I had after many other college visits, yet instead, I was energized by my college prospects.
At William & Mary, I met professors who were genuinely invested in their student’s success. Research experiences abounded, and there was freedom to study whatever my heart wanted. It wasn’t just about academics; I felt a strong sense of community, and for the first time, I could truthfully envision myself not just attending college, but truly thriving there.
The scholars I met that weekend also left the strongest impression on me. Their enthusiasm was rooted in a passion for their fields and a deep-seated desire to make a real difference in the world. This was exactly the environment I had been searching for—a place where I could be surrounded by scholars truly dedicated to their pursuits.
As the train sped along, I realized that William & Mary was more than just a college option; as an immigrant to the United States, this was my new home and the place where I could see myself growing, learning, and becoming the best version of myself.
High School Activities
- Research Intern, for Dr. Li in Blenis Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Teaching Assistant, American Academy of Medicine & Surgery at UCLA
- Primary Author of Scientific Paper about Oxidative Stress and Cancer published in Journal of Emerging Investigators
- Director, Taft Theatre Spring 2024
- Violinist/Violist, Taft Chamber Ensemble
- Violinist/Guitarist/Tuba Player, Taft Jazz Band
- Violinist with live band at Thomaston Opera House
- Soloist with The Capitol Symphonic Youth Orchestra, National Band & Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall
- Co-head, Masque & Dagger Club
- Peer Tutor, Taft School Community Service Board
- Violin student, the Starling Preparatory String Project at The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
- Varsity Football Team
- Ethnobotany Research project on Betel Leaf’s medicinal effects
- Ecology Research project on Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird Migration
Awards / Distinctions
- S.T. Yau High School Science Award, North America Semifinalist
- P.T. Young Music Prize; Otis L. Guernsey Jr. Theater Award
- AP Scholar with Distinction Award
- National Merit Commended Scholar
- 1st Prize TCSYO Concerto Competition
- High Honor Roll
- 1st Prize Violin, New York International Classical Music Competition
- Grant Recipient of Meg Page ’74 Fellowship
- Grant Recipient of the Kilbourne Summer Enrichment Program in the Arts
