Westminster High School Student Heading to Harvard University
'I'm in shock,' senior Timmy Tran says after being accepted to 17 colleges and waitlisted at 13 others.
Timmy Tran is one of the thousands of seniors in Orange County preparing for one of the biggest milestones in life – graduating from high school.
Like many others, the student at Westminster High School in the Huntington Beach Union High School District is set to don his cap and gown and accept his diploma next week. “I’m in shock,” Timmy said in a recent Zoom interview.
Part of that shock is because of his remarkable educational journey. Timmy was accepted to 17 prestigious universities (Yale, Notre Dame, UCLA, to name a few) and waitlisted at 13 others.
“It’s been unbelievable,” Timmy said, a giant smile across his face. “I could never imagine that I could get this far, especially in the college admissions process.”
And he’s headed far away, to the other side of the country. After much deliberation, Timmy decided he will attend Harvard University in the fall. It was a last-minute visit to the campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts that swayed him. It was the Ivy League school's smaller class sizes that made an impact. “Making sure that I could connect with the faculty is what drew me to Harvard,” Timmy said.
So, how did he get here? Timmy shared that he immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam when he was very young. He attended local public schools in the Westminster School District before becoming a Lion at WHS. In high school he’s maintained a 4.5 grade-point average, was a leader in the Associated Student Body (ASB), played on the school’s volleyball team, and was active in clubs, including the Vietnamese American Culture Club.
A key to Timmy’s trajectory was his participation in the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars program. Started 30 years ago, QuestBridge is a national nonprofit that helps high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds apply to and attend college. Many QuestBridge scholars, including Timmy, earn scholarships to pay for tuition at some of the best universities in the nation.
Through QuestBridge, Timmy was able to participate in college conferences, increase the focus of his research on which campuses might be the best fit for him, and gain assistance on his college application. “QuestBridge uplifts you,” he said, and added, “It makes you feel that you are a top applicant.”
Westminster High School Principal Amy Sabol said her campus is focused on preparing its roughly 2,500 students for the future. "At WHS we have really emphasized the college-going culture," Sabol said. "Every Wednesday we wear college gear."
Sabol pointed to the school's MERITS Program. The science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) magnet program utilizes college-preparatory curriculum, hands-on experiences, and exclusive opportunities to "prepare students for success in higher education and beyond." According to its website, 92% of the graduates of the MERITS Program attend a four year university after high school.
In addition, in 2024, nearly 89% of WHS seniors had completed the A-G courses required to be eligible for admission to the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems.
Sabol praised Timmy for his accomplishments and attitude. “Timmy truly lights up a room and it’s done to light the path of others,” she said. “He’s not doing things for himself. It’s always about how he can lift others around him.”
She noted that Timmy was always working hard to look for and seize opportunities, a quality she has seen in many WHS students. “The kids here are always willing to say 'I’ll try it. I’ll give it a go.' It’s a yes mindset," she said.
That mindset has only grown stronger with Timmy’s latest achievement. “It’s motivating me to believe in myself … That if I want to try something, I should go for it,” Timmy said. He wants his story to encourage others. “Hopefully it’s an inspiration for people, especially at Westminster High School.”
Timmy said he plans to study economics and history at Harvard but admitted that he could change his mind. When asked if he's ready for the snowy winters on the East Coast Timmy replied, “Definitely not.” But his positivity quickly shone through, like a ray of Southern California sunshine. "I’ll have to adapt and I really don't think I'll have any issue. Hopefully, l’ll thrive.”