Pam Chang Oak Park High School senior Xiaokun “Pam” Chang earned a perfect score of 2400 on the College Board SAT—and, as to be expected, acceptance to some of the nation’s top universities.

“I definitely studied for it,” said the 18-year-old. “I took a summer course and also borrowed a bunch of books from the library (to prepare for the SAT).”

Although Chang believed she would perform well on the college entry exam, she wasn’t expecting to earn a perfect score and was amazed that she aced the writing section.

“I came out of the test thinking that I didn’t do that great,” Chang said. “I was surprised.”

She added that her parents were equally surprised and thought she was joking when she received the news that she’d answered every question correctly.

Chang has earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average at Oak Park High. She has taken 12 Advanced Placement classes as a student at Oak Park High and tackled three AP courses independently.

Oak Park High did away with weighted grades for honors and AP classes. A weighted grade is calculated on a 5.0 scale. The highest a student at Oak Park High can earn is a 4.0 GPA.

Chang and her family are scoping out colleges this week. She was accepted at every college to which she applied. At Duke University she was offered a full merit scholarship, but she will visit Harvard, Yale and Stanford universities before she makes a final decision.

“I think a lot of what I know about these schools is based on myth,” Chang said. “I want to see for myself.”

Chang many interests beyond academics. She is a member of the school’s Key Club, a community service group. She says she has been most active with the Junior State of America, a political debate team.

Chang also participated in the school’s mock trial for four years. “I had a good time,” she said. “It was really fun for me.”

Chang is a member of Oak Park’s tennis team and plays the flute with the Conejo Valley Youth Orchestra.

If she had to choose what she enjoys most, she’d say traveling. She has visited China, India and Canada. In India she worked with young girls at an orphanage.

Chang is fluent in Chinese but joked that she wouldn’t be able to write her dissertation in Chinese.

She has been chosen as one of 500 semifinalists in the 2011 Presidential Scholars Program. Candidates were selected for the program from about 3.2 million students expected to graduate in 2011. Students are chosen on the basis of academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, character and involvement in community and school activities.

The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of 32 citizens appointed by the president, will select in early May one young man and one young woman from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. students living abroad. The scholars will receive the Presidential Scholars medallion at a recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C., in June and will participate in events and activities with their elected representatives, educators and other public figures.

Chang credited her teachers with helping her succeed.

“The teachers (at Oak Park High) are absolutely amazing,” she said. “I never felt that there wasn’t someone I could go to for help or turn to if I had a question.”

When asked if she had any tips on how to best prepare for the SATs, Chang’s advice was simple.

“Don’t cram,” she said.

She added that it was important for students to stay true to themselves.

“If you feel forced into anything you won’t be happy about it. If you do what you want to do you will probably do it well.”