AUSTELL - Choosing between Harvard, Yale and Princeton wasn't easy choice for Widly Coulanges, a South Cobb High School senior. But the 17-year-old magnet program student and likely valedictorian received some interesting advice to help ease his decision.

"I have a friend that said the only difference between those schools is your preference over the types of chairs you want to sit in during class," said Widly, a STAR student who scored 2250 out of a possible 2400 on the SAT.

Though he received full financial aid from all three Ivy League universities, Widly chose Harvard after visiting with students and professors in Cambridge, Mass.

"I went to Harvard, and it seemed like the place I wanted to be at," he said. "The environment was great."

Though there are no extensive records, Widly is believed to be the first South Cobb student to attend Harvard, said Principal Ashley Hosey.

"I have only had the opportunity to get to know Widly for one school year," Hosey said. "However, Widly is a very humble, hardworking student who is about to see the fruits of his hard work."

Although his major will be undecided, Widly intends to become a physician. During an internship last year at Austell's Georgia Lung Associates, where he observed doctors, one patient in particular helped him decide where to focus.

"For the first time in so many years she was able to climb mountains and dance with her friends again and you could gradually see over the past 15 or 16 sessions her life was being restored," Widly said. "That was pretty inspirational to me."

Ellen Katzowitz, who has taught Widly in her science classes for the past three years, said his natural abilities are complemented by a strong work ethic.

"He takes demanding classes and works hard to achieve perfection. I know whatever work I receive from Widly is of the highest quality," she said. "Widly is the quintessential student. I feel honored and lucky to have had Widly as a student. He is clearly a winner!"

While maintaining a 4.57 grade point average at South Cobb, Widly has also played varsity lacrosse, and participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, Health Occupations Students of America club, Beta Club, and the Leadership Experience Opportunity Club. He was also a Georgia Governor's Honor Program finalist. And he has spent three summers as a volunteer at WellStar Cobb Hospital.

Such activities helped transform a shy freshman into a confident young man, sure about his future.

"It took some, but I really think those volunteer opportunities really helped me out because there are people I probably wouldn't of met had it not been for those volunteer opportunities," he said.

Among the 11 other colleges he was accepted are Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Duke, Emory, and Hampden-Sydney in Virginia.

Widly's parents, Wilfrid and Edline Coulanges of Mableton, immigrated decades ago from Haiti. They also have a daughter, Edwine, 12. Wilfrid works as a real estate broker and taxi driver, and Edline is a nurse.

"There are no words to express how proud are we and how great our son is," Wilfrid Coulanges said. "We are very, very proud of him."

Valerie Greyer, South Cobb's magnet counselor, recalled Widly once coming into her office his junior year, visibly upset that he wasn't being challenged enough in a class and wanting to do something about it. That moment impressed her.

"Widly is simply impressive," she wrote in a letter of recommendation for him. "His drive and ambition are beyond his years, his intellectual ability is undeniable."