The path to American university of a male student from Quoc Hoc Hue

Vo Ngoc Hieu, 18 years old, passed the entrance exam to a top university in the US with a solid academic record, a project to teach English to nurses in Hue and an essay about his weight loss journey.

Hieu is a former English major student at Quoc Hoc High School for the Gifted in Hue, admitted to the Computer Engineering program at Villanova University, Pennsylvania, ranked 67th in the US according to US News 2024 , with financial support of 6 billion VND.

Hieu said he dreamed of studying abroad as soon as he entered high school, so he planned it early. After finishing 10th grade in Vietnam, he went to study in the US and is currently a 12th grade student at St. Paul Lutheran High School in Missouri.

Hieu said that in the process of preparing applications for American universities, extracurricular activities and essay writing are the two most difficult and important steps.

Vo Ngoc Hieu. Photo: Character provided

In terms of extracurricular activities, instead of participating in many volunteer and charity programs, Hieu focuses on activities related to the field of study he intends to pursue. He also recognizes that his profile will be more competitive if he participates in scientific research.

So Hieu applied to Lumiere Education, a program that connects students with scholars from many top universities. Accepted applicants must commit to spending five hours a week on research. After going through an essay and interview process, Hieu was helped by a professor at Oxford University, England, to find a research topic.

The male student initially intended to compare the speed of the Java and C++ programming languages. When suggested by his teacher, Hieu developed it into a study of the factors that affect the processing speed of programming languages, helping new users choose effectively.

From June to August 2023, Hieu conducted the experiment himself, writing code in Java and C++ and running it on two computers to monitor. He used statistical methods to evaluate the changes, then wrote a report and sent it to Lumiere Education. Hieu said that in the case of problems related to complex calculations, C++ is more suitable, but for problems of storing information, Java is better.

Hieu's research was rated above average. The paper had good data and careful analysis, but still needed to overcome some illogical points. This experience helped the male student learn how to conduct experiments, write research papers, and improve his ability to communicate with teachers.

In addition, Hieu founded the ConnectiveCare project to teach English to nurses at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University. Every summer, Hieu returns to Vietnam to organize English communication classes related to the hospital environment, helping learners learn how to give directions, greet, ask about illnesses and give advice...

Hieu’s group has about 10 students from different specialized classes but all are good at English. The class takes place 4-5 times a week, with about 20 people. Each time, three students take turns teaching, interacting and practicing with the students. Hieu and his friends also guide the students in methods so that after the project ends, they can study on their own.

Hieu teaches English to nurses in Hue, June 2023. Photo: Provided by the character

Regarding the essay, Hieu said it was difficult even though he was an English major. The male student said that writing an essay for university application is different from writing in class.

"The essay needs to have its own character, while that is my weakest part," Hieu said.

In the first drafts, Hieu narrated sequentially, admitting that he was clumsy with words and often wrote too many words. With the guidance of his advisor, Hieu switched to the "Show, don't tell" writing style, presenting and describing actions, words, emotions, and thoughts to bring readers into the story, as if they were experiencing it firsthand.

In his main essay, Hieu talked about his weight loss journey. He was teased by everyone because he weighed 85 kg. At first, the male student wanted to lose weight as quickly as possible so he fasted but it didn't last long. When he gave up, Hieu's weight returned to its original level. He realized that to lose weight, each person needs to persevere with the exercise regimen and love the process. Finally, Hieu lost 10 kg. Through this, Hieu believes that when doing anything, one must have passion and perseverance. However, the effort must be done properly to be successful.

Hieu also wrote two supplemental essays when applying to Villanova explaining his reasons for choosing the school and discussing lessons learned from others. Hieu likes Villanova because its engineering school is ranked 50th among all schools in the US for engineering. He also loves the school’s basketball team.

According to Hieu, coming to the US in 10th grade helped him gradually get used to the environment and have many opportunities to apply to university. He actively participated in academic competitions. In 11th grade, Hieu won two gold medals and a bronze medal in the Math competition; and won a question and answer competition in the Central Missouri region.

Hieu’s high school did not offer AP (advanced placement) classes, only college-level classes. Hieu took difficult classes like Math, Physics, and Chemistry and earned all A’s.

"Taking these classes is to prove to the US admissions committee that you take advantage of every opportunity to learn and demonstrate your abilities. These classes are a very important factor when selecting candidates for many schools," Hieu said. Previously, the male student achieved a 7.5 IELTS, 1480/1600 SAT (standardized test) score and a grade point average (GPA) of 3.8/4 in grade 11.

Hieu applied to 12 schools, including Villanova University as his first choice. Receiving the first rejection email from two lower-ranked schools, Hieu was nervous. Days later, when he read the words "Congratulations" and the amount of money he had to pay was lower than the initial declaration, the Hue boy burst into happiness.

"I ran around the dormitory to celebrate. All my efforts had paid off," Hieu said.

Hieu and his friends attended the regional oral competition in March 2023. Photo: Provided by the character

Knowing the result, Ms. Hoang Thi Le, Hieu's 10th grade homeroom teacher, was not surprised.

"Hieu has good academic ability and is very serious and responsible," Ms. Le commented, saying that in the English class, Hieu is a good student, especially in English.

Hieu will enter university in August. From his experience, he believes that to have a good application, candidates should prepare early, focusing on experiences. This will help the essay have its own character, increasing the advantage. In addition, extracurricular activities should be related to the major, focusing on leadership skills.

"Applying to American universities is very unpredictable, so don't be discouraged if you get rejected by some schools. Schools will choose the most suitable candidate instead of the best candidate," Hieu acknowledged.

Dawn

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