She also secured offers from two other US universities with similarly valuable scholarships. Prior to this, she scored 1,540 on the SAT and 8.5 on the IELTS.

Linh believes her application stood out because it portrayed her as an inquisitive individual with a vibrant research profile, which aligns with the typical characteristics of a liberal arts education.

In her application, she highlighted aspects like performing in school musicals and engaging in research or projects related to Vietnam’s history, innovation policies, diplomacy, and economy.  She said that blending her passion for research with her diverse facets made her profile compelling in the eyes of the school management board.

In her main essay, Trang Linh showed her interest in political and social issues, noting how, as a child, she loved listening to neighborhood residents’ stories about different development periods. 

Linh emphasized the importance of time management in her studies. “In class, I focus intensely to absorb knowledge from teachers and proactively ask questions about unclear issues. So, I don’t need to review much to prepare for exams. This method frees up time for extracurriculars, competitions, or personal research,” she explained.

With a disciplined self-study routine and a balanced schedule, Linh maintained a high school GPA between 9.6 and 9.8. She earned a Bronze Medal at the 2023 International Economics Olympiad as a 10th grader, a Silver Medal and 14th national ranking at the 2023 Vietnam Economics Olympiad, and was named a 2024 Outstanding Hanoi Student, among other achievements.

Under a Vietnam-US integrated program, Linh and her classmates have been studying at a US high school since August 2024 for their final high school year.

Though challenging, as she manages many tasks independently, Trang Linh sees this as a solid foundation for her upcoming college journey.

Linh said she is considering Political Science or Economics after her sophomore year at Amherst College.

Besides academics, she enjoys writing, blogging online, running, and reading.

Trang Linh says she is unafraid of new challenges. “I love exploring, not just in studies but also in topics I care about or even online stories. I’m intrigued by various subjects and dedicate focus and time to dive into them.”

“Many think that only those leading projects or winning big competitions can obtain a scholarship. But I believe things have changed. Schools not only consider candidates’ grades or achievements, but also personal stories, those who know what they love and want.”

Thanh Hung