Pham Le Ha An, a 12th-grade student at St. Paul American School Hanoi, has received an early admission offer from Cornell University, one of the eight Ivy League American universities, which ranks 16th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings.

Having studied at international schools at an early age, An developed an interest in languages and different cultures. The more she learned, the more her passion grew. In addition to English, An began studying Chinese and Japanese on her own when she began secondary school.

Driven by her passion for languages, An learned English in a natural way, mainly through movies, music and communications. The Hanoi student is now proficient in three languages.

Ha An officially began preparing for her plan to study abroad after the first semester of  11th grade. An said that American universities want to understand applicants through their personal stories and experiences, and not solely through awards and academic results.

Therefore, to persuade the admission council, in her dossier she reflected on her early determination and passion for the field she intended to pursue. Most of her extracurricular activities stemmed from her interest in economics.

Academically, An chose economics courses like Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, maintaining a perfect GPA. She also participated in a research project at the Cambridge International Research Center when she was in the 11th grade focusing on macroeconomic factors affecting foreign investment in Vietnam.

An also engaged in various projects such as teaching economics at a summer camp, running a tea and clothing business to raise funds, and managing finances for her school's student council.

Beyond her interest in economics, Ha An showcased her multifaceted personality on her application. She loves playing the piano, enjoys karate, and has participated in numerous competitions and performances both domestically and internationally.

"When working on my application, I just thought that I needed to be myself and tell my own story. This would allow the admission council to see how I have grown and changed over time," An said.

Regarding the essay, An noted that many candidates try to show a "grandiose and flowery" personality, but this approach is not a right way as it seems inauthentic.

"For instance, a high school student discussing scientific integrity might be overreaching and not suitable," An noted.

Initially, she felt uncertain as she did not know which themes she should choose and how to write the essay. But she decided that she needed to begin drafting a first version that would eventually lead to a final version. She started by jotting down everything in her head and set timelines for completing different parts of the essay.

From those initial ideas and materials, An selected the details that most clearly reflected her personality to include. In the essay submitted to Cornell University, she chose to write about her relationship with her family and how she had overcome challenges and obstacles in becoming who she is today.

Commenting about her application as a whole, An felt that it was diverse, showcasing both her leadership abilities and strength in academics and extracurricular activities.

"I think I made a strong impression on the admission council by allowing the school to know more about who I am, rather than just as a student with good grades and achievements," An said.

She said the important lesson she learned from her process of applying for overseas study was "being yourself". 

"Don’t be pretentious, be truly passionate about the field you choose and the activities you do, because only genuine passion will make your application 'touchable' to the admissions council," An said.

An plans to leave Vietnam for the US in August to begin her university education. Interested in the field of international trade and economics, Ha An hopes to delve deeper into this area while studying in the US, and then seek internships at organizations and businesses to sharpen her expertise and gain experience.

She revealed that she will study for a master’s degree after obtaining a bachelor’s degree. 

"I think I will return to Vietnam to work in the field of international trade, helping Vietnamese businesses, especially startups, grow stronger through foreign investment," An said.

Thuy Nga