13-year-old Vietnamese American accepted to over 100 US universities

By Minh Nga May 7, 2025 | 03:05 pm PT

Sunny Nguyen in a photo on his own website.

A homeschooled Vietnamese American boy from San Jose, California, has been admitted to more than 100 universities across the United States, receiving scholarship offers totaling approximately US$3 million.

Sunny Nguyen, 13, could set a world record as the youngest person to achieve this remarkable milestone, according to KTVU, a television station in Oakland, California.

Among the prestigious institutions offering Sunny admission are the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and UC San Diego, both ranked among the top 30 universities in the U.S. by U.S. News.

"I’ve been homeschooled for almost my entire life. I feel incredibly fortunate to have my parents’ unwavering support throughout the process. They not only supported my education but also taught me various subjects, fostering my growth and ensuring that I had access to a well-rounded and challenging curriculum," Sunny wrote on his website.

He explained that homeschooling’s flexibility allowed him to pursue topics that genuinely interested him.

"I’m deeply grateful for the incredible support I’ve received from all the universities. Their recognition of my hard work and dedication is an honor, and their support has made it possible for me to continue pursuing my dreams without financial barriers," he said.

Sunny is the eldest of five children, and to his family, he has always stood out. His father, Tommy Nguyen, believes his son can accomplish anything he sets his mind to.

"He studied math everywhere he went. He could see math in everything, everywhere," Tommy told the television channel.

Beyond mathematics, Sunny is passionate about technology. He builds websites and self-studies software engineering and artificial intelligence at home. Like many kids his age, Sunny enjoys playing video games, and he also runs a YouTube channel with nearly 60,000 subscribers.

Realizing homeschooling alone could no longer fulfill Sunny’s academic ambitions, Tommy decided to help his son apply for college.

"My parents told me about going to college and I agreed with it and I’m here now," he told KTVU.

Tommy noted that his son received scholarships from many institutions totaling more than $3 million, with some universities offering over $100,000.

No matter which school he ultimately chooses, Sunny plans to major in computer science. He is particularly interested in artificial intelligence and hopes to develop innovations that help people live longer.