HCMC student accepted to 16 US universities

Le Minh Bao, a 12th-grade student at the Vietnam Australia International School (VAS), received news of his admission to the engineering program at the University of Connecticut at the end of January.

The scholarship covers all tuition, books, accommodation, and insurance for four years. Additionally, the package includes $12,000 Bao can use to participate in seminars and leadership courses.

In the admission letter, the university's representative mentioned that Bao is the only Vietnamese student among five recipients of such scholarships this year, which were selected from over 50,000 applications globally.

Le Minh Bao poses for a photo inside a library of the Vietnam Australia International School in HCMC. Photo by Le Minh Bao

The University of Connecticut is ranked 58th in the U.S. News & World Report's American university rankings, and it is also among the top 26 public universities. In engineering, the university is ranked 69th.

Bao was also admitted to 15 other U.S. universities, most of which are in the top 100. Eight of these universities offered scholarships ranging from US$40,000-105,000 for four years.

Since sixth grade, Bao has dreamed of studying abroad to explore the world. His father, an expert in the electrical industry, often took him to fairs and exhibitions showcasing the industries of economics, education, engineering, construction, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, and energy.

Once, when he was observing an automated packaging line, Bao became interested in such mechanisms, a curiosity that has now led him to want to pursue a career in engineering, specializing in industrial machinery design and manufacturing.

After deciding on his field of interest, Bao began selecting foreign universities to apply to. He aimed for the U.S., believing it would offer him the best opportunities for learning and employment in engineering.

"I targeted high-ranking universities because they often have significant research achievements and a strong student community. Moreover, research labs at top universities are interconnected and frequently recruited by companies," the 17-year-old said.

Based on his academic performance, he chose universities requiring SAT scores above 1450. He also considered other factors like tuition, scholarships, acceptance rates, location, and post-graduation employment rates. Eventually, he narrowed down his list to 16 universities.

Academically, he maintained A grades in all subjects he studied at VAS top-level programs.

He’s also an accomplished runner, having frequently participated in 10-21 km marathons to raise funds for charity. He founded the Unstoppable Feet group, which now has 17 students who train and run together.

Initially, Bao chose to write his main essay on sports, specifically running. However, he realized it did not connect with his motivation and passion for pursuing engineering. Therefore, he rewrote it, describing his journey of exploration, discovery, and development of a passion for industrial robots. He views robotics as the perfect combination of mechanics, technology, and automation programming.

He shared his internship experience at a 110kV transmission transformer manufacturing factory in Dong Nai Province, an industrial hub bordering HCMC, which he took part in last year.

Additionally, he was part of a research group with students from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, developing a terrain-riding robot. He also participated in designing and manufacturing a three-jointed robot arm.

Le Minh Bao works on a terrain-riding robot, a project he joins with students at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, August 2023. Photo by Le Minh Bao

Shella Amba, Bao's physics teacher at VAS, said: "Perhaps the quality that gives Bao an advantage for studying abroad is his ability to balance life, study, and extracurricular activities."

Nguyen Thi Kieu Mi, his homeroom teacher, said Bao is sociable and responsible for his assigned tasks.

"Bao's success also importantly lies in his family's continuous support. His family has never been absent from his extracurricular activities," she said.

Bao will head to the U.S. in August, planning to pursue a degree from the University of Connecticut’s Mechanical Engineering and Robotics program.