Vietnamese student wins $320K Dartmouth scholarship with essay on perfecting affordable steak

Nguyen Bentley Minh Nhat, a 12th-grade student from class 12B3 at Vinschool The Harmony, received his admission result to Dartmouth’s Film & Media Studies Department and Business School on Dec. 14. Dartmouth is ranked 15th in the U.S. this year by US News & World Report.

Nguyen Bentley Minh Nhat. Photo courtesy of Nhat

Bentley received his admission to Dartmouth's Film & Media Studies Department and Business School on Dec. 14. The scholarship significantly reduces his family’s financial contribution to $11,000 annually.

"When I saw the word 'Congratulations,' I stopped reading because I knew I got in," Bentley recalled. "I shared the news with my grandmother and father, then walked around the house calling my best friend, who also got accepted to an Ivy League school. We congratulated each other, saying, 'We did it'."

The admissions director praised Bentley’s application and achievements, highlighting his creativity and determination.

A lesson from steak

Bentley’s main essay began with a vivid description of his experiments to tenderize affordable flank steak, using techniques like pounding the meat, sprinkling it with baking soda, and marinating it in pineapple juice. Despite his efforts, the steak remained tough.

His father eventually showed him a simple yet effective method: turn the steak 90 degrees and slice it against the grain. This taught Bentley an important life lesson — that challenges, like tough steak, often require a change in perspective to solve.

He applied this lesson to other areas of his life. In 11th grade, Bentley cared for his 90-year-old great-grandfather, initially finding the task overwhelming. Inspired by his father's steak lesson, he changed his approach by spending more time talking to his great-grandfather. Through their conversations, he gained insights into his great-grandfather's life as a wartime medic and his simple joys in peacetime, which helped Bentley see caregiving as a meaningful experience rather than a burden.

Academic journey and filmmaking passion

Born in Canada, Bentley moved to Vietnam with his parents in first grade. For much of his childhood, he commuted between the two countries before settling in Vietnam in sixth grade. While his family prospered in the restaurant business, the Covid-19 pandemic severely impacted their income, motivating Bentley to aim for a top scholarship.

"I gave up time with friends, gaming, and filmmaking to concentrate on studying," he said. "Knowing my family couldn't cover the full costs, I had to aim for the highest scholarship possible."

He excelled academically, earning 4 A grades in the Cambridge International AS-level program and scoring 1530 out of 1600 on the SAT.

Despite his rigorous schedule, Bentley also pursued his passion for filmmaking. Inspired by action and superhero films like "Inception", he taught himself to shoot, write, and edit films, using an iPad to create short films that have won awards in both domestic and international competitions.

In one of his supplemental essays for Dartmouth, Bentley shared his desire to authentically portray Vietnamese folklore in films. He lamented that modern adaptations of traditional tales often lose their educational and cultural value, citing an adaptation of "Tam Cam", a folk story about stepmother's cruelty, that turned it into a ghost story.

"I want to create films about Vietnamese folklore and portray them as authentically as possible," Bentley said.

During his interview with Dartmouth, Bentley discussed his filmmaking journey and his vision for the future. The interviewer remarked, "I really like you. You have the qualities of a Dartmouth student."

Looking ahead

Bentley’s communications teacher, Vi David Nguyen, who wrote his recommendation letter, praised his self-motivation and talent. "I know Dartmouth’s prestige, but I also know Bentley. He balances his passion for the arts with academic excellence," Nguyen said.

In August next year, Bentley will begin his journey at Dartmouth. After graduating, he plans to pursue both business and filmmaking in the U.S.

"Now that I’ve reached my goal of getting into college and securing a scholarship, I can finally spend more time with friends and continue working on my favorite film projects," Bentley said.