Vietnamese teen admitted to 5 US universities with essay on Mekong Delta's saltwater intrusion

Nguyen Minh Quan, a 12th-grader at Dinh Thien Ly Secondary and High School, received the letters from the five U.S. universities at the end of January.

Among them, Vanderbilt was the school he most wanted to attend. According to the 2025 ranking by U.S. News & World Report, the university ranks 18th in the U.S. and is well known for its programs in engineering and business.

"Receiving the congratulatory letter, my family and I were thrilled. It feels like a well-earned result after all the hard work," Quan shared.

Nguyen Minh Quan in a photo he provides.

Quan recalled his childhood fascination with Lego assembly, starting with simple shapes like houses and progressing to more complex sets like cars, airplanes, and ships. This interest led him to attend robotics summer camps, where he learned to assemble devices and write code, eventually deciding to pursue mechanical engineering.

He chose Vanderbilt University because of its moderate size, the abundance of group collaboration opportunities for students, and the easy access to projects and research alongside leading professors.

Beginning preparations for his study abroad application in the 11th grade, Quan was under constant pressure as he had to quickly gather information, take the IELTS and SAT exams, write essays, engage in extracurricular activities, and maintain a high GPA. He assessed his SAT score (1500/1600) and GPA (9.4) as not exceptionally high, but he felt his application was coherent, with a clear theme in his essay, research, and extracurricular activities.

In his main essay, Quan addressed the issue of drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta.

Often referred to as the rice basket of Vietnam, the delta is a vast network of rivers, canals, and lush landscapes in the southern part of the country. This region is known for its rich agricultural productivity, vibrant floating markets, and traditional rural life.

Quan began his essay by describing how some residents in his hometown of Tien Giang Province had to travel dozens of kilometers to fetch fresh water from a commune center during the dry season. They used this water sparingly for drinking and cooking, while bathing and washing were done with water from contaminated wells or canals.

Initially, Quan thought he could help them by organizing donations and giving out gifts. However, he realized that this approach only addressed the surface of the issue. The root problem was the water source, which could not be changed overnight by individuals alone.

In the early part of his senior year in high school, Quan collaborated with a student from the HCMC University of Technology under Vietnam National University to research and create a device to measure water quality. The device was simple, compact, and capable of measuring pH levels and dissolved solids to help people determine if the water was safe to drink.

Nguyen Minh Quan (R) guides people in Tien Giang to use water quality meters, October 2024. Photo courtesy of Quan

At the end of his essay, Quan expressed his desire to learn more about science and technology to find sustainable solutions for the people in his hometown.

"I rewrote and erased my essay countless times, feeling pressure to make it impressive. But in the end, I realized I should write about something closest to my heart, and natural emotions would connect with the admissions board," Quan said.

When introducing his extracurricular activities, Quan chose to talk about the "four houses" system at his school. Similar to Harry Potter, students are divided into four "houses," each with its own mascot, slogan, color, and traditions. Besides their main classes, all self-study time and extracurricular activities are organized by these groups.

"This is what makes me most proud and connected with my school. In each activity, members always give their best for the honor of their house," Quan said.

In the summer of his 11th grade, Quan was responsible for planning volunteer trips, sports competitions, academic talks, and reading sessions for more than 250 members. This helped him build confidence and become more dynamic.

Nguyen Duc Huy, one of his teachers, said he initially worried that Quan would not be able to manage the job due to his somewhat shy personality. After some time, the teacher assessed that Quan had learned to manage and delegate tasks based on each member's strengths to ensure smooth operations.

"Quan has improved rapidly, demonstrating leadership skills, passion, and responsibility," Huy said.

Quan hopes that his four years at university will be a time for him to experience independence, explore his abilities, and learn about advancements in science and technology in the U.S.

"I hope to continue developing research projects and create devices to address environmental and health issues in the community," he said.