I have enough points to get into school but not enough to pass my favorite major, what should I do? Points to get into military school?

xét tuyển - Ảnh 1. — Parents ask questions to the advisory board at the festival - Photo: NAM TRAN

This morning, July 19, the 2025 Admissions Selection Day took place simultaneously at the campus of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - Vietnam National University (268 Ly Thuong Kiet, Dien Hong Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) and Hanoi University of Technology (1 Dai Co Viet, Bach Mai Ward, Hanoi ).

The festival was organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper in coordination with the Department of Higher Education ( Ministry of Education and Training ) with the support of Vingroup Corporation.

Important dates to remember

Speaking at the consultation session on the admission regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Department of Education and Higher Education (Ministry of Education and Training) reminded candidates not to be subjective in the process of registering their wishes on the admission system.

In particular, it is necessary to remember the registration schedule to avoid exceeding the deadline, the system will close at 5:00 p.m. on July 28. Candidates need to update the data used for admission such as foreign language certificates, abilities, regional priority certificates, subjects... to not miss the bonus points according to regulations.

"Although there is no limit on the number of admission wishes, candidates need to remember to prioritize their most desired wishes. Because if a candidate is qualified to pass any wish, the admission system will stop at that wish and not consider further.

From July 29, the system will open for candidates to pay the admission fee. If candidates do not remember to pay the admission fee, the system will not recognize the candidate's registered wishes" - Mr. Nguyen Tien Thao said.

Register on the admission system: Just three clicks

xét tuyển - Ảnh 2. — Candidates listen to advice from teachers at the general advice area - Photo: NAM TRAN

A parent who is the candidate's uncle said that because the registration date was so close and his child's parents did not know any information, he rushed to the fair to ask. He also admitted that his question was very basic but he was not clear at the moment. Specifically, "Can I register for multiple combinations in the same major?"

Associate Professor Dr. Vu Duy Hai, Head of Admissions and Career Guidance at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said that candidates only need "three clicks". First, arrange your preferences in order according to your level of interest and desire. Second, choose a school and third, choose a major (for each preference).

Candidates do not need to register for each admission combination or specific admission method, because the system will automatically select the combination/method that is most beneficial for the candidate.

Mr. Hai also said that the Ministry's admission system only displays general data, while the data serving the admission of each school will be processed by the heads themselves after the candidates fully update the data to the system.

The Ministry of Education and Training is expected to announce the percentile of 5 traditional combinations on July 21.

xét tuyển - Ảnh 3. — Teachers give general advice to parents and students - Photo: NAM TRAN

Director of the Department of Higher Education Nguyen Tien Thao said that unlike previous years, this year the admission scores will be converted between groups and methods to create fairness for candidates.

A major can be recruited using many combinations, the difference in scores between the combinations will be adjusted according to the percentile.

According to the plan, the Ministry of Education and Training is expected to announce the percentile of 5 traditional groups, including A00, A01, B00, C00, D01 on July 21 or 22, at the same time as announcing the threshold to ensure input quality for the pedagogical and health science sectors.

I have enough points to get into school but not enough to get into my favorite major, what should I do?

xét tuyển - Ảnh 4. — Students ask the advisory board about how to register their wishes for students who won national prizes - Photo: NAM TRAN

Ms. Tuyet Lan, a teacher in Hanoi, said she came to the fair to ask for information for her child and the 46 students in her class. She had previously visited some universities where her children had applied and received answers, but then heard a lot of different information, so she was quite confused.

Dr. Phan Van Kien, Director of the Institute of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU Hanoi) advised parents not to "listen to rumors" but only to grasp accurate information from the Ministry of Education and Training and information posted on the official websites of training institutions. "Just do the right thing and wait, don't be confused by rumors," said Mr. Kien.

He shared another "soft" policy for candidates who do not have enough points to enter their favorite major but have enough points to enter the school, such as journalism and communications. Accordingly, candidates can choose a major with a lower standard score than their desired major. After entering the school and meeting the academic requirements, candidates can register for a double major to study the major they dream of.

Ms. Tuyet Lan is also concerned about the low scores in math and English this year due to the difficulty of the questions. Candidates using the combination of math, literature, and English may be at a disadvantage compared to candidates using other combinations. So how will the schools handle this?

Professor Nguyen Tien Thao said that in case there is a large "difference" between the admission combinations (due to large differences in the exam scores of the subjects), the percentile can be applied to ensure fairness for candidates applying for different combinations in the same major.

The Ministry of Education and Training is expected to announce the percentile table on July 21 for schools to refer to and implement. This is also a new point that will be applied this year.

Like semiconductors, can I take a 'detour'?

xét tuyển - Ảnh 5. — Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Duy Hai, Head of Admissions and Career Guidance Department, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, advises candidates - Photo: NAM TRAN

After listening to Dr. Phan Van Kien's advice that it is possible to register for a double major to pursue the major of one's dreams but not yet have enough points to pass, Ms. Thuy Hong, a parent whose child has just graduated from Quang Trung High School - Ha Dong, asked if her child could 'take a detour' to study semiconductor microchips, nanotechnology... at Hanoi University of Science and Technology or the civilian system of military schools.

Associate Professor Dr. Vu Duy Hai, Head of Admissions and Career Guidance Department of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said that Hanoi University of Science and Technology has announced the expected benchmark scores for all training majors, but the official benchmark scores will only be finalized when the time for candidates to register their wishes ends. So at the present time, candidates who want to enter any major should boldly register.

Mr. Hai also informed: Bachelor graduates of Hanoi University of Science and Technology are allowed to study the specialized engineering training program. This is also a "detour" to study the dream major.

However, he also noted that at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, studying one major is already difficult, so candidates need to consider carefully to ensure learning requirements.

In further discussion with the families of candidates who want to study semiconductor microchips, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phu Khanh, Vice Principal of Phenikaa University, said that if you want to work in the field of semiconductor microchips, you can study many different majors.

This field is temporarily divided into two types: microchip design and packaging testing technology. Therefore, parents and candidates need to carefully refer to information about the training majors of technical schools to have many options.

Colonel Do Thanh Tam, Secretary of the Military Admissions Board - Ministry of National Defense, also shared that in 2025, the military sector will have 8 civilian recruitment majors, with about 600 quotas, each major will recruit about 60 quotas, and electronics and telecommunications will recruit 160 quotas. This is also an opportunity for candidates who want to study technology majors of the military sector.

Military school floor score expected from 18

xét tuyển - Ảnh 6. — Colonel Do Thanh Tam, Secretary of the Military Recruitment Board, Ministry of National Defense - Photo: NAM TRAN

Colonel Do Thanh Tam, Secretary of the Military Admissions Board, Ministry of National Defense, said that in 2025, in addition to the military system, there will be 10 military academies/schools recruiting and training civilian students with about 3,500 targets.

During the admission process, both military and civilian systems comply with the general admission process of the Ministry of Education and Training.

For the military system, military schools only recruit candidates who have met the preliminary selection requirements, have been notified by a military school to have met the preliminary selection requirements, and must make their first choice when applying to a school that has met the preliminary selection requirements. For the civilian system, candidates do not have to go through the preliminary selection and have no limit on their choices.

"Candidates should take note, avoid wishing to enter the military system but mistakenly registering for the civilian system, which will cause you to fail instead of passing," Mr. Tam noted.

This year is the first year that military schools have converted foreign language certificate scores and added achievement points for candidates with high academic achievements. English is converted to IELTS from 5.5 and above; the Academy of Military Science converts both Chinese and Russian language certificates for candidates applying for Chinese and Russian language majors.

According to Colonel Do Thanh Tam, it is expected that before July 23, military schools will announce and adjust the minimum admission score, with the expected score being 18 points or higher compared to the high school graduation exam score.

Are there any benefits to attending college?

Answering a student's question "What are the benefits of studying at college? Will there be unemployment when many places only recruit people with a university degree?", Dr. Dong Van Ngoc - Principal of Hanoi College of Electromechanics, said that studying at university is a prestigious level of education, while studying at college is a choice.

"Everyone wants to get into the best and most suitable university, however, whether studying at university or college, each person's success throughout life is not linked to their degree, but to their ability and ability to develop," said Mr. Ngoc.

According to him, unlike university, college students will only study for 3 years, some schools use foreign training programs that can last up to 3.5 years. The training program is mostly practical, accounting for over 70%.

In the semiconductor industry, to design chips and microcircuits, one must be at the university level - the "thinking people". He said that the "doing people" are the college-educated people. Therefore, choosing the right level of education for your ability is the most ideal, not necessarily having to go to university to be successful.

"Currently, students in majors related to mechanics, automobiles, electricity, refrigeration, etc. are covered 70% of tuition by the state. At Hanoi College of Electromechanics, businesses support an additional 30%, completely exempting tuition.

Regarding job opportunities, domestic enterprises are currently in great need of human resources with college degrees or lower. However, we must have good learning ability and set clear goals. Then, whether studying at university or college will be the right choice," said Mr. Ngoc.

Does the order of school preferences and the Ministry's system need to match?

xét tuyển - Ảnh 7. — Parents ask questions to the advisory board - Photo: NAM TRAN

Parents whose children study at Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary and High School (Hanoi) ask whether the order of placing wishes at the school and in the Ministry's system must be the same? Can candidates register more/less wishes (compared to those already registered with the school) on the Ministry's system?

"If you are admitted directly to a university (by the school's decision), do you have to register your direct admission wish as your first wish or can you put it after some other wishes that you like more but are not admitted directly?", parents wonder.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Department of Education and Training, said that registration on the system of the Ministry of Education and Training is mandatory and is the final decision of candidates in this year's admission season.

"On the system of the Ministry of Education and Training, candidates can change the order of their wishes compared to the order when registering at school, and can add or subtract the number of wishes. In case a candidate is considered for direct admission (due to a school's decision), but the candidate wants to prioritize other wishes, he/she can put his/her favorite wishes before the wish for direct admission. In case the favorite wishes are not passed, the opportunity for direct admission is still valid," he advised.

Don't worry about low D01 and high C00 combination scores

In response to the question of candidates "How to register after receiving the re-examination score after the admission period has passed", Mr. Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Department of Higher Education, said that the system will automatically update if the candidate's re-examination score changes, so candidates can rest assured.

Regarding concerns about whether the university benchmark scores will change this year when the score distribution fluctuates, Mr. Thao said that this year it is predicted that there will be changes in benchmark scores, because the high school graduation exam combinations will all change.

"Don't worry because the D01 score is low and the C00 score is high, which is unfair. This year, a school will consider admission based on both D01 and C00 combinations, and there will be adjustments according to the percentile. D01 can be added points; C00 can be deducted 0.5 - 1 point, depending on the adjustment of the schools to ensure the rights of candidates," said Mr. Thao.