While studying Finance, Trong Nghia took four additional Math subjects from another department to apply, then won a full scholarship for the master's degree course in Economics from the National University of Singapore (NUS).
The scholarship of Phung Trong Nghia, a VinUniversity student, is worth 67.000 SGD (more than 1,2 billion VND), including tuition and living expenses for one year at NUS. This school is currently ranked 8th in the world, according to university rankings QS 2024.
In addition, the fourth-year student majoring in Finance, Institute of Business and Management, was also accepted to 5 other schools in Europe, of which two schools offered full scholarships.
“I chose NUS because many teachers studied here. The school also has Asia's top quality Economics program," Nghia shared.
Nghia during a student exchange trip in Hong Kong in 2023. Photo: Provided by the character
When entering university, Nghia liked Finance and planned to work in this field. In the second year, the male student applied and was accepted as a research assistant of Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai Lan. Nghia's tasks are to support number filtering, data analysis, report writing...
While working and studying, Nghia gradually became interested in research. The male student decided to change direction, pursue academic research, and study for a doctorate. To achieve this goal, Nghia believes that one must have a background in Economics. He also wants to study for a master's degree abroad to access new research methods or theories.
According to Nghia, the biggest problem is that if you want to switch to Economics, you must supplement your knowledge of Math. Meanwhile, the current curriculum only includes two Math subjects: calculus and statistics.
"I need to accumulate knowledge so that the admission committee can see that I am capable of learning," Nghia admitted. Therefore, Nghia registered to study four Math subjects including calculus, linear algebra, differential equations and statistics at the Institute of Engineering and Computer Science at the school. These are the four minimum subjects to meet entry requirements for Economics majors.
Studying in two different places, when schedules clash, Nghia will prioritize studying the more difficult subject. Studying more subjects, the workload is more, but the four subjects are spread out so Nghia does not find it overwhelming. Because he was a Math major in high school at Thang Long - Da Lat specialized school, Nghia also caught up faster. He mainly studied at home, paying attention to lectures, taking notes and completing assignments on time.
“I like to study. I have a goal, so I try to study well," Nghia said. As a result, the male student received an A in all four Math subjects and also achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 3.83/4.0.
In addition to preparing knowledge, Nghia also self-reviews English and standardized certificates. Nghia scored 112/120 points on TOEFL and 333/340 points on GRE (graduate entrance test).
In October 10, Nghia started preparing documents. Nghia said that unlike college, master's level essays often require going straight to the point, instead of telling a personal story. NUS asks three questions about reasons for applying, goals, and intentions and requires candidates to write in 2023 words.
In response, Nghia said this is a leading training program in economics, going deep into theory to help prepare yourself for a doctorate. Nghia's goal is to become a financial researcher. The male student hopes to contribute to the research and higher education community in Vietnam, while also conducting meaningful research and suggestions for policymakers.
“The essay was completed in one month,” Nghia said.
As Nghia's mentor in research, Dr. Mai Lan highly appreciates her students' eagerness to learn, diligent work attitude, and never missing an appointment.
"Nghia is quiet but very intelligent," Ms. Mai Lan commented.
According to her, Nghia oriented herself early and set her own roadmap, making efforts to do it sequentially to achieve her goals. When she learned that Nghia had applied to many schools, she wrote a letter of introduction but was worried about her ability to receive a scholarship, because the student had not yet graduated from university. She often encourages Nghia so that he will not be disappointed if the results are not as expected.
“Meaning is a great student. She deserves this result," Dr. Mai Lan said.
Nghia is working on his graduation thesis and preparing to go to Singapore next August. From his experience, male students believe that preparing a good academic foundation, especially Mathematics, is very important to pursue the path of studying Economics and related fields. In addition, the opportunity to participate in research with professors is also important, helping candidates gain experience and skills.
"I know the purpose of my studies and when I'm truly passionate, I won't feel tired," Nghia shared.
Binh Minh – Vnexpress.net
