Pham Le Ha An, a 12th-grade student at St. Paul's American International School Hanoi , recently received her acceptance letter from Cornell University's early admissions round. Cornell University is one of the eight Ivy League universities – a group of elite American universities – and is ranked 16th in the QS 2025 world university rankings.
Having studied in an international environment since childhood, Ha An was interested in learning about different languages and cultures. The more she learned, the more fascinated and curious she became. In addition to English, from middle school onwards, Ha An began to self-study Chinese and Japanese.
Because of her passion for these foreign languages, An learned very naturally, mainly through watching movies, listening to music, and communicating. As a result, the Hanoi student can use all three foreign languages fluently.
Pham Le Ha An was accepted into Cornell University's early admissions program. (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)
Having officially started preparing her study abroad application in the middle of her 11th grade year, Ha An believes that American universities want to know applicants for who they truly are from different perspectives, not just through awards, certificates, and school results.
Therefore, throughout her application, the female student "convinced" the admissions committee by demonstrating that she had determined her path very early on and was passionate about the major she wanted to pursue. Most of Ha An's extracurricular activities stemmed from her passion for economics .
Academically, for example, Ha An often chooses to study economics-related subjects such as Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, and consistently maintains a perfect GPA. She also participated in research at the Cambridge International Research Centre during the summer of her 11th grade year, focusing on macroeconomic factors influencing foreign investment in Vietnam.
In addition, Ha An has undertaken several projects such as teaching economics at summer camps, running tea and clothing businesses to raise funds, and managing finances within the school's student council.
Beyond her passion for economics, Ha An also demonstrates her talent in many other areas. She loves piano, enjoys karate, and has participated in numerous competitions and performances both domestically and internationally.
"When filling out the application, I simply thought that I should just be myself and tell my own story. That would show the admissions committee how I have grown and changed step by step," Ha An said.
Ha An enjoys karate (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)
Regarding essays, Ha An observed that many people often try to write in a "grand and polished" style, but this makes the writing lack personal touch and easily reveal insincerity. "For example, a high school student expressing opinions about scientific integrity is a bit overambitious and inappropriate," Ha An said.
Initially, the female student also struggled because she didn't know what topic to choose or how to write about it. But then, Ha An realized that if she didn't start writing the first draft, she wouldn't be able to produce the final version. Therefore, An decided to write down everything that came to mind and set a time limit for completing each part of the essay.
From those materials, the female student selected details that most clearly reflected her personality to include in her essay. In her essay submitted to Cornell University, An chose to write about her relationship with her family and how she overcame difficulties and obstacles to become the person she is today.
Overall, Ha An considers her application quite diverse, showcasing both leadership abilities and excellence in academics and extracurricular activities.
"I think I made an impression by letting the school know more about me, rather than just being a student with good grades and achievements."
One lesson Ha An learned from her study abroad application process is "be yourself." "Don't show off; you must be genuinely passionate about your chosen field and the activities you participate in, because only passion will make your application 'touch' the admissions committee," Ha An said.
This August, An will begin her study abroad journey. Interested in international trade and economics, Ha An hopes to delve deeper into this field while studying in the US, and then seek internships in organizations and businesses to hone her expertise and experience.
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