Nguyen Anh Tam, a former student of Chemical Engineering Technology class of 2015 at Nguyen Tat Thanh University (NTTU), graduated with a Master's degree with a full scholarship sponsored by the Taiwan Ministry of Education at Taiwan Tech University. Recently, Tam continued to receive a full scholarship for the PhD program at the University of Virginia (USA) majoring in Chemical Engineering.
“The dream of reaching out to the big ocean”
Mr. Tam shared, to achieve a scholarship (HB) to a top school in the US, you need to clearly define your career goals and research field. This will help you choose the right PhD program, school, professor, and develop a study plan.
“I searched for information about HB and the school based on US News & World Report – Best National University Rankings. Then, you will learn about the PhD program in Chemical Engineering at the schools you are interested in, including information on entry requirements and HB policies. Usually at prestigious schools, HB will include Fellowship (tuition, additional fees, health insurance) and Assistantship (monthly living expenses). Besides, the application process requires time to prepare, especially essays, English certificates and standardized tests," Tam added.
According to Tam, schools in the US award HBs to students based on many factors. For example, at the University of Virginia where Tam applied, they awarded HB to individuals with good academic achievements, scientific research experience, leadership ability, community activities, etc.
“I have always maintained excellent academic performance since my college years. Because of very high competition, applications with a GPA below 3.5 will not be considered. Next, I participated in scientific research projects from my second year to accumulate knowledge and experience. Luckily, Tam's college supervisor graduated with a PhD from the University of Oklahoma, USA, so I learned a lot from him and was able to orient myself on what I needed to do," Tam added about her experience. can increase your chances of achieving a PhD.
It is known that after graduating as valedictorian in Chemical Engineering Technology in 2019, Tam was accepted to work at NTTU's Institute of Technology Application and Sustainable Development and excellently received a full HB for the Master's program. in Chemical Engineering funded by the Taiwan Government. Thanks to that, Tam's profile has more highlights and increases her chances of studying a PhD program in the United States.
Picking "sweet fruit" after a long journey of "sowing seeds"
“Universities in the United States only accept 10-15 doctoral students each year, so competition is very fierce. In particular, having to compete with international and local candidates with impressive experience and achievements posed a significant challenge. But thanks to this, I have learned to believe in my own abilities, determination and perseverance are important keys to overcoming all challenges," Mr. Tam said about the difficulties encountered in his journey. prestigious HB PhD search engine.
Finally, Tam reaped the "sweet fruit" when receiving a PhD from the University of Virginia. “The University of Virginia is in the Top 5 public universities in the United States, classified in the R1 group (Group of universities with doctoral training programs and the highest level of research activities), so I do not dare to think that I will accepted into school. The feeling at that time was not only about achieving my personal goals, but I also felt very happy because all my efforts were recognized by a leading university in the United States," Tam said about his feelings when receiving the award. email notification of admission from the school.
“A saying that always motivates me: “The important thing is to strive toward a goal which is not immediately visible. That goal is not the concern of the mind, but of the spirit.” This saying encourages us to listen to our inner voice, what we truly desire and hope for, and thereby follow the path that is in accordance with our highest spirit and will, even when it is not. obvious or not easy to determine or achieve immediately.
It is planned that in the future, after completing the doctoral program, Anh Tam will continue to do post-doctoral research and in-depth research.
Dinh Son
