'Specialized schools are not the only way to get into prestigious universities'

Dr. Tran Nam Dung (right cover), Ms. Dam Bich Thuy (middle) at the talk show

Dr. Tran Nam Dung, PhD in Mathematics, is the President of the Vietnamese AMO (American Mathematics Olympiad), Vice Principal of the Gifted High School (Ho Chi Minh City National University), and an expert in creating the STEAM program for this school.

Yesterday's talk show also had many particularly interesting opinions from Ms. Dam Bich Thuy, former founding President of Fulbright University Vietnam, member of the Board of Directors of EQuesteducation group.

"Non-specialized school students can compete fairly with specialized school students"

Dr. Tran Nam Dung, who is known as the person who ignited the love of mathematics with more than 30 years of experience in nurturing excellent students in mathematics, and is also an advisor for the Math Talent - STEM (AIMS) program at Albert Einstein School (part of the Canadian International School system), said that even entering domestic universities has many methods. And it is not only specialized school students who have the highest scores. Many non-specialized students are still among the top students with high scores.

As for prestigious foreign universities, their selection requirements are very broad, from average scores, IELTS, SAT… social activities, leadership skills. Therefore, students from non-specialized schools can compete fairly with students from specialized schools.

Mathematician Dr. Tran Nam Dung talks with parents after the program

According to Dr. Tran Nam Dung, students who do not have to focus on specialized studies may have an advantage in some areas. He cited a typical situation where many students from specialized schools, grade 11, participated in competitions for excellent students and won prizes, but by grade 12, they asked to leave the team to focus on studying for university entrance exams or to focus on preparing for studying abroad. Or in the past, when the Ministry of Education and Training allowed non-specialized programs in specialized schools, many students who passed specialized classes still asked to study in non-specialized classes (even though they were not accepted). "That said, students from specialized schools have advantages but also have their own pressures and difficulties," said Dr. Tran Nam Dung.

"If there is a school that creates an ambitious and competitive learning environment, allowing students to participate in many social activities and develop their abilities, then that is a reliable destination that students who have not yet reached the level of a specialized school can aim for. Specialized schools are very good, but they are not the only opportunities for students," Dr. Dung frankly said.

"Prestigious universities look for unique individuals, not well-rounded individuals"

Speaking at the talk show, Ms. Dam Bich Thuy affirmed that "in reality, non-specialized schools give students another advantage that we have long overlooked."

The former founding president of Fulbright University Vietnam cited that when recruiting, top universities will look for unique individuals, not perfect people, with all 10s, who can do 100 jobs the same as 1,000 other students. Therefore, parents should believe in the uniqueness of their children.

Ms. Dam Bich Thuy has many interesting shares.

According to Ms. Thuy, to develop uniqueness, first of all, students need time to develop themselves personally. Second, what schools look for is what the student can bring to the community they are about to join. If a student is only good at math, he or she will have to compete with many other students who are good at math. But if he or she knows enough math, and is good at playing chess or golf, these are advantages that will help him or her stand out in the application process. So besides time, what students need is an educational environment.

"An open educational environment, allowing children to develop their full potential, and bringing their best qualities to the admissions office, is an opportunity for them to enter top universities. So the choice between investing 100% to let your children study 1-2 specialized subjects, or giving them an environment to study many subjects, find the subject they are most interested in, to bring all their abilities and passion for that subject to the admissions office... I think the second way helps children stand out in the admissions process to enter top schools," Ms. Dam Bich Thuy analyzed.

She gave another vivid example: when Fulbright University Vietnam went to the provinces to recruit students, a large number of students from specialized schools came. But after 4 years, in the first batch of students who graduated on June 24, those who did not study at specialized schools had very different successes compared to those who studied at specialized schools.

"The important thing is not whether the school is specialized or not, but what and how the educational environment that school brings to students is important," Ms. Dam Bich Thuy affirmed.

Ms. Dam Bich Thuy chatted with parents on the sidelines of the program.

The most special thing is not necessarily the best thing.

Parent Tran Dat, whose child is about to enter 2nd grade, asked the program: "Prestigious schools around the world recruit students based on their children's outstanding grades, so how can we detect them? If my child likes history, geography, or sports but doesn't want to study science and technology, can he/she study STEM math?"

Ms. Dam Bich Thuy, member of the Board of Directors of EQuest education group, replied that the special point does not necessarily have to be something very excellent.

"I saw a normal student's profile if viewed from the perspective of 'other people's children', but the reason he was selected to enter the top 3 schools in the US was because for 6 years, near his house there was an elderly neighbor, single, suffering from Alzheimer's disease, memory loss, he always went to help her, bought food for her. He had a special point of unconditional love for others. Therefore, when students apply, find a unique point of themselves - be yourself and no one else", Ms. Thuy advised.

Math PhD Tran Nam Dung shared that the requirement of general education is to have a foundation, not too much depth, so for students studying social sciences, the STEM (AIMS) math talent program can also help them.

"I have many former students who majored in math, but after graduating, they switched to many other fields and were very successful. Some of them became reporters and came back to interview teachers. Or there are students who majored in math who turned to education, studied for a master's degree in England and were recently invited by the Gifted High School to take charge of the English team. What you learn in high school will help you later. Now, study fully and broadly, instead of studying deeply right from high school."

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