22-year-old man wins PhD scholarship from world's number 1 university

Le Hoang Minh was admitted to the PhD program in Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, the school topping the world's best university rankings 2024, according to QS.

The former Chemistry student of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted received an admission letter at the end of January, with tuition exemption and a monthly living allowance.

A month earlier, Minh had graduated magna cum laude with a double major in Chemistry and Biological Sciences from Cornell University, one of the eight elite universities in the United States (Ivy League).

Ms. Le Thi Ngoc Ha, Hoang Minh's homeroom teacher at Ams School, said that her student won a silver medal at the International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) in grade 10 (2017). Minh decided to pursue this subject and built a very solid foundation of knowledge. He is a rare former student of the school who won a PhD scholarship at MIT at the age of 22.

"Passion and perseverance have helped you achieve this," she said.

Hoang Minh in his graduation gown from Cornell University, 2023. Photo: Character provided

MIT has been Hoang Minh’s dream since high school. However, 4 years ago, Minh did not set his sights on this school because he thought he was not suitable for it, both in terms of academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Minh chose to try Cornell University, which he saw as having the advantage of teaching natural sciences and a flexible curriculum, with students being able to choose their major at the end of their second year.

As a former student majoring in Chemistry, Minh understands the importance of interdisciplinary science subjects.

"Currently, highly applicable research is often not confined to a traditional scientific discipline but is comprehensive and spans many multidisciplinary knowledge areas," Minh said.

During his studies, Minh joined two research groups on materials science and organic synthesis methods, with the common goal of finding simple catalysts for chemical preparation reactions with high efficiency in industries such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

In a highly competitive academic environment, Minh finds time management the most difficult thing, having to study and research almost all day. Minh said he sometimes feels sad because he is far from home, but is fortunate to have the encouragement of friends and relatives from afar.

With his mind set on pursuing higher education, Minh made plans to fulfill his high school dream and applied to MIT’s PhD program in Chemistry. The school also has the strength of multidisciplinary training, including the field of Organic Chemistry that Minh is interested in.

Hoang Minh said that most of the pharmaceuticals or drugs sold on the market are synthesized on a large scale in the laboratory. "They come from natural or artificial organic compounds. I want to create catalysts to increase the reaction rate and methods to increase the efficiency of the preparation process," Minh explained.

Minh’s MIT application included a transcript, a resume, letters of recommendation, and two essays. Minh’s undergraduate transcript had no grades below an A-. In his resume, he listed basic information about his education, his department’s third-year outstanding student award, two research projects, scientific articles, and experience as a tutor and advisor to juniors. With letters of recommendation, Minh was supported by two professors in charge of the research group he participated in and two other lecturers.

Hoang Minh also rarely encountered any problems in writing essays because he had experience in applying to college, combined with his study and research experience at Cornell.

In the first essay, the 22-year-old presented his study goals, the research groups at MIT he wanted to join, and his post-graduation orientation. This part required the candidate to thoroughly research the school, determine his goals while studying and after graduation, so Minh took quite a bit of time. Minh also presented his research experience in detail during college.

The second essay asks for clarity about the applicant’s background, experience, and ability to contribute to a diverse community like MIT’s Chemistry Department. Hoang Minh chose to write about her experience as a tutor, through which she learned the value of personalized support.

"I found that the essay writing process helped me become more mature and determined about my decision to pursue a PhD," Minh said, seeing the essay writing as an opportunity for candidates to understand more about the school's strengths, including leading research as well as the quality of education.

During the interview round, Minh felt quite comfortable discussing his research direction and aspirations with the two professors. A week later, he received an invitation letter.

Le Hoang Minh at Delaware Port, Philadelphia, USA, 2022. Photo: Character provided

Cornell University graduates believe that the deciding factor is the fit between the applicant and the program. Many people who meet the admission requirements but are not compatible with the school's orientation may still not be accepted.

"Therefore, when applying, you need to apply to many programs, you should not risk 'putting all your eggs in one basket'", Minh concluded. He also said that candidates need to stay optimistic until receiving official notification because schools can return results in many batches, some people are accepted early, but many people have to wait.

“Applicants should contact professors at the programs they intend to apply to in advance to find out about available research projects and the possibility of them accepting more PhD students next year,” Minh suggests.

Minh will enroll at MIT next August.

Source: https://vnexpress.net/chang-trai-22-tuoi-do-hoc-bong-tien-si-dai-hoc-so-1-the-gioi-4713713.html