Male student wins 7.8 billion scholarship with essay on Physics and Music

Le Bao Duy tells about applying Physics principles to create new sounds in his essay, conquering a top 30 school in the US.

Le Bao Duy plays the piano in a concert organized by him and his friends from Hanoi National University of Education High School for the Gifted in November. Video: Provided by the character

Bao Duy, a 12th grade Physics student at Hanoi National University of Education High School, was admitted to Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, with financial aid of about 7.8 billion VND. Duy's family still has to pay about 32,000 USD (more than 770 million VND) for four years of study.

"The result is meaningful, recognizing my efforts over the past time," Duy shared.

Previously, Duy had applied to a total of 14 schools, including 7 early admissions schools, but as of December 12, no school had received any news. That morning, he did not receive an email from Bucknell University as announced, so Duy anxiously sent an email asking if he was missing any information and unexpectedly received a congratulatory email.

Le Bao Duy, 12th grade Physics major, Hanoi National University of Education High School for the Gifted. Photo: Provided by the character

Duy thought about studying abroad a year ago, when he got 7.5 on the IELTS test. Encouraged by his family, he continued to take the SAT and scored 1,500/1,600. Realizing that the requirements for standardized tests, research activities and extracurricular activities were all met, he started to prepare his application.

"I started quite late but luckily I had already planned my path so it didn't take too much time," Duy said.

Duy considers his profile special in that in addition to showing his strength in Physics, he also shows his passion for musical instruments.

Having learned the piano since elementary school, Duy pursued classical music and was guided by pianist Dang Huu Phuc. In high school, Duy had many opportunities to perform outside; he was the head of the school's music club's instrumental band and organized two concerts with the students at the school.

One time, because he wanted to play Bohemian Rhapsody - a classic song by the band Queen, but only had a piano, Duy thought of ways to create the sounds of other instruments. For example, Duy hit the side of the piano to create the "pop pop" sound of a drum, pressed on the strings so that when played, it would sound like a bass note, pulled the strings to make it sound like a violin... Each time he created a new sound, Duy recorded it and combined it into a piece of music. In total, it took Duy 4 hours.

"The physics principle here is mainly sound waves," Duy said, adding that he included this story in his essay.

Passionate about Physics, Duy participated in a university research project on Son La Hydropower Plant as an assistant. He supported students in surveying the plant and calculating the most optimal way to use electricity. Thanks to that, he learned a lot of knowledge and had contact with modern machinery.

In his personal essay, Duy explained that he chose to major in Electrical Engineering at Bucknell University because he was inspired by his father. Duy liked to watch his father repair and invent household appliances, and sometimes his father let him do it with him. He said that once there was a power outage, his father made a battery-powered fan so the whole family didn't have to fan themselves by hand. Duy realized that by brainstorming and having a physics background, he could completely invent the things he wanted based on his own creativity.

"This fascinates me and Physics is a subject with similar thinking," Duy said.

Once he had identified a suitable major, Duy researched and learned that Bucknell University was strong in Electrical Engineering and had leading professors in energy optimization. He wanted to gain knowledge and have the opportunity to collaborate with them.

"The school also has a large concert stage and I dream of performing on this stage," Duy shared.

Knowing that her student won the scholarship, Ms. Phuong Thi Thuy Hang, homeroom teacher of the 12th grade Physics class, was happy and proud. Having taught Duy since grade 10, Ms. Hang witnessed his efforts and maturity.

"Duy is an excellent student, meticulous, and has a spirit of progress. In Physics, his average score is not less than 9.8; one year it was almost 10.0 points," said Ms. Hang, adding that the student had twice won the consolation prize in Physics in the excellent student competition at Hanoi National University of Education.

In addition, the male student has the ability to connect and lead as the head of the music club's instrumental band.

From his own experience, Duy believes that being honest in his essay is the best way to impress the admissions committee. He suggests that candidates should choose a major first to narrow down the list of schools. Once they have a direction, candidates need to see which schools are strong in the major they want to study, read the program carefully, and find out if the environment, culture, and activities there are suitable or not.

"Go to the school that suits you, not necessarily the one with the highest ranking," Duy said.

Vnexpress.net

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