Vietnamese Student Secures Full Scholarship to Yonsei University

Photo courtesy of VN Express

A Vietnamese student has captured headlines by winning a full-tuition scholarship to South Korea’s esteemed Yonsei University, impressing interviewers with her insightful responses to challenging economics questions.

Nguyen Ngoc Tra My, a 12th-grade student from Nguyen Trai High School for the Gifted, will study Economics at Yonsei’s Underwood International College. Yonsei ranks 50th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and stands as South Korea’s second-highest institution after Seoul National University.

Overjoyed, My expressed her excitement, saying, "I screamed with joy," recalling her anxiety before the results were announced.

Initially, My received offers from seven universities across Belgium, France, the U.S., and South Korea, with three extending scholarships. After initially opting for KU Leuven in Belgium, she switched to Yonsei following the scholarship offer.

A lover of Korean culture, My hesitated to apply to Korean universities due to the language barrier but later embraced the challenge by taking Korean language classes.

Her international study aspiration started in 9th grade. My joined her school’s English-specialised class to strengthen her academic foundation. Despite concerns about her academic readiness, she began her application process late in 11th grade. After intensive IELTS preparation, she achieved a score of 8.0, while also scoring 1500/1600 on her SAT after focused study efforts.

Beyond academics, My was actively involved in various competitions, including the Dash for Impact 2024 and the Vietnam Innovation Challenge. She participated in countless extracurricular activities and led projects focusing on Vietnam's cultural diversity.

Balancing academics and extracurriculars was challenging, as My admitted: "There were times I felt overwhelmed." However, her determination to study abroad kept her motivated.

Her application to Yonsei featured two essays, one highlighting an experience that connected economics with cultural tourism. After observing a foreign tourist’s confusion at a Vietnamese water puppet show, My was inspired to leverage economics for cultural appreciation, much like South Korea has done.

My’s interview with Yonsei professors was unexpectedly intense. Without an extensive economics background, she candidly discussed Vietnam’s import-export dynamics and thoughtfully navigated a question about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies by advocating for negotiation and diversified partnerships.

Her application’s authenticity and her focus on cultural and economic development were pivotal to her success. Reflecting on her journey, My advised future applicants to align extracurricular activities with personal passions, adding, "I'm passionate about both culture and economics."

My's teacher, Nguyen Thi Nga, praised her as "a diligent, kind, and outstanding student," highlighting her resilience and ambition.

My will embark on her studies at Yonsei this August, with plans to further her education and eventually launch her own business, turning a page on this exciting new chapter of her life.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-07-30