Tran Thi Quynh Anh (Class 12G1, Global Citizen Bilingual Pathway) has outstandingly earned an 80% tuition scholarship, equivalent to over 2.6 billion VND, for her four-year journey in Arts in Multimedia Communication at VinUniversity’s College of Arts and Sciences.

A Journey Built on More Than Just Grades

On June 19, Quynh Anh received a life-changing email from VinUni beginning with the word "Congratulations." She was awarded the Dean’s Distinction Scholarship, which covers 80% of her tuition fees - amounting to over 2.6 billion VND for four years of study.

In her acceptance letter, VinUni noted: “Your application stood out within a highly competitive and exceptional pool of candidates, reflecting your potential and your deep commitment to excellence.”

According to published data, VinUni received over 6,400 applications for the 2025–2026 academic year. With only just over 700 students selected, the university saw a fierce 1-in-9 acceptance rate, mirroring elite institutions worldwide. This fierce competition underscores the rigorous standards of one of Vietnam and the region's top elite universities.

"I set a goal for the 80% scholarship but kept my expectations realistic because the other candidates were exceptionally strong," Quynh Anh shared. "When the email arrived, I hesitated to open it. Only when I saw 'Congratulations' did it sink in. I immediately shared the joy with my parents and teachers."

Throughout her three years of high school at Greenfield School’s Ecopark Campus, Quynh Anh maintained a stellar GPA of 9.6. She also dedicated time to preparing for standardized exams, achieving an IELTS score of 7.5. However, her SAT results from March and May 2026 did not quite meet her expectations.

Yet, Quynh Anh refused to back down. Rather than letting standardized test scores define her entire application, she pivoted to highlighting her personal growth, values, and experiences through extracurricular activities and personal essays. Knowing that VinUni evaluates candidates holistically—valuing passion, creativity, and resilience alongside academic merit - Quynh Anh crafted a comprehensive portfolio that showcased her capabilities, future vision, and personal narrative, ultimately convincing the Admissions Committee with values that extended far beyond numbers.

Her impressive track record includes serving as Vice President of the Greenfield School Student Council (2024–2025), Vice President of the Greenfield School Volunteer Club (2025–2026), and ranking 4th among top individual contributors in UNICEF’s "Fix My Food" campaign. She was also a frequent student event organizer and secured both First Place and Best Speaker titles at the school’s English Debate Championship for three consecutive terms.

These activities helped Quynh Anh hone critical skills in project planning, problem-solving, leadership, communication, and teamwork. More importantly, they solidified her career path. Quynh Anh believes that her sustained, four-to-five-year commitment to these initiatives was a key factor in landing the scholarship. "I think it showed the admissions team that I didn’t just participate to pad my resume for college; I did it out of genuine passion," she reflected.

For the personal essay, VinUni sets a strict 400-word limit, asking applicants to write about a personal milestone achieved through commitment or a future aspiration. Quynh Anh wrote about the lessons she learned through volunteer work. In particular, her experience designing English signage for a local sweet soup shop in Thai Nguyen Province deepened her understanding of communication and fueled her resolve to pursue the field.

Her dedication resonated deeply with the VinUni Admissions Committee. During the interview round, they sought to understand her character rather than merely quizzing her on academic knowledge or future study plans. Ultimately, her hard work paid off with the 2.6 billion VND scholarship.

Success Grounded in Early Career Planning

While many students only consider their career paths on the brink of graduation, others define their goals early and pursue them relentlessly. For Quynh Anh, her career focus stems not from academic grades, but from profound experiences that created a personal connection to her chosen field.

Since middle school, Quynh Anh aimed to attend an international university after graduation. Consequently, her family sought an experiential learning environment aligned with that vision. Encouraged by her teachers and parents, she entered the Global Leader scholarship program hosted by Greenfield School Ecopark Campus in Grade 9, securing a 50% first-year scholarship for the Global Citizen Bilingual Program.

Quynh Anh notes that the Global Citizen Bilingual curriculum offers practical, up-to-date knowledge. She learned the fundamentals of media and marketing in Business classes, managed real-world projects in Community Service, and developed vital university-level skills such as independent research, collaboration, and problem-solving. Additionally, preparation for the IELTS, SAT, and College Writing was integrated directly into her core coursework.

A distinct feature of the program is its early, personalized career counseling. Students receive 1-on-1 mentorship to better understand their strengths, values, and passions. This allowed Quynh Anh to build a targeted roadmap connecting academics, extracurricular activities, real-world projects, and career goals.

Throughout her application process, Quynh Anh received dedicated guidance from her counselors. "I had to rewrite my main essay five times before submitting it. Condensing the content to maximize the word limit while preserving its core message was a challenge. But thanks to the feedback from Ms. Thuong, our career counselor, my essay truly resonated with the Admissions Committee."

Having been with Greenfield School since Grade 5, Quynh Anh feels immense gratitude for her alma mater. In Grade 9, her family debated whether she should transfer to a public school, but she ultimately chose to stay. "Staying at Greenfield School was the right decision. The school provided a harmonious balance between academics and extracurriculars. I gained a solid academic foundation without the pressure to conform, allowing me the freedom to explore and grow on my own terms," she said.

Quynh Anh aspires to become a Brand Manager for global FMCG giants like Nestlé, Unilever, or P&G... Armed with the resilience and talent of a Greenfield School student, she is well-positioned to shine at the university level and turn her media dreams into reality.