Nguyễn Hoàng Hải An earns admission to 8 top U.S. universities with over VND 33 billion in scholarships

The application season has been only half-way, yet Nguyễn Hoàng Hải An leaves a remarkable mark, earning admission to eight leading universities in the United States with total scholarships exceeding VND 33.1 billion. Among these highlights is an offer - and a scholarship worth nearly VND 7 billion - from Swarthmore College, a top - 4 liberal arts college in the U.S., renowned for its rigorous academic environment, deep critical thinking, and strong humanistic values.

Although Hải An did not join Olympia at an early age, her time here proved especially meaningful as she entered the pivotal stage of academic orientation and U.S. college preparation. According to the Olympian, the greatest difference - and what she values most at Olympia - is the teachers’ timely, thoughtful, and close mentorship. “Teachers don’t do things for us or impose directions. Instead, they patiently accompany us, offering feedback and guidance so we can truly recognize our own strengths and weaknesses, then improve step by step and grow,” she shared. She points to the application process as a clear example of this support - present in every stage, from school selection and application strategy to recommendation letters and essay revisions. Especially during the essay-writing phase - the “soul” of a U.S. college application - Hải An received crucial feedback that helped her articulate her academic identity, social concerns, and long-term aspirations more clearly. This dedicated, open, and guidance-oriented mentorship enabled her to complete a cohesive application that stayed true to who she is while aligning with the ethos of the world’s top universities. The result: eight acceptance letters from prestigious U.S. institutions, accompanied by highly competitive scholarships.

With a sustained passion for political theory, philosophy, and public policy, Hải An found additional “space” to deepen and expand these interests while studying the IB program at Olympia. The Theory of Knowledge course helped her approach philosophy not as something abstract, but as a lens present in practical subjects like Mathematics or Business. Independent research projects and academic essays spanning dozens of pages thus became not a burden, but a source of motivation -nurturing the curiosity of a student who thrives when learning along her own intellectual trajectory.

When applying to universities, Hải An remained steadfast in choosing majors aligned with her passions and reflections on society, human rights, and civic responsibility. “The final message I conveyed in my essay was my aspiration to help build a safe society - where everyone is seen, heard, and no one is left behind. That is also the question I will continue to explore during my studies at Swarthmore College,” she shared.

Wishing Hải An a future journey that is steady and inspiring. Olympia remains here -just as she describes it in the simple word “supportive”- to continue accompanying her with quiet yet enduring care, serving as a reliable anchor and a source of encouragement for young people like Hải An as they confidently pursue their own paths.