From a young girl doubted for her academic abilities, Vương Minh Anh—a 17-year-old student from Bắc Thăng Long High School (Đông Anh, Hanoi)—has impressively secured multiple prestigious scholarships from some of the world's top universities.

Minh Anh is the recipient of the Excellent Student Scholarship from the University of British Columbia (ranked 2nd in Canada), ESSEC Business School (ranked 1st in France and among the top 9 business schools in Europe), and several other Top 50 institutions in the United States.

The Dream of Studying at the World's Best Schools Led to Mockery

Since elementary school, Minh Anh has shown a passion for entrepreneurship by attempting to build an online sales channel via YouTube. She also took a keen interest in “responsible consumption and production” by participating in environmental activities at Bắc Thăng Long High School. These seemingly small efforts planted the seeds for the values Minh Anh has firmly pursued since: innovative, sustainable business initiatives that benefit society.

However, educational opportunities to develop expertise in sustainable business are limited in Vietnam, prompting her to look beyond its borders. Minh Anh faced a major hurdle when building her study-abroad application. Coming from a small suburban district of Hanoi and attending a non-specialized school placed her at a disadvantage compared to candidates with “impressive profiles.” Throughout her high school years, she wasn’t a top-ranked student, making her aspiration to attend world-class universities a source of ridicule.

Despite the mockery and doubts, Minh Anh remained resolute:
“As a push forward, when friends doubted my abilities, it made me even more determined to prove that I could do it. So, I decided to apply for study-abroad scholarships. Looking back, I realize this motivation may have been childish, but it truly propelled me to improve every day.”

‍

Stepping Into the World and Earning a Scholarship at Prestigious Business Schools

Minh Anh began seriously preparing her study-abroad applications in the second semester of her 11th grade. She sought support from educational centers during this process. At that time, her GPA for grades 10 and 11 was only average, she had no extracurricular involvement, and no significant achievements to her name.

“Most centers that reviewed my application advised me that it would be very difficult to get into top-ranked universities. They saw my goals as overly ambitious,” Minh Anh recalls.

After hearing such advice, Minh Anh cried a lot and felt dejected. Yet her determination was unshaken:
“In the beginning, I had to push myself out of my comfort zone and face challenges head-on. It was tough because my application started from zero. I critically evaluated my strengths and weaknesses to craft a specific strategy,” she shared.

While academics were never her strong suit, Minh Anh focused on leveraging her unique qualities to compensate for her shortcomings. The real turning point came when she found a mentor who guided her through the difficult and challenging journey of applying to study abroad. This mentorship reignited her motivation and solidified her determination:

“I will step into the world and become a scholarship recipient at one of the world’s most prestigious business schools.”

‍

Stepping Out of Her Comfort Zone Dynamically

Minh Anh, a spirited and determined individual, sought opportunities to participate in organizations and competitions to contribute meaningful values to society.

She and her team developed a vegan leather product made from vinegar (scoby) and other simple ingredients, presenting a sustainable alternative to traditional leather in the fast fashion industry. This idea entered the “Finalist Young Tycoon Business Challenge” and ranked in the top 0.25% of nearly 12,000 entries.

Continuing their efforts, the team refined the product, adding missing features. After many attempts, the product won second place at the “Vietnam Young Community Leaders” competition and third at the “Policy Hack” contest. Minh Anh also participated in the “Rise Up” competition funded by the Australian Government, encouraging youth to implement initiatives aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Her team’s project—a platform providing psychological services, gender equality education, and abuse prevention resources—won first place.

In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Minh Anh actively participated in other social projects. For instance, she served as the head of design at the nonprofit organization VANG, which helps young people develop life skills and career orientation. She also contributed to "The Physital Project," where she supported activities addressing mental and physical health for students.

Reflecting on these opportunities, Minh Anh shared:
“Looking back, I see that no one cares where you come from or what school you attended. Having a common purpose allowed me to connect and find like-minded companions.”

‍

There’s No Dream Too Small or Unattainable

Starting from scratch, Minh Anh said that although her initial position was modest, her efforts to step out of her comfort zone were significant. Fortunately, she maintained faith in her ability to succeed:
“Every application I submitted wasn’t just a request for admission—it was a promise that I will change the world.”

This open-minded and progressive attitude served as Minh Anh’s guiding principle, helping her confidently express her personality and aspirations in her application.

Minh Anh’s story of sustainable fashion consumption and production is exemplified by her entrepreneurial and product development experiences with KOMBY. In her essays, she likened herself to a cicada struggling with its own challenges:
“Before, I was concerned about the environment but contributed little to it. I was like a cicada chirping loudly about environmental awareness without making a tangible impact. I decided to ‘transform’ and create more sustainable values for the environment, evident in ideas like vegan leather to replace traditional materials.”

For supplemental essays, Minh Anh understood their essence and what universities sought through their questions. For example, an essay prompt asking, “If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be, and what would you discuss?” was more about identifying Minh Anh’s academic interests and potential contributions. Her sharp analysis and approach made the process easier and more effective.

After completing her essays and submitting her applications, advisors helped Minh Anh prepare for interviews with major universities like the University of Toronto (#1 in Canada), UBC (#2 in Canada), and ESSEC. This preparation enabled her to confidently handle questions ranging from personal motivation to specialized knowledge in business management.

“Each person has their strengths and abilities. Even though I didn’t attend a specialized school, I knew my strengths and worked to maximize them. Universities don’t seek the best applicants; they look for the most suitable ones. They value the journey of effort and perseverance, not just numbers,” she said.

‍

Advice from Minh Anh and Future Plans

Looking back on her journey, Minh Anh is grateful for taking her study-abroad pursuit seriously:
“If I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone, I would’ve remained doubtful and insecure, missing out on opportunities to work with brilliant people across the country. These experiences helped me grow and shift my mindset significantly,” Minh Anh shared.

‍