Finding Her Life’s Purpose Through the Lens of Science

Bao is a boarding student at Lake Forest Academy in Illinois. With a perfect 4.0 GPA, a rigorous AP course load, accolades from Science Olympiad, research experience, competitive sports, and a passion for writing, she stood out not just for her intellect but for her unwavering clarity of purpose.

But what made Bao’s journey truly remarkable wasn’t just the numbers. It was her deep-rooted vision of becoming a biomedical researcher—one who could bridge the wisdom of Eastern and Western medicine to develop holistic healthcare solutions for her community.

Choosing a School That Sees the Whole Person

Bao received offers from several prestigious universities: UC San Diego, Boston University, New York University, and Vanderbilt.
She chose Vanderbilt University because she saw more than just academic excellence. She saw a community that values not only research and technology but also the beauty of cultural intersection—something that deeply resonates with her identity.

At Vanderbilt, Bao envisioned the opportunity to pursue interdisciplinary research in biomedical engineering, where technologies like human system simulation open new possibilities for healthcare innovation. But even more, she found a place that embraces multicultural voices—where her passion for East-West integration could truly thrive.

Self-Discovery Through Small Moments

In her personal essay, Bao wrote about a transformative internship in Singapore—a summer that pushed her out of her comfort zone, forced her to rely on herself, and helped her confront fear with courage.

Her reflections came from the smallest of moments: a stranger guiding her home when she was lost; a taste of local food that stirred up memories of her Vietnamese roots; a bus ride that reminded her how important human connection can be.

In that unfamiliar setting, Bao found comfort not in control but in her own willingness to adapt. She learned to seek connection, embrace discomfort, and open herself to experiences she hadn’t planned—experiences that later became defining opportunities.

“I’m a meticulous planner,” she wrote. “But I can also choose to explore and persist.” That sentence marked a clear turning point—one where Bao’s mindset expanded, and her confidence blossomed. The Singapore internship became more than a line on her résumé—it became the launchpad for a more grounded, more resilient version of herself.

A Strategy Rooted in Authenticity

Bao’s journey is proof of a quiet truth we often forget:
You don’t need to be loud or perfect to succeed.
You just need to know yourself, tell your story clearly, and tell it with heart.

Her application told a cohesive and powerful story:

• From academics to research: Her international internships weren’t just accomplishments—they were milestones of personal growth.
  
  
• From athletics to resilience: Bao’s long-term commitment to swimming and badminton, across leadership roles and team contributions, reflected not only her discipline but her ability to find balance in rigorous environments.
  
  
• From personal essay to personal truth: Her writing didn’t rely on grand, flashy moments, but on thoughtful reflections that revealed depth, values, and maturity.
  
  

As Bao shared with us:

“Thanks to the thorough guidance from my mentors, I did not just get better at expressing my ideas. I also discovered my own writing voice. Each essay became less of an obligation and more of a chance to understand myself and tell my story in the most honest and thoughtful way possible.”

Her insight reminds us that when students take the time to dig deep and reflect honestly, their stories naturally become powerful. They don’t need to pretend to be someone else to be impressive—who they are is already enough.

Trieu Han got accepted into Stanford University, a prestigious school famous for nurturing talent in Silicon Valley. She was also awarded a scholarship of over $300,000 (nearly 7 billion VND) for her four years of study. With an acceptance rate of only around 4%, this achievement marked a significant milestone for Vietnamese students.

Learning about computer science, Han quickly developed a fascination for numbers and programming languages. Her curiosity extends beyond technology; she also explores how art, science, and mathematics intersect in her daily life.

As one of the few girls in scientific research communities, Han developed a strong awareness of the need for equal educational opportunities for all students, regardless of gender. Challenging the stereotype that programming was boring and not meant for girls, she demonstrated to the admissions committee how exciting and creative coding can be. Through her unique projects, she blended the beauty of art with the logic of programming and algorithms.

Reflecting on her challenging yet rewarding college application journey, Han shared: “I always try to finish my assignments as quickly as possible to avoid procrastination. For long-running tasks, I break my time up throughout the week to complete them during my free time.”

Han also highlighted the importance of her personal statement and extracurricular activities in her college application. She participated in various programming and art projects, taking on leadership roles in many of them. This experience showcased her potential and passion to the admissions committee.

“Doing what I love with 200% effort and writing about my passions helped the admissions committee see my true self. I keep a special notes section on my phone for ideas. By the summer of my junior year, as I prepared to write my essay, I didn’t have to spend too much time brainstorming because I had already gathered my thoughts,” Han explained. Ultimately, having an authentic, detailed and organized application process gave her the best chance for admission.

“Before I started working with Spark Prep, I was very nervous about applying and struggled to write the 'perfect' essay. My essay coach helped me grow and think deeply about the values I wanted to share. They encouraged me to express those values in my essay without forcing me into a rigid formula. This freedom allowed me to discover myself and achieve the results I wanted.

Spark Prep gave me valuable advice for my future creative writing. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with them during this process.” Han shared.

With her unique perspective and strong sense of self-worth, Han has made a positive impact on her student community and beyond.

Drawing from her experiences, she wants to share an important message with all young people, especially young women interested in STEM:

“Women in STEM often face biases that suggest they aren’t suited for these fields. I hope girls won’t let these opinions hold them back. Instead, focus on self-improvement because everyone has the right to pursue their passions.”

Read more about Trieu Han at:

• Nữ sinh giành học bổng 7 tỷ đồng ngành lập trình tại ĐH Stanford danh tiếng
• Cô gái Việt nhận 7 tỷ đồng của ĐH Stanford nhờ bài luận về thời tiết
• Cô gái mê lập trình giành học bổng 7 tỷ đồng
• Nữ sinh 10X giành học bổng hơn 7 tỷ đồng của Đại học Stanford
• Cô gái Việt nhận học bổng 7 tỷ đồng của ĐH Stanford nhờ bài luận thời tiết

Phuong Minh started working with Spark Prep when she was in grade 10. Thanks to her early college preparation and constant efforts, she has been accepted to many prestigious universities, including: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Purdue University, The Pennsylvania State University and University of Washington - where she decided to spend her next 4 years with a Pre Health Sciences major. The University of Washington was ranked #6 in US News Best Global Universities 2022, and has always been in the top 10 universities for public health majors.

Phuong Minh is a student from Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, HCMC. From grade 9 to grade 12, she has always maintained her GPA between 9.1 and 9.3 on a standard 10.0 scale, with high scores in the sciences subjects.

Since Minh started studying biology in grade 8, she became captivated by fascinating scientific theories and then raised her passion for health research. She realised the importance of science which could help her explain health problems and understand the meaning of healthy habits. Another great motivation for Minh to pursue this major also came from her family. Minh wanted to conduct in-depth research on gene therapy for immune disorders in children with a view to contributing to the initiates that can save her family member and other patients from the diseases. Her love for family and health sciences acted as a great source of inspiration, which were thoroughly expressed in her personal statement.

Determining to pursue such a challenging major as Health Sciences, Minh has conducted a lot of independent research projects and found learning opportunities through real-life experiences. During that process, Minh also encountered limited access to equipment and facilities to carry out her science experiments at school. Sharing about those barriers with her admissions coach at Spark Prep, Minh was advised on how to proactively build relationships and actively look for research development opportunities outside of school, which could allow her to learn from leading professors in Ho Chi Minh City.

Through the college application process, Minh has discovered her academic ability as well as her passion for health research. She participated and won a number of impressive prizes at some of the National and Regional Science and Technology Competitions. Besides science, Minh also spent time in various extracurricular programs such as debate, city concerts and workshops designed to build mutual understanding between GenZ students and their parents, as well as other sport and exchange activities at school.

To help Minh have more opportunities to get an early start in research, Spark Prep supported her to apply and prepare for her journey to become a professional scholar. Thanks to that, Minh has been able to improve her analytical skills, write scientific reports, and learn about different scientific approaches, which are important prerequisites for her success in academic path.

All of those experiences have highlighted Minh’s unique traits in her college application. In her personal statement, Minh expressed her desire and efforts to contribute to the community by her talent, belief, development goals and self-awareness. Spark Prep’s coaches greatly appreciated Minh’s hard work throughout the college application process, especially when it comes to finding ideas and meaningfully conveying her stories in her personal statement.

Minh always arranged her busy schedule in an effective way to complete all tasks of a high school student and a college applicant at the same time. She also made the most of Spark Prep's 'New Status Tracker' tool, which helped her track even the most detailed tasks/information and easily request for the support of coaches when needed. Hence, she managed to apply under both early decision and regular decision, which enabled her to increase her chances of admittance.