Tran Gia Phu, a student at Le Quy Don High School, initially thought the acceptance email was an April Fool’s joke.
His mother was the first to see the result early one Saturday morning in late March. “Phu has got into Stanford!” she exclaimed.
Still half-asleep, Phu did not even recall that admission decisions were due.
“I stayed in bed thinking April Fool’s Day was coming up. I thought my mom would soon add, ‘Phu got into Stanford in his fans’ hearts,’ like she usually jokes,” he said.
When she said nothing more, he rushed to check his email. Only after reading it a second time did he believe it was real.
He described the moment as “going from the bottom to the top.”
Tran Gia Phu, a student at Le Quy Don High School in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of Phu |
Phu said he had carefully considered applying to Stanford as a philosophy major, aware of the intense competition among tens of thousands of applicants worldwide.
Stanford ranks among the top universities globally, placing fourth in the United States in the 2026 U.S. News rankings and third worldwide in the QS World University Rankings, with an acceptance rate of around 4%.
“I’m happy that I achieved something that once felt impossible,” Phu said.
His aspiration to study in the United States began in elementary school, when he visited relatives there and was impressed by the environment and lifestyle.
Phu previously followed an integrated curriculum in Ho Chi Minh City, combining the national program with Cambridge subjects, which helped him strengthen his English and access international-level Math and Science education.
However, he failed the entrance exam for Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, one of the city’s most prestigious institutions. Determined to prove that students from less prominent schools could still reach top universities, he pushed forward despite doubts, including from his own father, who considered his academic ability “average.”
“Those doubts only made me more determined,” he said.
Phu’s application included an IELTS score of 8.0, an SAT score of 1530 out of 1600, and a GPA consistently above 9.4.
Outside the classroom, he focused on debate and public speaking, a passion he has pursued since eighth grade. Through competitions, he discovered his ability to persuade others and became drawn to presenting ideas with confidence.
He also developed a habit of reading widely across topics such as education, healthcare, politics, economics, and international affairs, sometimes spending hours at a time on a single subject. In 2023, he ranked among the top five individual debaters at The World Scholar’s Cup.
“If there’s a presentation in class, I’m always the first to volunteer. Some days, I think about debate so much that I forget everything else,” he said.
Phu brought this passion into his application essay, writing about his favorite artist, rapper Kendrick Lamar, a 27-time Grammy winner. He said Lamar’s music combines powerful messages with philosophical depth, allowing it to resonate globally.
He believes blending music and philosophy can make speeches and debates more impactful.
Victor An, director of TTS Education and Phu’s debate mentor, described him as highly persistent, often studying in the library from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and carefully reviewing his work even when well-prepared.
Phu is now preparing for Vietnam’s national high school graduation exam in June and plans to apply to several top universities in the country.
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