Tran Minh Tuan said he “couldn’t stop smiling” when he received his admission offer from Duke, ranked seventh among National Universities in the 2025-26 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.
Tran Minh Tuan, a 12th grader at Hanoi National University of Education High School for the Gifted. Photo courtesy of his parents |
“I had prepared myself for possible disappointment, but the result exceeded all my expectations,” said the 12th-grade student at Hanoi National University of Education High School for the Gifted.
His ambition to study in the U.S. began in childhood, inspired by Hollywood films and the country’s reputation for academic excellence. By the second semester of 10th grade, he had begun mapping out a strategy, focusing on standardized tests and extracurriculars.
With strong foundations in math and English, Tuan scored 1550 out of 1600 on the SAT after just five months of preparation, placing him among the top 1% of test-takers. According to the College Board, which administers the SAT, a score of 1520 already falls within that percentile range.
Last July, he was one of four Vietnamese students to win a bronze medal at the International Economics Olympiad, a global competition in economics and finance for high school students.
Outside the classroom, Tuan co-founded “Daily Econs,” a website sharing economic knowledge, served as a speaker for High School Help Kit, a guidance initiative for ninth graders in Hanoi, and earned a black belt in taekwondo.
His most meaningful project, he said, is a charity run he launched in mid-2024 to support disadvantaged children. Named “Run: Youth and Hanoi,” the initiative brings together his passions for running, his hometown, and community service.
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Tran Minh Tuan (first row, center) and the organizers of the “Run: Youth and Hanoi” race in March 2026. Photo courtesy of Tuan |
For Tuan, success lies in aligning personal interests with social impact. Through sports and martial arts, he developed a connection with children, whose curiosity and openness motivated him to support and protect them.
He began assembling a team to organize the run, though early efforts proved challenging as many peers were already committed to other activities. After forming a core group, they faced further hurdles in securing a ticketing platform willing to support a low-budget project.
After more than a month, they found a partner that provided both technical and professional support. The team eventually grew to around 50 volunteers, handling logistics ranging from site surveys and sponsorship outreach to medical, security, and communications planning.
The nine-month project was demanding, often causing stress and sleepless nights. To manage both academics and the initiative, Tuan set incremental daily goals and anticipated potential challenges to stay on track.
The event was held at My Dinh National Sports Complex in Hanoi in late March, drawing nearly 1,000 participants and raising VND50 million (about US$2,000) for programs supporting underprivileged children in rural mountainous areas in northern Vietnam.
Beyond placing in the top 1% globally on the SAT and achieving an IELTS band score of 8.0, Tuan stood out with a personal essay centered on the “three pairs of eyes” that have shaped his life: his father’s strict gaze, which instilled discipline and perseverance; his mother’s gentle eyes, which taught empathy and joy; and the bright, curious eyes of children in Moc Chau, where he volunteered.
These influences shaped his long-term goal of advancing equitable education, where schools foster not only academic achievement but also character and curiosity.
Tuan spent four days drafting a 2,000-word essay before refining it over nearly two months to meet the 650-word limit while preserving its emotional depth.
For his supplementary essays, he drew on his charity run. One described building a community of runners who push their limits to create meaningful change, while another portrayed Hanoi as a city that, despite its bustle, offers moments of quiet reflection, teaching him to find opportunity in chaos.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao, his homeroom teacher, said the achievement was well deserved. While noting his intelligence and determination, she emphasized that his compassion and commitment to community set him apart.
“He is always willing to help others and has long shown a passion for educational philanthropy,” she said.
Nguyen Hoang Anh Phuong, who advised his application at Inception Center, an educational organization focused on extracurricular development, skills training, and college preparation, praised his essays for their clarity, depth, and layered reflection.
“These qualities strengthened an application that effectively combined academic excellence, community engagement, and personal interests,” she said.
Tuan now plans to study education, economics, and public policy, with the goal of contributing to Vietnam’s education system by integrating technology and economic insight.
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