Top Universities

Here are some excellent places for you, the youth of Vietnam, to pursue your studies. Your success is not only important; it is essential for the development of our country. Look to the East, where nations like Japan and South Korea have significantly advanced thanks to their educated students in the U.S., as well as Hong Kong and Singapore benefiting from education in the U.K. Your achievements contribute to our nation's progress.

Fortunately, I know several professors and experts in engineering who would be delighted if you seize opportunities to explore your potential through research under their guidance. At EMI2019, held at Caltech, I spoke with a Professor from Australia who enthusiastically expressed his willingness to accept more students from Vietnam, saying, “Yes, please, please.” This exchange gives me hope that more opportunities will arise for Vietnamese youth to engage with leading minds in the field of engineering.

You are all warmly invited to embark on this journey, equipped with the support and guidance you need. While it may take several years for students from rural areas to acquire the necessary background and language skills, the project (http://www.chsci.org/tps-project) is here to provide reliable guidance and resources. With this support, you can confidently pursue your dreams.

 

If I could offer some guidance, here are my thoughts:

1) Reflect on Your Environment: Take a moment to assess your surroundings and consider what you can do to improve your community. Think about how you can bring joy to your parents and those around you. Embrace the question: Why are you alive? Strive to find purpose in your efforts.

2) Value of Education: A strong education is essential for gaining admission to top universities. Future generations must build solid foundations in STEAM—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics—to collaborate with international peers.

3) Embrace Perseverance: Persistence is key to pursuing your dreams. Focus on working towards your aspirations rather than merely earning a living.

4) Become Who You Aspire To Be: Our actions reflect our worldview. Seek out books authored by heroes in your field; for instance, The World as I See It by Albert Einstein and No Dream is Too High by Buzz Aldrin and Ken Abraham offer valuable insights.

5) Cultivate Supportive Relationships: Choose friends who share your aspirations and work towards similar goals, as they will bring out the best in you.

6) Select Inspirational Heroes: Identify role models who can motivate you and provide support during challenging times.

7) Adopt an Ambitious Mindset: As Einstein stated, “Americans live for ambition, the future. Lives for them are always becoming, never being.” This attitude is crucial for Vietnamese youth aspiring for greatness.

8) Research Opportunities: Many professors I have met are seeking research students. To join their teams, you'll need to prepare for IELTS (aim for an overall score of 6.5) and maintain a strong GPA (7.5/10 or higher). Meeting these requirements opens pathways to scholarships at prestigious Western universities in Engineering Science. For example, Prof. Giang D Nguyen at Adelaide and Prof. Bui Hong Ha at Monash are looking for new students, which could significantly support our home country.

9) Consider Elite Research Groups: The group led by Prof. Itai Einav in Sydney, Prof. Alexander M. Puzrin at ETH, and Prof. Ken Kamrin at MIT are excellent choices for those with a strong math background. Make sure you are well-versed in advanced math topics such as Calculus, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra (refer to works by Professor Gilbert Strang and Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering by K. F. Riley, M. P. Hobson, and S. J. Bence).

10) Explore Geomechanics Research: For those interested in numerical simulations within geomechanics, consider combining finite element analysis (FEM) and discrete element analysis (DEM). Dr. David Taborda, Prof. Catherine O'Sullivan at Imperial College London, Dr. Thomas Shire (Glasgow), Dr. Kevin Hanley (Edinburgh), and Dr. Masahide Otsubo (Tokyo) are recommended for applications of FEM and DEM in geotechnical engineering. First, pursue scholarship opportunities, and then reach out to those you would like to work with.