That very goal contributed to helping the male student conquer Stanford University, a world-leading institution.

Phung Quang Thang, a 12th-grade student majoring in Computer Science at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in HCMC received the news of his admission to Stanford University on the morning of March 28. 

“When fireworks appear on computer screen, I still couldn't believe my eyes; I had to log out and back in several times to be sure I had passed,” Thang recounted. Stanford University is the 3rd ranked school in the world according to the QS 2026 rankings and is ranked 2nd globally in Computer Science.

In addition to Stanford, Thang was admitted to several universities in the US and Australia, including University of Rochester, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, University of Florida, Purdue University, Northeastern University, University of Melbourne and University of Sydney. He received a scholarship of up to $200,000 for four years from the University of Rochester.

Thang said he had long been aware of Stanford’s strength in STEM fields and its location in Silicon Valley, offering opportunities for research, startups, and exposure to leading global tech companies. He aims to study Computer Science to apply technology to real-world problems.

With a clear goal early on, he began preparing his application in grade 10. Alongside maintaining a GPA of 9.5, achieving IELTS 8.0, SAT 1550 (800/800 in Math), and perfect 5/5 scores in AP Computer Science, he also demonstrated strong performance in Math and Informatics through awards such as a Gold Medal at HKICO, First Prize in HCMC Young Informatics, and a Silver Medal at the April 30 Olympiad.

However, he considered his academic scores to be “average among applicants,” so he focused heavily on extracurricular activities and essays to highlight his long-term goals.

Earlier this school year, Thang conducted a research project titled “Predicting deforestation in Vietnam using deep learning on satellite imagery,” addressing a root cause of flooding. The project won First Prize at the city-level Science and Engineering Competition.

He also developed an AI model to predict breast cancer risk based on genetic variations among Vietnamese women, helping him shape his ambition to combine computer science with medicine.

With a strong and consistent interest in technology projects for disaster prevention, Thang said his biggest motivation came from the times he witnessed storms and floods affect people in his hometown of Khanh Hoa. He hopes to use technology to create practical solutions for communities.

In grade 10, he began working directly on projects, from ideation and sensor design to disaster warning software programming. In his personal essay, he shared the story of his hometown and the development of two disaster-prevention products: a flood barrier and a flood warning system.

“I think the biggest highlight in the essay was that I talked about the first product not working as expected because I had not accounted for mud and leaves in real-world conditions. That very failure forced me to try again many times and perfect the product. Thanks to that, the admissions committee saw that I not only have a passion for technology but am also persistent, possess a problem-solving spirit, and have a long-term concern for environmental and community issues,” Thang said.

In the supplemental essay, the male student chose to write about his passion for keyboards as well as how his friends call him an “Avid Keyboard Modifier.”

“I really love keyboards. Occasionally, you might see me at 2:00 AM still tinkering with them,” Thang wrote in the essay. This detail also helped Thang express his passion for computer science from an early age.

In the supplemental essay, Thang wrote about his passion for keyboards, noting that friends call him an “Avid Keyboard Modifier.”

“I love keyboards. Sometimes you’ll find me at 2 a.m. still tinkering with them,” he wrote, highlighting his early interest in computer science.

Reflecting on his application journey, Thang said the most important factor is having a clear goal and pursuing it consistently over time. Preparation is a long process and should start as early as possible.

Currently, he continues studying additional AP subjects such as Calculus BC and Statistics, while developing technology projects for disaster prevention. He hopes to study in the US, gain experience, and eventually return to contribute to the community in his hometown.

Thuy Nga