Yale, a member of the Ivy League and ranked among the top four universities in the US, offered Huy Anh both admission and financial support, allowing him to pursue his studies with peace of mind.

“The moment I opened the acceptance letter, I felt a deep sense of relief,” Huy Anh said. “After a long journey, Yale has given me not only an opportunity but also the financial support to truly focus on my education.”

Choosing depth over decoration

Despite a strong interest in robotics, Huy Anh did not aim for a purely technical institute. Instead, he chose Yale for its strength in liberal arts, shaped by his belief that technology should never stand alone.

“A robot is not just about technical performance. It must also address social and environmental challenges,” he said.

While he began preparing his application early, Huy Anh deliberately avoided the common strategy of “polishing” his profile with scattered achievements. Instead, he focused on depth and authenticity.

“To reach Ivy League schools, I believe a strong academic foundation is essential,” he said, noting his commitment to consistent academic performance and international standardized tests.

Beyond the classroom, robotics became the center of his efforts. As president of the GreenAms Robotics Team, he led his team to compete in major competitions including VEX IQ, VEX V5 and the FIRST Tech Challenge.

In 2025, he and his teammates secured the runner-up position at the World Robotics Championship held in Houston, Texas.

His work extended beyond competitions. Huy Anh developed practical projects such as a drone designed to collect waste in mountainous areas with difficult terrain.

He also spent a month bringing STEM and robotics projects to Tri Le Ethnic Boarding School in Lang Son, aiming to make science and technology more accessible to students in underserved communities.

“For me, building a robot that works, fixing bugs in code - those experiences carry more weight than flashy achievements without real action,” he said. “Universities are not looking for perfect machines. They are looking for people who strive to grow.”

In his Yale essay, Huy Anh told a symbolic story about “waste”, reflecting his belief that even discarded things hold value and deserve a second life.

That perspective extends to people. “I see immense potential in young people in disadvantaged areas and hope to help them find a second chance to shine,” he said.

Growing through responsibility and hardship

Despite his achievements, Huy Anh considers his most meaningful accomplishment to be mentoring his younger brother. Guiding him and his team to win the national VEX V5 Robotics Championship became, in his words, “a deeply emotional journey”.

“It taught me how to grow from my own failures, how to step back and pass on experience - from design thinking to debugging and, more importantly, perseverance,” he said.

His personal growth was also shaped by family challenges. At the most critical stage of his application process, his father suffered a stroke. Amid uncertainty, Huy Anh balanced his responsibilities, supporting his family while staying on track with his goals.

This autumn, he will leave for the US. For now, he is spending time with his family, accompanying his father through recovery, supporting his brother and continuing to strengthen his academic foundation.

During his four years at Yale, Huy Anh hopes to fully explore the intersection of engineering and entrepreneurship, developing technology projects with real-world applications.

In the long term, he aspires to return to Vietnam, bringing knowledge and experience back to support communities, particularly in expanding access to science and technology for those with fewer opportunities.

Thuy Nga