Vietnamese Student Achieves Record GPA in Mathematics Before Studying in France

Trần Ngọc Hiếu, a 22-year-old student from the high-achieving Mathematics program at the Hanoi University of Science (VNU-HUS), has graduated as valedictorian with a record-breaking GPA of 3.95/4. This achievement marks the highest GPA in the history of the Faculty of Mathematics-Mechanics-Informatics since the university adopted the 4.0 grading scale. Hiếu has secured a full scholarship to pursue a master's degree in Fundamental and Applied Mathematics at the University of Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN) in France, with monthly support of 1,150 Euros from the Fondation Sciences Mathématiques de Paris. Hiếu's passion for mathematics developed naturally from a young age, influenced by his parents and participation in numerous math competitions from elementary school. Upon entering Hanoi's prestigious specialized high school, Amsterdam High School, he was determined to pursue mathematics at the university level. Despite holding an IELTS score of 8.5 and winning second prize in the National Mathematics Olympiad, he chose to enroll in VNU-HUS to delve deeper into the subject. While not considering himself the most intellectually gifted in his class, Hiếu emphasized the importance of dedicating sufficient time and maintaining a positive attitude towards his goals. He viewed the demanding workload and periods of intense study as "positive pressure," which further motivated him. In his small, high-achieving class of six students, Hiếu found it easy to connect with his peers, engaging in collaborative discussions and group projects. Last year, he participated in the International Mathematics Summer School at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), gaining valuable experience interacting with students and researchers from various countries. In his third year, Hiếu began scientific research, focusing on complex analysis, and his team secured second prize at the university level. He chose to pursue theoretical mathematics, aiming to explore the fundamental principles of the discipline, rather than applied areas. Guided by his professors, he decided to pursue further studies in France. For his scholarship application, Hiếu meticulously detailed his future academic and research plans, believing this to be the most crucial component. He stated that while he may not have extensive published research, his clear and serious commitment to the field likely contributed to his scholarship award. During his undergraduate studies, Hiếu also achieved first prize in both Analysis and Algebra at the National Student Mathematics Olympiad and third prize in the Mechanics Olympiad. Regarding language proficiency, his consistent IELTS 8.5 score, maintained since 11th grade, is attributed to his habit of practicing English through self-conversation, posing and answering questions in English, and utilizing the language in his mathematical studies and research. Associate Professor Dr. Ngô Quốc Anh, Head of the Faculty of Mathematics-Mechanics-Informatics, noted that while Hiếu initially appeared quiet and reserved, his exceptional abilities quickly became apparent to the faculty. He recalled a specific instance during a challenging analysis problem discussion where Hiếu's approach and proposed solutions clearly demonstrated his potential as a researcher. Hiếu is scheduled to depart for France in late August to commence his master's program. He hopes to complete his Ph.D. before returning to Vietnam to contribute to research and teaching at the Hanoi University of Science. Source: VnExpress