Pham Bui Gia Khanh, an 18-year-old student from the British International School Hanoi (BIS), secured early admission to Yale University in late 2025. Yale is an Ivy League institution, ranking fourth in the US with an acceptance rate of just 4%, according to US News.

Born in 2008, Khanh also received good news from the University of California Berkeley (UCB), the top 1 public university in the US; the University of Cambridge, University College London (UCL), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), all within the top 10 in the UK, according to QS.

Gia Khanh attributes the success of her application to a consistent story rooted in her authentic self, rather than trying to piece together elements for a "dramatic" or "overcoming adversity" narrative.

Pham Bui Gia Khanh. Photo: Provided by subject

Khanh's aspiration to study abroad began in middle school, sparked by her interest in interdisciplinary fields such as politics, literature, history, and philosophy. She chose Yale specifically for its "directed studies" program, a first-year curriculum that allows students to combine these four areas of study.

"This is precisely what I want to study", Khanh said.

With a clear understanding of her interests early on, Khanh prioritized activities aligned with these subjects. She initially launched an online magazine for students who enjoy writing and creating. However, she found this model lacked interaction and failed to foster a sense of community. This led to the establishment of the Lumina creative writing camp in 2024.

Khanh explained that Lumina provides a space where students can write, share, and discuss their work under the guidance of renowned writers and poets. The project ran for two seasons, attracting approximately 150 students from various provinces and cities. Khanh edited and compiled the works created during these camps into a book.

"At Lumina, students began to believe that what they wrote had value, and their experiences deserved to be heard", Khanh shared.

The student also organized the "Di san net muc" (Ink Heritage) competition in early 2025, themed "Our Identity". The idea stemmed from events commemorating the 50th anniversary of national reunification and the 80th anniversary of National Day, aiming to create a platform for students to write about life as a way to understand personal identity.

Over two months, the competition received approximately 250 entries from students across 46 provinces and 8 countries. Khanh noted that reading hundreds of essays from diverse regions broadened her perspective on Vietnamese people and culture.

In parallel with her creative writing initiatives, Khanh founded the "Chalk Road" project. Since 2023, she and her friends have organized six trips to schools in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa, and Tuyen Quang, providing material support, teaching soft skills, and offering career guidance. In late 2023, the project received 9,000 USD (approximately 230 million VND) in support from the Nord Anglia Social Impact Fund and UNICEF.

Khanh distilled her experiences from these activities and projects into her main essay, which chronicled her journey of understanding language and identity. She began by describing the Lumina creative writing camp, where she heard a student express a feeling of "losing connection" to Vietnamese, despite attending public school and living in Vietnam. Khanh empathized, admitting her own lack of confidence in using her mother tongue after years of studying in an international environment, accustomed to speaking and thinking in English.

A turning point occurred when Khanh read a work about war and the sacrifices of soldiers. She realized she could still feel the depth of the Vietnamese language and developed a sense of responsibility toward the nation's history and culture. From then on, Khanh made a conscious effort to use Vietnamese more frequently, writing and speaking in community activities, even when she felt hesitant.

Khanh concluded her essay by returning to Lumina, where her story began, but with a different perspective: not avoiding weaknesses, but confronting them and growing from them.

"I am not perfect, but at least I dared to do things I once lacked confidence in", Khanh stated.

She revealed that she had considered writing a more "edgy" and dramatic essay but ultimately chose to keep this story because it felt "true to myself", honestly reflecting her journey.

Gia Khanh (standing) with writer Nguyen Phan Que Mai (in a blue ao dai) and fellow campers at Camp Lumina, 6/2024. Photo: Provided by subject

Academically, Khanh achieved a SAT score of 1,570/1,600, placing her in the top 1% globally, and a predicted International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 44/45. She was a top 20 finalist in the International Philosophy Olympiad in 2023 and 2025, and she advanced through three qualifying rounds to compete in the selection trials for the UK's International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) team.

According to Khanh, pursuing multiple fields has fostered her multidimensional thinking. She finds herself more creative when studying literature and philosophy, which then enhances her approach to mathematics.

Doctor Nguyen Chi Hieu has been Gia Khanh's academic advisor since she was in grade 4. Doctor Hieu noted that by grade 8, Khanh began to exhibit distinct ways of thinking, engaging with philosophical concepts like self, time, and existence—a rarity among students her age. He suggested that Khanh and her family explore a new direction, rather than solely focusing on mathematics or natural sciences.

"What is truly commendable about Khanh is that she didn't just try things superficially; she fully committed to her choices", he remarked.

With over 10 years of experience advising students, Doctor Hieu believes the most outstanding aspect of Khanh's application is its consistency, demonstrating her deep dedication to her chosen fields rather than a patchwork of short-term activities.

"It is rare to see an application that is both cohesive and deeply insightful, especially in humanities fields like philosophy, literature, and language", he commented, suggesting that this commitment will help Gia Khanh adapt and thrive in the competitive environment of top universities worldwide.

Beyond her admission to Yale, Khanh was directly accepted into the "directed studies" first-year program due to her highly compatible application. She plans to major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (EPE). After graduation, Khanh aims to work in the US or Asia before returning to Vietnam to contribute further to the community.

Thanh Hang