Phan Hoang Lam, a final year student in mathematics at the Hanoi-Amsterdam high school for gifted students, has just received letters of admission from several American universities, including the University of Pennsylvania (member of the Ivy League) and Duke University. These two universities are among the seven best American universities for the year 2026.
“I am filled with joy and relief to have finally reaped the fruits of my efforts after a long journey,” Lam said.
Reflecting on the history of my homeland
Originally from Ha Tinh province, Lam usually spent all his summers with his grandparents, sent by his parents. In this region of central Vietnam, he witnessed the harshness of the climate: prolonged droughts caused cracks in the earth, while storms and flash floods washed away the fruits of a season of labor.
“Even a slight change in weather can have a direct impact on the harvests and livelihoods of many families,†recalls Lam. These observations gradually gave rise to Lam’s dream: to help his fellow citizens better manage climatic hazards.
Phan Hoang Lam, final year science student (mathematics specialty 1) at the Hanoi-Amsterdam high school for gifted students. Photo: provided by the student interviewed.
During his high school years, Lam clearly defined his professional goal: to apply mathematics and artificial intelligence to the analysis of land data, in order to make predictions about nutrients and soil conditions, and thus support farmers’ agricultural decisions.
Having planned early on to study abroad, Lam wanted to go to the United States to pursue further studies in mathematics, artificial intelligence and data science, and to learn how to combine these fields to solve real-world problems.
Starting to prepare for his application at the end of 9th grade, Lam’s strategy was not to “do as much as possible,” but to construct a coherent narrative.
The story begins with mathematics, a solid foundation that allowed him to develop his quantitative mind and tackle areas such as linear algebra, multivariate calculus and optimization. From there, he turned to artificial intelligence to understand how machine learning models process sensor data, predict humidity and aid decision-making. Lam hopes to apply his knowledge to solving a problem that has always concerned him: agricultural land management.
“Touchpoints” in the application file
Passionate about mathematics, this student achieved several feats, including obtaining the best score in the entrance exam for the specialized mathematics program at the Hanoi-Amsterdam high school for gifted students, winning a bronze medal in the National Mathematics Olympiads for high school and high school students in 2024 and by winning second prize in the municipal mathematics competition for gifted students…
“It also allows me to lay the foundation for realizing my dream,†Lam said.
Additionally, Lam conducted research on matrix methods for recursive sequences, extending the use of matrices to analyze and prove the properties of familiar sequences such as Fibonacci or Pell.
“This research showed me that the beauty of mathematics lies not only in the solutions, but also in the way algebraic structures help us grasp the deeper essence of arithmetic rules. Additionally, I honed my ability to move from initial mathematical intuition to rigorous demonstration and laid the foundation for my future work in areas such as optimization and artificial intelligence,” Lam said.
Lam hopes to use mathematics and artificial intelligence to support his country’s farmers. (Photo: Provided by interviewee)
In his personal essay, Lam explores two seemingly opposing perspectives: on the one hand, the logical thinking of mathematics, models and data, and on the other hand, practical experiences where people “feel” the territory through experience and intuition.
“Knowledge has true meaning only when we listen to life,” wrote Lam. For her, an ideal solution is not only technically correct, but must also affect the people facing the problem.
It is this coherence and depth that allowed Lam’s candidacy to be accepted by American universities. Based on his experience, Lam believes that students should not ask themselves “what do top universities need?” but rather start with what they are passionate about and care about.
Over the next four years, Lam aims to position himself at the intersection of artificial intelligence, applied mathematics, optimization and soil science. In the long term, he hopes to return to Vietnam or collaborate internationally to contribute to the resolution of problems linked to territorial planning.
“My ultimate goal is to help make crops in Vietnam, especially in regions like Ha Tinh, less dependent on the vagaries of nature,” said the student.
Source : https://vietnamnet.vn/do-2-dai-hoc-top-cua-my-nam-sinh-ap-u-giup-nong-dan-thang-thoi-tiet-2503868.html
