 |
| Hue students studying abroad receiving their degrees in America |
Exciting stories of studying abroad
Studying abroad is not only for students in the city, but students in rural areas also explore suitable markets that match their budget and abilities to embark on a journey to the West. My friend said that in the past, she yearned to study abroad just to research and explore advanced technology. But for my child, the purpose of studying abroad is slighter, mainly to experience, learn about, and discover a new culture. Regardless of the purpose, all are legitimate and need to be respected and encouraged, and she smiled when talking about this.
The study abroad market in Hue becomes lively when many parents 'hunt for scholarships' or spend money on their children's study abroad. For talented students, full scholarships or scholarships from 30% to 60% can be found. Of course, the better the school, the harder its entrance is, and the higher the tuition would be. The more developed the country is, the more expensive the cost of studying and living becomes. Even the study abroad market in the countries is no longer as selective as before. In America, in addition to prestigious schools, there are still dual-degree programs, namely, students can study both college and high school programs at the same time. Or some schools in Singapore allow students to study without a high school diploma...
I'm not surprised when Mr. Nguyen Phu Tho, principal of Quoc Hoc High School for the Gifted in Hue informed that about 50 students go abroad to study each year. Even prestigious high schools worldwide in Japan, America, Canada, and European countries are coming to Quoc Hoc High School to recruit excellent students. Students can receive full scholarships up to billions of VND. Of course, not only having an IELTS 7.0 degree, academic results above 8.5, and participating in extracurricular activities but the students also have to demonstrate their skills and spirit in the interviews.
 |
| Students from Hue receiving diplomas in Australia |
Ho Xuan Thao Nguyen, a former student of Quoc Hoc High School for the Gifted, said that at the end of the 11th grade, she started her plan to study abroad with only 5 months to prepare her application. She submitted 11 applications to universities in the United States and received invitations from 9 schools with relatively high scholarships. After consideration, Thao Nguyen chose Dickinson College and received a scholarship worth over 4.3 billion of VND for 4 years of study.
Evidence that parents tend to let their children 'go and see the world' is that Vietnam is ranked 8th in the world for studying abroad. The attractive study markets for Vietnamese students include Japan, America, Australia, Canada, South Korea... The 'pocket' secret of many parents is that to study abroad, besides being good at studying, one must also have financial resources. Because even if the child receives a full scholarship, the living expenses still have to be taken care of.
"Every semester, my child only receives a scholarship of about 20 - 25%. This amount only supports a part, so to study abroad, you must have money, then choose a major and a country to study," said Mrs. Tran Ngoc Lan, a parent in Hue whose child is studying in America.
Changing for adaptation
Being bewildered when setting foot in a foreign land for the first time, difficulties in communication, cultural differences, language disparities, new teaching and learning methods... are what most overseas students encounter.
Nguyen Bao Anh, a student studying in America, said: I just turned 15 and I am currently studying in America. The new school I attend is located in the city of Milton, Massachusetts, on the Northeast of America. Every day I go to school from Monday to Friday, of course, there is no extra study beside regular class hours. Most of the school's regulations are based on the self-consciousness of the students. There won't be many reminders because each student must know clearly what they are not allowed to do, allowed to do, and should do.
Of course, studying abroad is not always a success. There have been many debates about what age children should study abroad. Studying abroad early is still a double-edged sword. If you know how to take advantage of the opportunity, students will be accepted into a good educational environment, developing thinking and creativity. But if there is not careful preparation, they may encounter many problems leading to inability to adapt, depression, and having to return home in the middle of the journey.
More important than age, students who want to study abroad need to understand the cultures of the country they are coming to study, respect and accept new values to be able to fit in... Self-reliance is the basic foundation, the key for overseas students to open the door to integration in a new environment, and to leverage their own abilities. Students must be prepared, cultivate self-reliance, study skills, and integration skills, shared by Mrs. Ngoc Lan.