Vietnamese student wins $320K Dartmouth scholarship with essay on perfecting affordable steak

A student from Ho Chi Minh City has been awarded a prestigious US$320,000 scholarship to Dartmouth College, a member of the Ivy League, for his essay on tenderizing affordable steak, which he used to reflect on overcoming challenges through a shift in perspective.

Nguyen Bentley Minh Nhat, a 12th-grade student at Vinschool The Harmony, received his admission to Dartmouth’s Film & Media Studies Department and Business School on December 14. Dartmouth is ranked 15th in the U.S. this year by US News & World Report. The scholarship significantly reduces Bentley’s family’s annual contribution to only $11,000.

Bentley described his excitement upon receiving the acceptance letter: “When I saw the word 'Congratulations,' I stopped reading because I knew I got in,” he recalled. He immediately shared the news with his grandmother and father and later called his best friend, who had also been accepted to an Ivy League school. "We congratulated each other, saying, 'We did it,’” Bentley said.

The admissions director commended Bentley’s creativity and determination, praising his application and achievements. A unique aspect of Bentley's application was his main essay, which began with a vivid depiction of his attempts to tenderize affordable flank steak. He experimented with techniques like pounding the meat, using baking soda, and marinating it in pineapple juice, but the steak remained tough. His father showed him a simple but effective method: slicing the steak 90 degrees against the grain, which resulted in a tender cut.

This experience imparted a valuable life lesson for Bentley: overcoming challenges often requires a change in perspective. Bentley applied this lesson to his experience caring for his 90-year-old great-grandfather, a task that initially overwhelmed him. By spending more time conversing with his great-grandfather, Bentley learned about his life as a wartime medic and his joy in simpler moments, which transformed his approach to caregiving into something meaningful.

Bentley was born in Canada but moved to Vietnam with his parents in first grade. After spending much of his childhood commuting between the two countries, he settled in Vietnam in sixth grade. While his family thrived in the restaurant business, the Covid-19 pandemic severely impacted their income, motivating Bentley to aim for a top scholarship.

"I gave up time with friends, gaming, and filmmaking to concentrate on studying," Bentley said. "Knowing my family couldn't cover the full costs, I had to aim for the highest scholarship possible." His hard work paid off as he earned 4 A grades in the Cambridge International AS-level program and scored 1530 out of 1600 on the SAT.

Despite his rigorous academic focus, Bentley also pursued his passion for filmmaking. Inspired by films like Inception, he taught himself to shoot, write, and edit films, using an iPad to create award-winning short films that have gained recognition in both domestic and international competitions.

One of Bentley's supplemental essays for Dartmouth shared his desire to authentically portray Vietnamese folklore in film. He expressed concern that modern adaptations of traditional stories often lose their educational and cultural value, citing a recent adaptation of the folk tale Tam Cam, which turned it into a ghost story. “I want to create films about Vietnamese folklore and portray them as authentically as possible,” Bentley stated.

During his Dartmouth interview, Bentley discussed his filmmaking journey and vision for the future, leading the interviewer to comment, “I really like you. You have the qualities of a Dartmouth student.”

Bentley’s communications teacher, Vi David Nguyen, who wrote his recommendation letter, praised his self-motivation and talent. “I know Dartmouth’s prestige, but I also know Bentley. He balances his passion for the arts with academic excellence,” Nguyen said.

In August of next year, Bentley will begin his studies at Dartmouth. After graduation, he plans to pursue both business and filmmaking in the U.S. Reflecting on his journey, Bentley said, "Now that I’ve reached my goal of getting into college and securing a scholarship, I can finally spend more time with friends and continue working on my favorite film projects."