Author and MHS alumna, Ivy Pham, visited the school library on Oct. 22 to give advice to aspiring students on how to get into their dream colleges. She and her younger brother, Alan Pham, co-authored the book, “Get Into Your Dream College,” to share their insights about college admissions in a comprehensive manner, Pham said.
Pham was accepted into universities, including Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, and MIT, after graduating from MHS in 2014. She went to Harvard for college, then worked in the tech industry, and is currently studying at the UC Davis School of Medicine.
“You don’t have to be perfect to be able to get into your dream school,” Pham said. “You just need to be persistent and hard-working and kind.”
97 students attended the event, all of whom received a copy of her book, College and Career Center Specialist Alcina Rosas said in an email.
During the event, Pham explained college admissions processes and strategies for writing strong essays. The students, ranging from freshmen to seniors, guessed answers to true or false questions related to common college application myths. Afterward, students had the opportunity to ask questions and get their books signed.
Senior Avik Jain, who plans to pursue a career in finance or business, attended the event to hear about tips and tricks he could implement in his college application, he said.
Through Pham’s presentation, Jain received insight on “how to write my essay properly and how to show myself in my essay,” he said.
Freshman Jessica Trang attended the event because she was unsure of what steps she should take to get into her dream college, she said.
“It really stood out to me that she took time out of her day to come to her old high school and help out other children — to help them with their futures,” Trang said.
For younger students and those who feel a little bit lost, the key is pinpointing a few things that you are passionate about — after exploring the multitude of possibilities — and showing that in a genuine way, Pham said.
“A lot of students might just do things for the resume, and it kind of shows; admissions officers can tell,” Pham said. “If you do things that really come from the heart, I think it will touch admissions officers a lot more.”
From extracurriculars to AP classes, balancing commitments during high school was a challenge for her, Pham said. Students often work hard to accomplish their goals, but in the process, neglect to take care of themselves, she added.
“I think it’s important to take care of both your mental and physical health,” Pham said. “Keeping your body healthy will keep your mind healthy and will fuel you to be able to achieve your goals.”
Furthermore, as artificial intelligence has become prevalent in recent years, some students are using it in their essays for school and college. As someone who worked on products and research in the field of AI, Pham understands the power and usefulness of it, but believes that your work should be your own, she said. Admissions officers can tell if students have used AI, she added.
“Think of AI more as an assistant, not a replacement,” Pham said.
While things have changed since she was in high school, visiting MHS brought back many fond memories; she would not be where she is today if it were not for the teachers and mentors who had guided her to this point, Pham said.
“I remember being in your shoes a while back, and I never thought that I’d get into my dream schools,” Pham said. “But, I think that anybody can be able to do it.”
