Choose your study abroad school carefully, and avoid sending too many applications.

Ms. Minh Chau (far right) with some Vietnamese students studying in Germany. Photo: MC

To put it simply, choosing a field of study abroad is similar to selecting your university application preferences. Should you choose a field you love or one with more job opportunities? Should you choose a field that has already been accepted even if it's not your forte, or should you wait for a field that truly aligns with your passion?

Nguyen Thi Minh Tam, currently in her final year studying Information Technology at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Germany), was previously a chemistry student at the University of Technology (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City).

From the moment she entered university, Tam wanted to pursue her studies abroad because she longed for a better learning environment. During her more than two years at the Polytechnic University, Tam studied, researched, and applied to universities in many countries, and also approached government scholarships in Japan, South Korea, Finland, Australia, and other countries... before finally being accepted into the Information Technology program.

Tam said, "Studying IT was a trade-off from my passion for chemistry, so sometimes I feel regretful." Generally, some young people with a strong desire to study abroad, like Tam, believe that studying overseas means access to an advanced education system with many opportunities for development, or at least a better system than in their home country. Therefore, they are willing to accept studying a different field to pursue their studies abroad.

As the only Vietnamese person to receive a full scholarship from the German government for a master's degree in 2012, Bui Thi Minh Chau believes that young people should prioritize their field of study when choosing a study destination because it is directly related to their passions, strengths, and long-term career development aspirations.

Clearly defining your field of study will reduce the need to "scatter" applications to many schools, instead allowing you to focus your efforts on researching and securing scholarships for a select few.

Chau advises those intending to apply for scholarships not to "scatter" applications in an attempt to increase their chances, only to find that all their applications are "bland" and fail to convince the universities why they deserve their scholarships.

Instead, invest time in researching specific scholarships and focus on your Letter of Motivation and Letters of Recommendation for the best results.