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The 10-year journey of an 18-year-old figure skater in Vietnam, from her first moments balancing on thin blades to winning nine national gold medals, has helped her gain acceptance into some of the most prestigious universities in the U.S.
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Nguyen Linh Chi during a skating competition. Photo courtesy of Nguyen Linh Chi |
Nguyen Linh Chi, a 12th-grade student in Hanoi, is a national figure skating champion with a decade of competitive experience. Last month, Chi received acceptance letters from several elite American institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and New York University (NYU).
According to U.S. News, UCB is the best public university in the U.S., while NYC ranks 32nd on the list of best universities overall, and is the top two for studying finance.
"New York University is the one I've been hoping for the most, so when I received the acceptance letter, I was relieved," Chi said.
Chi’s passion for the ice began at age eight after she watched a performance at a local shopping mall. What started as curiosity evolved into a professional path, facing numerous difficulties and injuries.
Because figure skating was relatively new in Vietnam, Chi faced limited training facilities and a lack of specialized coaches.
To compete at a world-class level, she and her family sought out training camps in Japan, Australia and Thailand. During her time in Vietnam, she maintained her progress through online training with international coaches.
In her early years, Chi suffered constant falls and bruises while mastering the balance required for elite-level spins and jumps.
Over the past 10 years, Chi has won eight gold medals at national figure skating championships. In 2022, she and her brother Quang Minh were among the five representatives from Vietnam at the 2022 World Junior Figure Skating Championships in the Czech Republic, and were also the only pair from Southeast Asia to compete in the mixed doubles event.
In 2023, she received the title of grandmaster from the Skating Federation of Vietnam.
Outside the rink, Chi is a multi-talented artist who has pursued contemporary dance, ballet, and painting. These diverse experiences formed the core of her college application. In her essay, she reflected on how the discipline of the arts helped her develop the emotional intelligence and communication skills vital for the hospitality industry.
"I enjoy working with people and creating positive experiences for them. Art helps me understand emotions, and this field helps me translate that into work," Chi added.
To further bolster her credentials, Chi completed an internship in the human resources department of a five-star hotel in Hanoi. Every day, after school, Chi worked until late afternoon, observing operations and management. This experience helped her better understand her chosen field and became a valuable practical highlight on her resume.
At school, Chi maintained a GPA above 9 out of 10, and an IELTS score of 7.5. She also participated in research on student mental health and worked with the school's counseling center.
Chi's teacher in three years of high school also noted that her ability to balance competition with a demanding school schedule set her apart. Whenever Chi traveled for sports, she proactively worked with tutors and teachers to ensure she never fell behind her peers.
In August, Chi will move to New York to begin her university years. She views this as an opportunity to continue developing her professional career and figure skating journey.
For Chi, the ice is not just a past chapter of her life, but a unique strength she intends to carry with her into the future.
"I don't see figure skating as a past chapter, but something that will accompany me in the long run. No matter what I study, I want it to be my unique strength," Chi said.
