Nearly 20.000 USD Scholarship for a Master's Degree in Dentistry at the University of Glasgow

• Awarded a Master's scholarship worth nearly 20.000 USD for the MSc in Oral Sciences at the University of Glasgow, ranked among the Top 7 medical schools in the UK and Top 78 universities worldwide.
• Received an offer of admission to Queen Mary University of London, ranked among the Top 17 universities in the UK, and ultimately chose to pursue her studies there.

THE JOURNEY

As a Dentistry student at Duy Tan University in Da Nang, Bao Ngan did not have an outstanding GPA and had previously missed the opportunity to study abroad for her bachelor's degree due to administrative and procedural obstacles. Over time, she gradually lost confidence in her competitiveness as an applicant. Despite accumulating three years of clinical training while still a student and one year of professional experience after graduation, she believed she was only suited for "safe" options rather than top universities in the United Kingdom.

However, her dream of studying abroad never disappeared.

Although she had not yet accumulated enough time to obtain a professional dental license and was specifically seeking one-year master's programs, Bao Ngan decided to submit applications as soon as the opportunity arose.

These constraints significantly limited the number of suitable programs available to her. After conducting extensive research on programs across the UK, Australia, and the United States, The Writeria team identified only two UK programs that simultaneously matched her academic goals and did not require a professional license in Vietnam.

Once the application process began, Bao Ngan experienced remarkable growth after only a few months of working with mentor Dr. Ly Nguyen—roughly one-third of the timeline typically required for applicants pursuing similar goals.

From an applicant who lacked confidence and struggled to present herself effectively through her essays and CV, she gradually learned to identify her strengths, define her professional perspective, and develop a strategic application profile tailored to her goals.

Beyond editing essays, Dr. Ly helped Bao Ngan uncover her unique strengths, refine her professional narrative, and build a thoughtful, highly personalized application package for each university.

As a result, Bao Ngan received offers from both of her top-choice programs, including a scholarship from the University of Glasgow. From someone who initially hoped only to be considered, she successfully earned admission to prestigious UK universities in a highly competitive field known for its rigorous admissions standards.

THE PERSONAL STATEMENT: THE KEY TO SUCCESS

A Motivation Rooted in Family

At the very beginning of her personal statement, Bao Ngan shared a deeply personal story about watching her grandfather endure a prolonged treatment process due to limited access to quality dental care.

This experience became the driving force behind her decision to pursue dentistry and her aspiration to provide better care for future patients.

Not Just Treating Disease, but Caring for People

Rather than focusing solely on technical expertise, Bao Ngan presented herself as a dentist who listens to and understands her patients.

One of the most compelling stories in her application involved a patient who experienced severe anxiety and a spike in blood pressure immediately before a tooth extraction. Instead of proceeding with the procedure, Bao Ngan took the time to comfort and reassure the patient until they felt calm again.

Afterward, the patient returned to thank her and shared that previous dental experiences had left them fearful, but their experience with Bao Ngan had been different.

This encounter not only deepened her understanding of patient psychology but also broadened her perspective on healthcare quality. It reinforced her belief that truly comprehensive healthcare must address not only physical conditions but also patients' mental and emotional well-being, as these factors directly influence both treatment experiences and outcomes.

A Commitment to Continuous Learning and Growth

Rather than portraying herself as perfect, Bao Ngan demonstrated growth through experience.

As she reflected in her essay:

"The first time I sutured a wound for a patient, it took me approximately 25 minutes to complete the procedure. Today, thanks to experience and improved technique, I can complete the same task in about 10 minutes."

Integrating Extracurricular Activities with Purpose

Under the guidance of Dr. Ly Nguyen, Bao Ngan skillfully incorporated her dental volunteer work into her personal statement to highlight her desire to create meaningful impact through her profession.

Instead of simply listing volunteer activities or charitable events, she emphasized her leadership role in organizing a volunteer dental outreach program in Bha Le village alongside fellow students.

During the program, she personally participated in oral hygiene education, tooth extractions, and dental care services for local children.

By applying her professional knowledge to serve the community, this experience became a meaningful and memorable highlight of her application.

Conclusion

What universities saw in Bao Ngan was not a perfect applicant.

They saw a young dentist with a clear sense of purpose, genuine clinical experience, empathy for patients, and a well-defined professional vision.

Remember: universities are not necessarily looking for the most accomplished candidate.

They are looking for individuals with the greatest potential to grow.

MEET THE MENTOR: DR. LY NGUYEN

Supporting Bao Ngan throughout her application journey was Dr. Ly Nguyen, a biomedical scientist with extensive research experience and a proven track record of helping students gain admission to some of the world's most prestigious academic programs.

Highlights

• Full scholarship recipient for a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at Johns Hopkins University.
• Valedictorian graduate in Biology from UCLA.
• Author of seven Q1 international scientific publications.
• Received Ph.D. interview invitations and admission offers from leading institutions including MIT, UCLA, UCSD, and Cornell University.
• More than 12 years of research experience in cell biology, molecular biology, and cancer research.
• Currently a Scientist at Intellia Therapeutics in the United States.

Dr. Ly's deep understanding of international admissions processes and extensive research background enabled Bao Ngan to develop a highly compelling application portfolio that showcased her strengths, demonstrated her potential, and ultimately helped her secure admission to prestigious master's programs in the United Kingdom.