INSTITUTE OF

I N T E R N AT I O N A L
E D U C AT I O N
Tung Shing Square, Suite 505
2 Ngo Quyen, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (84-4) 935-0412
Fax: (84-4) 935-0418
E-mail: iiehn@iicvn.org
Website: www.iievn.org

Dear Admissions Officer,

I am writing this letter on behalf of a Vietnamese student who is currently applying

for a place at your school. I wish to clarify the issue of grade point averages, which
has been an ongoing problem for a number of students here applying to colleges
and universities in the United States.

The Vietnamese system is based on a 1-10. point scale, along the same lines as
the US 1.0-4.0. Usually when an American institution asks for a GPA calculated on
the 4 point scale, the student will be expected to do a direct mathematical
conversion, so 10 becomes 4.0, 7.5 becomes 3.0, etc. This makes sense from a
practical standpoint. In reality, however, it is completely inaccurate.

In the Vietnamese system a ten is near impossible; it is the un-attainable asymptote

that all students strive for, but is never handed out by professors with any regularity.
In contrast, a 4.0 in a US classroom is fairly commonplace, and even someone with
a 4.0 GPA overall. A student with a 10 GPA in Vietnam is extremely rare. According
to the Research Center for Vocational, Technical and Higher Education under the
Vietnamese Ministry of education, someone with a 7.5 GPA will probably be in the
top 2% of their class.

I advise American Colleges and Universities to pay more attention to class rank
and other skills reflected in the application process.

Please be advised also that the practice of most Vietnamese institutions is not to
provide official transcripts to other universities on behalf of their students. Students
must request signed and stamped transcripts from the institution, and then have
them translated and certified correct at a government office.

Best Regards,

Hoa P. Tran
Educational Advisor
Institute of International Education
Hanoi, Vietnam
Email: advisor@iievn.org

OPENING MINDS TO THE WORLD