Vnexpress Newspaper - Former Polytechnic student switches to studying medicine after 5 years as department head.

Son, originally from Hanoi, has just completed his first semester of the Medical program at Dai Nam University with a GPA of 8.9/10, the highest among nearly 240 students in his cohort. As the oldest student in the class, Son never expected to achieve such a result.

"It had been so long since I'd been to a lecture hall, and studying a completely different field from what I'd been studying before, that I was facing quite a few difficulties," Sơn said.

Previously, Son graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Hanoi University of Technology. At the time he decided to study Medicine, he was the head of sales at a private company in the education and training sector, and felt his income was "more than enough" to support his wife and one-year-old son.

In 2017, Son applied to Hanoi University of Science and Technology hoping to become an Information Technology engineer. He didn't get enough points to get in, so he switched to his second choice – Business Administration. Son studied without much interest or passion, and even considered giving up and retaking the entrance exam, but his family persuaded him to stay.

Feeling disconnected from his field of study, Son started working part-time from his first year. In 2018, he began working at his current company, starting as a collaborator, then becoming an employee, and finally a sales manager after three years. His main responsibilities include finding partners and clients for English language courses, and supporting the training of new collaborators and employees.

Son recounted that at the time, his income was sufficient to cover tuition and living expenses, with some savings left over. Two years ago, Son got married and opened an online chicken rice shop. Revenue was stable, but he found it exhausting, requiring the whole family to work together. Therefore, Son closed the shop after two months, focusing on his job at the company, while his wife took maternity leave.

But Son always felt unhappy. As a top student in Chemistry in high school, Son wanted to study and work in a field that would allow him to continuously improve and develop even in old age. He also hoped to take good care of his family and loved ones.

"Medicine fulfills all my wishes," Son said.

When Sơn shared his concerns with his family, his parents told him to think carefully because he was still young, and the financial and time pressures would be immense, especially since the medical field is a 6-year program with a lot of difficult and demanding knowledge.

Considering his finances and abilities, and with his wife's support, Son felt he had what it took to pursue his studies. Knowing that Dai Nam University was accepting applications for its medical program based on academic transcripts, Son applied and was accepted.

The early days were very stressful. Son almost had to retake subjects like Physics - Biophysics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Genetics, and even General Law.

Besides classroom learning, Son also self-studied extensively through YouTube and online lectures. His advantage over his classmates was his early access to AI and his strong skills in using it. Therefore, Son often relied on AI to synthesize knowledge and then test his understanding. He believes that his years at the Polytechnic University, as well as his experience as a department head, helped him learn quickly, focus, and handle significant pressure.

After more than a month, Son caught up with his classmates and by the end of the first semester was able to support them in his role as class deputy for academics, especially in the subjects of Computer Skills and AI usage.

Representatives from Dai Nam University stated that it is rare for older students, who already have university degrees in other fields and hold positions of authority, to return to study medicine, because it is a specialized field with a large volume of knowledge and a long training period.

"Son is very capable, has great determination and clear motivation for learning, and is serious about pursuing his career passion," the school assessed.

With the second semester beginning, Son faced even more difficulties as he began studying Anatomy, Histology, and Pathological Anatomy – subjects with a large amount of knowledge that required constant review and revision.

"Just like in Anatomy class, the concepts of bones like the fibula, sphenoid bone, clavicle, and cochlea made me dizzy because they were all new to me," Son recounted.

Meanwhile, Son still had to dedicate 3-4 evenings a week, when he had time off from school, to maintaining his work at the company, sleeping only a few hours each day.

"My goal is to study as well as possible, achieve a distinction or higher, and pass the National Medical Council's exam," Son said. From January 1, 2027, this will be a requirement for doctors to be licensed to practice after graduation, according to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment.