On the morning of July 1, candidates taking the 2026 High School Graduation Examination will receive their exam results. This is a necessary and sufficient condition for them to move on to the next important stage: university admissions in 2026.

Admissions officers from Dong Nai Technology University in Trang Dai Ward advise candidates and their families who come to submit admission applications based on academic transcripts. Photo: Cong Nghia

According to the Ministry of Education and Training’s schedule for university admission registration in 2026, candidates will officially register, adjust, and add admission preferences online through the ministry’s centralized system from July 2 until 5:00 p.m. on July 14.

Careful Preparation Before Registering Preferences

According to university admissions experts, before the official registration date, candidates should spend time reviewing and completing all supporting information related to their admission methods. For example, candidates using international language certificates, competency assessment test scores, and other certificates for admission should check whether their data has been updated accurately and completely. Once the prescribed deadline passes, candidates will no longer have the opportunity to add information, as the system will be closed for the official admission process.

Dr. Nguyen Manh Hung, senior specialist at the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education and Training, noted that candidates need to carefully check important information fields on the system, including full name, date of birth, priority region, priority category, academic results, and other admission-related data. Candidates will use the accounts issued when registering for the High School Graduation Examination to manage their information on the system. In addition, they should pay close attention to protecting their personal login account information to prevent unauthorized interference or changes to registered data.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Van Trung, Head of Admissions and Public Relations at Lac Hong University, advised that each candidate should clearly identify their preferred major, university, and top priorities before beginning the admission registration process. Candidates should find out which admission methods are applied by the major and university they are interested in. In reality, some universities apply almost all admission methods, while many others use only certain methods.

Equally important is comparing personal scores with the admission benchmark scores of the desired university to assess admission prospects. Candidates can research the benchmark scores of their preferred majors and universities in recent years as a reference. If their scores are equal to or higher than previous years’ benchmarks, they can confidently register. However, if their scores are one to two points lower, they need to calculate and consider their options carefully.

Nguyen Hai Anh, a student at Tran Bien High School, shared: “I have developed a very clear plan for the day of registering my university admission preferences. First, I will prioritize my first preference for the major I like and that suits me, then choose the university where I have the highest chance of admission. In addition to my first preference, I have also carefully researched my second, third, and fourth preferences as backup options to increase my chances of admission.”

Maximizing Admission Opportunities

Dr. Nguyen Trong Trung, Vice Rector of Mien Dong University of Technology in Dong Nai City, reminded candidates that in previous admission seasons, candidates were not limited in the number of preferences. However, in the 2026 admission season, each candidate may register a maximum of 15 preferences. Although there is a limit, 15 preferences is still a significant number. To use these preferences effectively, candidates should place their most preferred major and university as the highest-priority preference, as the system will process preferences in order starting from the first.

When arranging preferences on the centralized admission system, candidates need a clear strategy and should divide their choices into three core groups: safe options, target options, and dream options. In addition, they should not select too few preferences, but should register a suitable number. At the same time, they should avoid choosing too many preferences to prevent spreading themselves too thin. Finally, to increase their chances of admission, candidates should avoid placing all preferences in only one university and should distribute them across groups of universities with different benchmark score levels.

Master Phung Quan, admissions expert at the University of Science under Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, shared that candidates must clearly distinguish between the name of a major and the actual training content, because some majors may sound similar but have completely different curricula and expected learning outcomes. Instead of only asking which major is easier to get into, candidates should ask themselves which major is most suitable for them. Choosing the right major is more important than choosing the right university.

According to experts’ experience, the common mindset among students standing at the threshold of university is often to prioritize being admitted to university over being admitted to a major they truly like and that genuinely suits them. In particular, candidates need to avoid following crowd psychology when registering for admission. Choosing a major or university simply because many friends are applying, while lacking personal strengths or genuine passion for it, is a common mistake.

Following the crowd without self-direction can lead to consequences that derail future career pathways. In reality, many students, after being admitted and studying at university for a period of time, become discouraged when they realize the program is not suitable for them. At that point, learners have limited options: either continue studying under pressure or drop out midway and start over, resulting in significant waste of time and financial resources.

Key Dates Candidates Need to Remember During the University Admission Season

At 8:00 a.m. on July 1, the Ministry of Education and Training will announce the results of the High School Graduation Examination.

No later than July 3, Departments of Education and Training will complete the recognition of high school graduation for 2026.

From July 2 to 5:00 p.m. on July 14, candidates will register, adjust, and add admission preferences on the Ministry of Education and Training’s centralized system.

From July 15 to 5:00 p.m. on July 21, candidates will pay the admission application fee online according to the Ministry of Education and Training’s instructions.

Before 5:00 p.m. on August 13, universities will announce admission benchmark scores and the list of candidates admitted in the first round.

 

Công Nghĩa

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/