[2] While residing in the United States on her college career, she helped the California Golden Bears set a new world record (1:49.23) and capture the 4×50 m medley title at the 2000 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships.

Minpraphal is among the Asian swimmers, along with Joscelin Yeo of Singapore and Akiko Thomson of the Philippines, to train for the Bears under women's head coach Teri McKeever.

[8] Shortly after her first Games, Minpraphal accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, and train for Gregg Troy for the Sharks Swim Club.

[12][14][15] At the 2000 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, during her senior year, Minpraphal shared a 200-yard medley title with Joscelin Yeo, Haley Cope, and Staciana Stitts in a short-course world record of 1:49.23.

[25] She challenged seven other swimmers in heat three, including Ukraine's 17-year-old Mariya Ohurtsova, two-time Olympians Lee Bo-eun of South Korea and Eydis Konráðsdóttir of Iceland.