<p>Nigeria's hunger for material things is just TOO frightening. Things do not have to be cut-throat all the time. Have you every wondered why our charities hardly ever make an impact on the lives of the people?</p>
<p>I agree. It is really amazing how Nigerians are materialistic. I think it's because of the level of suffering. Let me lay down a scenerio. A man that never had anything in life sees someone that is rich and prosperous. This poor man aspires to be wealthy not mainly because he is suffering, but because he wants to impress others with his richness and be called an "oga". The truth is that many Nigerians abroad (especially in Europe), earn little but love to live like big individuals. My cousin has a friend that thinks this way. All he wants is to get money and oppress others. That sense of materialism is what is also affecting leaders in Nigeria. Senator A wants to have more cars than Senator B and the fight over money like kids fighting over chocolate. How can we change these attitudes?</p>
<p>Switch, it would be nice to have some physics oriented discussions and possibly other thought provoking ones too.</p>
<p>Current trends in Nigeria indicate that we have repeatedly failed to learn from, or have completely ignored history. How did Nigeria come to be? What was the land like 500 yrs ago? How did we emerge in the 20th century?</p>
<p>Many of us will realise that Nigeria was never a colony, save Lagos. The remainder of the land was declared a protectorate [namely north and south]. After amalgamation in 1914, and after Nigerians had been drafted to fight for the Allied forces [or the British] in the First World War as far as Burma[Myanmar], nationalism had already awakened in our hearts. Nigerians who were based in London began to lobby for independence. In 1960, a nation was born, though it must be said that the three parties that existed then were actually three different nations with different visions, however, they were willing and able to unite and forge ahead with a common Nigerian dream. Things were moving fine, Nigerians had a high standard of living and an excellent education. The future looked bright and everyone was optimistic.</p>
<p>The form of government we were running then was good: a regional system with a very weak center. However, we were not using our OWN constitution. We were under the Lyttleton constitution then. Of course we remember the visionary leaders we had. The quest for secession and the military takeover. The creation of states. The rule by decree. The oil boom, the fall of our industries, the reckless mismanagement of funds by the military govt, the FALL OF THE NAIRA....after all these, Nigeria lost it's highly respected position on the global stage.</p>
<p>At this point let me say that NIgeria is in reality MANY NATIONS. However, we can decide to work together if we want. WE can decide what form of government we want. Our destiny is in our hands. At present, the concept of "rule of law", "consitutional power" etc is non-existent. If the SUPREME COURT could so much as issue an order the PRESIDENT refused to obey, then for now, we are doomed. </p>
<p>Let me also say that for us to have a healthy economy, every region/state should be given complete autonomy over its resources. That will encourage healthy competition. The NIGER DELTA - we know the story - and we also know how Abuja is just a false representation of the real nigeria and also how each state is being spoon-fed by the FG. The FG can collect taxes on revenue, but not completely swallow resources whole. At the rate we are going, if oil becomes $2/barrel, the FG will collapse. Let us compete. Competition breeds creativity...there's no other way Nigeria will develop if everyone just depends on oil money and this oil exploration does not even improve our quality of living. It is only the FG and the companies that benefit. Ibadan, has no economy. Why? the state govt gets monthly allocation from the FG and uses that to pay its bills. NOthing left for development. All we do in IBadan is trade. But what is trade without production? Production is the lifeblood of trade.</p>
<p>I'm sure you will agree with me that the ONLY booming industry Nigeria can boast of today that is completely indigenous is the BANKING sector. Kudos to the CBN governor. However, other MINISTRIES are UNDER-performing and they should certainly be held responsible.</p>
<p>Ok, then you ask, since we know our problems why haven't we solved them or at least, tried to do so?</p>
<p>When you look at the developments some Nigerians have achieved despite the frighteningly inimical conditions in place, you wonder. why do we stifle economic and scientific advancement in this country? why can't you let those who want to move forward do so? </p>
<p>you would realise that this competitive ideology is what has America the leading nation. in the late 18th century Britain, cars were not allowed to go beyond 6km/hr; this hindered its development in Britain and America took the lead.</p>
<p>we need to be competitive. we all need to strive to become successful. why should the govt hinder us? even if they're busy sorting out how we should be governed, why should development be hindered? However, good governance is the precursor to economic development. i pray we don't get to war before we decide on how to rule ourselves. </p>
<p>apart from security, educ, electricity, etc, the Niger Delta is the our biggest issue, and unfortunately it hasn't been handled with. The decision to send the military into zone was a poorly-informed one and it will do nothing to ease the tensions. Obasanjo cannot continue to ignore the pressing national issues: constitutional reform, resource control, state autonomy, etc. Things will soon boil over. Why should Lagos not determine the no. of LGs it wants to have, nor have it's own exams? We should also know that the money obtained from illegal oil bunkering may even be used to sponsor terrorist attacks on the nation. What would happen to Nigeria if the Niger Delta seceded? Or what if Lagos just decides to yari one day and secede? Nigeria won't be doomed cos the people will still survive. But the FG will be. Right now, the FG is an impossible enterprise, an insolvent organisation. It's excesses must be curbed.</p>
<p>I don't think we've learnt anything from history, yet. We are doomed if don't. Our history is very important and every Nigerian should be proud of our history. We should learn it and be familiar with it, so we don't repeat the mistakes of the past. We also should learn the histories of other countries so we don't repeat their mistakes. Others have been through this stage.</p>
<p>Let's take a cue from the new developments taking place in Nigerian football. Anyone following that?</p>
<p>as long as Nigeria [and black africa in general] doesn't break past the stereotype of barbarity and backwardness, no matter how individually successful we become, we will never be taken seriously on the world stage. National well-being breeds personal pride. how can i be happy in America when my country lies in ruins.</p>
<p>in all seriousness and sincerity, we should have Nigeria's interests at heart. we should all think of working hard to make nigeria a better place for all nigerians, not just for ourselves. if had the best house in the nation and the best cars, i would never be comfortable as long as poverty was around me.</p>
<p>if nigeria doesn't change for the better in our time, at least, we'd have died fighting for this, and would have also laid a solid foundation for others to follow. Talk about leaving a legacy.</p>
<p>jrock.. ur posts were too long .. wld read dem later.. hehe ..but after graduation frm college and graduate school, I plan on going back to Nigeria but what am going to be doing there is what I do not know right now..
but in regards to the women that study here .. most of them stay here .. i have only come across a few that went back to Nigeria and lived there.. i guess ey got married here and decided to stay with their families and jobs too .. i dn't know about other nigerian women but i wld be pleased to marry a nigerian son ...hehe</p>
<p>thanks for your reply ukay. yeah i also discovered how long the post was when i posted, sorry, lol!</p>
<p>but of course, the "nigerian son" would prolly also be US-educated:D</p>
<p>glad you're coming home. but more importantly, you'll [and we all, too] be a global citizen. we can make IT happen in NIG!</p>
<p>Jrock, my sentiments exactly! (Can't say much more than that. So much information, so little time)</p>
<p>Osaetin, do you remember shadow cat from X-men? The gril that could walk through walls. Well, I've always had this idea: You know that the molecules of a solid are the slowest moving and merely vibrate about their mean positions. And, according to the kinetic theory of gases, at absolute zero, the kinetic energy of a gas falls to zero. Well, what if the same applied to solids and there was a temperature at which the molecules would come to a stand still? Step one complete!</p>
<p>In step two, we super-accelerate the molecules of the person. Now, I have not worked out all the bumps in that idea. However, I know that the person in question (wouldn't want it to be me. lol) would have to be atomized so that each atom could freely pass through the intermolecular spaces. I imagine that because computers are becoming more and more powerful, it would be possible for one to keep track of every atom. There would also have to be a way to reform the person and add electrons to him to compensate for any loss of electrons during molecular collision. As I said, I have not worked out all the bumps in the system. But, at the end, there you have it: a real life shadow cat.</p>
<p>I know: it sounds crazy but I believe that it would be practical in years to come. With the way science is going, nothing is impossible</p>
<p>WHOA!!! That's some idea you have there and I think I like it (really because I like X-men, lol). But thinking about it, logically, I think that for the molecules of the human body to stand still would definitely be a negative degree. With all the negative degrees I've thought of, the human being would already be dead (ice cold - maybe someone would be using him to chill pure water for sale when there's no light) before you can super-accelerate the molecules of that person. </p>
<p>You could still be able to super-accelerate the molecules of the person but by the time he's on the other side, he's as cold as my fish in my deep freezer. Since you used the example of X-men, I could use the example of Demolition Man to say that the individual can be brought back from sub-zero level (have you watched the movie?). But really, I like the idea of passing through walls (maybe I can become a mutant as well). It could also turn us to fleshy ghosts.</p>
<p>Osaetin when I said "hear about you" it was in reply to the Jrock's comment that you are future physicist.</p>
<p>Well Osaetin and switch you can add me as the third future physicist here. Unfortunately I am not nursing any grand ideas just yet. I am thinking on studying the String Theory. BTW I love the X-men(wolverine)</p>
<p>Jrock you are wealth of information. Good analysis. I totally agree we need to put effort to the other resources (whatever happened to the groundnut pyramids), and therefore reduce the pressure on the NigerDelta(maybe even make reserves and not overexpliot the oil-its going to finish some day), grant some state powers and increse autonomy. Very noble ideas indeed.
Sometimes I wonder if we had fought hard for out independence then maybe, just maybe we would have turned out better off.</p>
<p>After graduation i would stay for my Phd, hopefully that should take to long. Then I will go back for Youth Service, and then come back to the US to work till I can accumulate a resonable capital base then I shall return to Nigeria.</p>
<p>Just to add to the materialistic thing. Nigeria seems to be growing quite irregularly[anomalous expansion(of water..lol)]. By this I mean, we concern ourselves with having the best cars, the best homes(which if I may add are made of brick unlike the ones in the US and also paid in cash), and the most advanced cell phones(compared to the backward technology used here in the US), and even fashion.
What I am driving at is mainly this. We seem to champion the frivoulous entities of development. But it is one step at a time(we are going ahead of ourselves). When unlike Ghana and Cameroun that can boast of all day electricity supply, Nigeria in most places(namely Festac Lagos) prides in 1 or 2 hours a day. We have a sad reailway system(i bet a commute train in Lagos would greatly reduce the traffic problems), and poor road networks.
it is truly sad.
While some ppl are getting stinking wealthy some are seriously behind. Given it is not a socialist economy and not everyone can be equal, but the colossal differences in classes can not be ascribed to Social Darwinism.
or can it? share your thoughts.</p>
<p>gosh, i'm having so much time taking this all in....Osaetin and switch, you guys are so far ahead! unfortunately, i don't think my enthusiasm for science is that great. you know, the ultimate clash between science and faith....etc</p>
<p>Hey, Afrikaan, BULL's EYE!! you're so right about the fact that our gain of freedom on a platter of gold has made us so docile that we don't have any sense of national direction. just take a peek into how India won it's own independence - losing hundreds of thousands of lives...however, we were certainly not in bondage, all we wanted was self-autonomy - over our education, resources, economy, etc. there were capable hands, sure, but the best were not always in charge.</p>
<p>and Osaetin was quite right about the rest of the body being sick once the head is bad. widespread change can only begin at the bottom. but the head needs to DIRECT it. the values we have are so very different. Hear this:</p>
<p>[ul]
[<em>]We were in a rain or shine environment; so no problem of snow to force us to produce energy on a large scale.
[</em>]No sweat before we got our food. The continent was extremely rich in natural and agricultural resources, but only an infinitesimal amount was used.
[<em>]Little contact with much of the known world.
[</em>]Satisfied with a subsistence industry and economy to feed ourselves, and absolutely no desire to expand beyond maybe a few neighbouring tribes.
[li]And above all, unlike in the West, there was no thirst for the absolute domination of man over matter. Just take a look at what we were doing over the centuries...[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>So therein you see the fundamental differences in the African values. We have to make a decision. Do we want to remain where we are, or do we want to move forward? Everyone has dreams of a better life [created by the Industrial Revolutions in Britain and America]. Who doesn't want to drive cars, or have microwaves and washing machs in their kitchens and bathrooms?</p>
<p>Early African nationalists may have had visions, but they failed to see the government as a tool for national progress, rather, they used it as a tool for personal achievement and to achieve, in most cases, megalomaniac status. A large share of our politics is still tribalist or racialist [look at SA, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe...] Forget about other countries for now, but in Nigeria, we are yet to have a sense of nationalism. Why? Since govt has alienated itself from its people, plus its very poor human rights record, the absurd scale of avarice [as mentioned by Afrikaan], etc. This has left many Nigerians disillusioned. and few are proud to claim Nigeria. We'd rather describe ourselves based on our ethnic nationalities first...</p>
<p>Before I go on, let me just say a thing or two about Japan:
Many erroneously think that Japan became an industrialised nation in 50yrs after the 2nd World War. However, the thirst for change in Japan had been birthed since the last 2 decades of the 19th century. 250yrs earlier, the West had tried to penetrate, but Japan adopted an isolationist policy [same for China, etc]. However, they returned. China failed to deal decisively with this intrusion, and it was mercilessly carved into various Western spheres of influence, beginning with the Opium Wars, etc. Japan, on the other hand, which had a strong culture, a sense of national pride, etc, decided that the only way to survive was to become highly conversant with the Western ways, etc....Hence, they spent enormous amounts of money sending their citizens to receive the best of Western education, adopted the German system for their national army. And borrowed heavily from the French and English in formulating their educational, constitutional and economic policies. Huge amounts were spent importing Western books and translating them all into Japanese. By the last decade of the 19th century, Japan had already established a nationwide educational system [which today, is one of the best in world].
This was the only way Japan could survive and hence evolve as the sole imperial power in the East in the 20th century. Today, Japan's rich culture flourishes alongside it's science&tech, which is at the forefront, as well as an economy second in size only to the USA.</p>
<p>...We have to be decisive. If the govt will not inspire its followers, surely other civilians can rise up to the challenge.
Are we content with our hoe & cutlass farming?
Why don't we industrialise our local industries: gari, groundnut, oil, etc
Or are we okay selling g-nuts in bottles by the roadside, and buying gari that has been feasted upon by flies?</p>
<p>What is the key here? Friends, it is none other than: EDUCATION!
We have to pursue education aggressively. That is the only key to our national progress and survival.
Our curriculum needs urgent revision. We also have to focus on implementation. IF EVERY CHILD has to attend school from 6 - 18yrs, you will definitely see the different. NO ONE who has been exposed to the BETTER LIFE, either through books or travel, would want to continue it the way it currently is in Nigeria. Our universities are vast store-houses of knowledge. Yet what impact are they making on soceity?
Currently, Nigeria thrives on a CELEBRITY economy, and not until we shift to an ACADEMIC-oriented economy can we progress. People like Achebe [currently teaching at Bard] and Soyinka, should be lecturing in our unis...even if they don't, how many unis invite them as guest lecturers? What of Emeagwali, etc? Do we really value education? Does NIGERIA value academic excellence and merit? How could a 47-yr old soldier and a 16-yr old student achieve the same JAMB score? </p>
<p>Afrikaan, truly there is a great chasm between the rich and the poor in Nigeria. An unhealthy unequal distribution of wealth. Of course not, this cannot be attributed to Social Darwinism....in fact, SD doesn't exist in NIGERIA, as yet, largely only the BADDEST survive....the challenge now is to foster a highly competitive environment where only the best succeed. This accelerate development in our education, business, research, government, etc
and on a broader scale, SD is what contributed largely to the partial reality of the American Dream. Even then, the state has to wield some PATERNALISTIC INFLUENCE so as to safeguard the interests of its citizens....</p>
<p>Hey, Afrikaan, i'm with you. A huge capital base is needed to ensure financial security, since Nigeria is not in the business of funding people with sincere aims and objectives.</p>
<p>As regards CELLPHONES, yes, many Nigerians are insanely obsessed, especially considering the economic state of the Nation. However, I think the CDMA 1X tech predominantly used in the US is superior as it has a large bandwith suitable for fast downloads, etc. In Nigeria, the big players use GSM while others use CDMA a la Multilinks, etc....CDMA needs no SIM card, etc and is highly adaptable to other uses - Internet, Fixed Wireless...the two are developing side by side, i guess.</p>
<p>Regardless, Europe, where GSM was birthed, has switched to 3G - the 3rd generation of mobile phone tech. Here you might say CDMA-1X is old, but it can easily be upgraded just as Windows is releasing "Vista" later this year.
In Nigeria, Glo is the only 3G network [as far i as i know, before i left]. MTN is SA has also gone 3G.
But the fundamental difference btw 3G and CDMA makes CDMA more adaptable and fascinating, to me.</p>
<p>I'm not even abreast with the latest mobile phone developments. I'm sure it's gone haywire. The possibilities are endless. I don't even have a mobile phone! </p>
<p>The MAJOR cause of the decline of Nigeria's economy beginning the 70s was a combination of grossly erroneous scales of projection, lack of statistical info [e.g. population and demographics], no especial safeguard of the nascent indigenous industries, and a complete lack of foresight.</p>
<p>Honestly, if we don't consume what we don't produce, Nigeria would be a better country to live in. Capital consumption aside, we should aim for food security.
In 2000, under a controversial land reform programme, up to 2000 white farmers were violently dispossessed of their farmland. Some of them have now settled in Kwara State, where the govt gave them loans of $250,000 each to start afresh. They've transformed the agriculture of the state, but some are complaining, and likening the move to "neo-colonisation"....but I strongly disagree. Where were the rich people of Kwara before then? What did they do to help their own people radicalise their agriculture? how were the universities helping to develop agriculture in the state? Even where was the govt before then? But before I even begin to blame the govt, where were the people? </p>
<p>Friends, the solid truth is, despite the harsh conditions, if you're determined, you'll make it in Nigeria. Truth is, very few people have dreams. They are content with living life in the NOW. Food now, money now, no thought of tomorrow. How many are willing to go into debt to see a dream come true in the next 50 yrs that may even exceed their lifetimes? How many PARENTS are so desperate to educate their children? How many children are going to school because they want to make Nigeria a better place to live in? How many people work wholeheartedly? How many have long-term investment values?</p>
<p>These are some of the challenges we face as a people.</p>
<p>In fact we should question the things we see around us. How are the we helping to develop their communities? What are the founding principles of many of our businesses? Are they committed to meeting a need and offering VALUE to their customers? </p>
<p>It's time we reintroduced the idea of Values in a nation such as ours. Do we get VALUE for our money? VALUE for education? VALUE for our tax [though it's ostensibly called Value-added tax]? Do we get VALUE for our labor? VALUE for our opinions?</p>
<p>Let's think again...</p>
<p>like the champions of the century-long British Industrial Revolution [majority of whom were ordinary people], we should be more interested in MEETING AN IMMEDIATE NEED, SOLVING A PROBLEM, rather than looking out for MONETARY or MATERIAL GAIN.</p>
<p>anymore Nigerians out there going to study this fall in USA? please post where you're going.</p>
<p>back to the boasting of schools: ISI also produced a Dartmouth matriculant in the past 5yrs:D</p>
<p>Hi , I couldn't post because of college dilemma. My parents wanted me to go to either Georgetown or Cornell (Prestige factor) and leave schools I really like (Bowdoin and Middlebury). I have decided to enroll at Georgetown since I want to study economics and political science. Planning to be Nigeria's first incorruptible president. I was reading about Chinua Achebe's son who is a medical director and attended Bard,Dartmouth, Harvard and is currently attending Yale. Jrock, Okonjo-Iweala did not attend Nsukka. She graduated Magna cum Laude from Harvard and did her Phd at MIT. i MIGHT BE WRONG BUT THAT IS WHAT i READ IN THE nEWSPAPER. Jrock, The student in your school who is attending Dartmouth is her name Oyebola Olabisi. I saw a Nigerian student by that name on the International student Bulettin for Dartmouth. Switch congratulations on your acceptance to Amherst.If it came down to Amherst and Williams againt Yale and Harvard I would pick the former. Most people place too much emphasis on prestige. I know several people in Nigeria who attended schools like Middlebury, wesleyan and hold very important positions. I got rejected at Vassar but got waitlisted at Williams( Which is still my first choice school).</p>
<p>Congrats, sefago!! Georgetown is an amazing place. [King Abdullah of Jordan received his ugrad at Gtown and masters at Oxford. Btw, he's a very intelligent man. You shoulda heard him speak after the Jordan terrorist attacks of 2005] Yeah, and it's really solid in pol./econ.</p>
<p>hehe, i'll be in the presidential race before you:D but i'll first be the mayor of Ibadan! It's high time Nigeria's lawyers, philosophers and historians returned to the legislature, to sort out our consitutional crises once and for all.</p>
<p>yeah, that's the Dartmouth girl's name. you're right. about the Finance minister, you're not wrong, i've verified that here:
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1540043,00.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1540043,00.html</a>
yeah, you're right, she went to study Economics at Harvard at the age of 18, before going on to MIT. this is a very interesting article. it's strange CNN never mentions the fact that she went to H. Is MIT seen as more prestigious?</p>
<p>to prove what i said about nigerian women who study abroad, see:
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4939858.stm%5B/url%5D">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4939858.stm</a>
the Finance minister married her "childhood sweetheart" who now practices surgery in the US.</p>
<p>it's true that college is all about the experience and what you make of it, but in reality, prestige also has its own perks. Anyway, Amherst and Williams can compete favorably with HY, academically. And they are nearly as prestigious. even Wesleyan is prestigious to some degree...</p>
<p>seriously, Gtown is a hot place. except you don't really like it. Are you still on the waitlist at Williams? If taken off, will you still attend? if so that'd be cool, b/c i'm off to W-town too.</p>
<p>about Achebe's son, how did he end up attending 4 different colleges? is it that he has received 2 master's degrees and is on his way to achieve his third one?</p>
<p>switch, are you now down for Amherst? or did you get off the Princeton waitlist with aid?</p>
<p>Osaetin, I just noticed that I was not clear in my last post. I did not mean that you super cool the molecules of the human, I meant the wall that the human was attempting to pass through. This is my dream O! Don't kill it for me! (lol).</p>
<p>Sefago, I have a very similar problem to the one that you were facing. I love Amherst but since I am still on the Princeton wait-list, I have agonised on what to do and it's tearing me up. I know that if I go to Amherst, I'll really enjoy my time there (and probably learn better because it has fewer students) but at the same time, I am aware that outside the U.S., very few people know about how highly ranked Amherst is within the U.S. so, I really do not know what to do right now. I'm happy for you. At least you have finally made your choice (oh, happy day). The fact remains that Princeton has not even accepted me. So, I'm only worried about a theoretical problem...lol.</p>
<p>Jrock, I guess, I'll be going to Amherst discounting any drastic changes of fate and heart (and it must be both). I assume that you are still on course to go to Williams.</p>
<p>Afrikaan, I have some thoughts but I won't be able to post them now. Later!</p>
<p>Amherst is known to more people than you think. It's highly prestigious even outside the US. To many, it's wayyyyy up there. In fact, it's even better known than Williams, I tell you, in Nigeria at least. </p>
<p>There was this girl here that got into Princeton though she didn't know until a few days ago and they've just sent her another package. Gosh, it was so dramatic as she was already settling for Connecticut college. First time in my life i've seen a Princeton packet. Really classy, I tell you. They even send a book with it. it's sooo thick.</p>
<p>Out here, I've already met 1 princetonian, 1 columbian, 1 yalie, 1 brownie, 2 jeffs, 1 eph, several MoHos, and the list goes on and on...feel so honored!</p>
<p>Really, Amherst is like the Yale of LACs. Seriously, of all the ivies Pton stands out to me in a class of its own. I'd take Pton over all of them. But I guess I'd certainly choose Williams over all the other Ivies, but when it gets to Yale/Harvard, hehe, I'm not so sure...</p>
<p>Personally, I don't really like Amherst...first b/c of this 5-college consortium, of which 3 are women's colleges. small male population. Again, physics didn't offer much opportunity in terms of e.g. 3+2 which is offered at Williams. now i sometimes regret i didn't apply....but hey, if you like the place, you're in for a rollicking time. they're top in neuro....</p>
<p>btw, I know this guy who turned down UChic and Reed [was waitlisted at Harvard] for Amherst [full ride at all of them], a real brainiac [did 5 a-levs] and you know UChic and Harvard are academic equals. Amherst, like Williams, is really special and after grad, you're surely on your way to the top grad schools - Harv, MIT, Stanford, etc [Pton is not even top 10 grad, that's what makes it so special for ugrads. Nothing beats the experience]!</p>
<p>and there's no way we wouldn't bump into each during our four years in Mass. i've a friend at Moho [grad together], one at umass, amherst...and now 2 going to Amherst, and you know the kind of person i am....at least i'll be at amherst town once...we may even meet at a competition, or something of the sort, hehe.</p>
<p>even think about it: the name Amherst is inherently prestigious, i tell you. if you ask your teachers, i bet some will know Amherst, but few, if any, would ever have heard about williams....</p>
<p>talk about turning down schools, a friend of mine [nigerian, grad from same sch] turned down Penn for caltech [wlisted at Pton&Harv], another guy here turned down caltech for duke!!!</p>
<p>which colleges did you turn down for amherst? </p>
<p>about waitlisting, this is my frank opinion: when you get waitlisted at schools such as Harvard or Princeton, esp if you're intl, chances of getting off [and with aid] are EXTREMELY slim. In short, there's no hope. I think they only waitlist so that you know that yeah, "I was nearly good enough to get in", but since these schools are need blind, you're waitlisted not because of aid, so the story is all very different.</p>
<p>but what i don't understand is, if you like tell a school that you're coming and then you get off the waitlist from another, can you then turn down your previous choice?
and again, i take the matter of a school REALLY wanting you to attend very seriously. first, why was i waitlisted? they didn't think i was good enough? especially if there's an equally good school waiting in the offing...except you were w-listed at all your schools [like i've seen here] or that's your only hope [rejected at all the others]....</p>
<p>when i was deciding btw Will and Wes, extra dollars were involved, and I was really wondering if Will was worth the extra$$. i talked to several people, etc...Wes sent an email on the 21st saying I had to tell them my decision right NOW. and i made the decision that night, after an agonizing chat with the guy who was turning down Penn for Caltech that same night, [of course, after my parents had agreed to send me to williams if i wanted to go]...i emailed Wes and Will with a heavy heart, still wondering if i'd made the right choice. Williams, instantly responding, [Geraldine] was EXTREMELY delighted i was coming and wrote really enthusiastically....WashU even said Williams was lucky to have me and they were disappointed, etc, etc....ConnColl also said the same thing...but up till now, Wes hasn't even replied, even though their offer was the most generous!</p>
<p>so it's always nice to know that they are really happy to have you where you are, rather than going to a place they just assume you'll choose because of their prestige....i know this may just sound incongruous, but it's something that's i feel it's really very important, although not always, hehe.....</p>
<p>Sefago, I would appreciate it if you shared your reasons for which you chose Gtown over Cornell. #1 Size??? I truly regret reapplying to Cornelly. I wish I'd applied to Vassar/Amherst/Dartmouth or even tried for Harvard.....</p>
<p>....honestly when it comes to an American education, time is most inconsequential. i tell people that at every opportunity. the Dmouth girl [Bola Oyebisi] is graduating in 2006. Yet, she left for Dmouth after 2 years of Law at OAU!! Time flies ever so swiftly! The other girl from my school that got into Pton class of 08 left after a year in UI [and of course 1 yr in UI means 2yrs after sec school, same for most of all the govt universities....20yrs down the road, 2/3yrs seems just like 2/3days...like [Osaetin if you remember], the famous ISI valedictory speech opening cliche: "Six years have passed like six days and now it's so hard to say goodbye, blah, blah, blah...."</p>
<p>Really anything worth its weight in gold is always worth the wait, however long.</p>