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<p>They all score very well in general, but you can make it up by being attractive and unique in other areas.</p>
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<p>Not true, due to CR and W. Most Singaporeans who take the A-levels can get 800 for M if they are careful though.</p>
<p>Hi I was wondering what are the prospects for singaporeans who return home after studying in the states? I am hoping to study economics at berkley/michigan but do employers in singapore prefer local graduates?</p>
<p>I have just finish my poly this year and my GPA isnt that good… Its about 3.5 and I wish to go to the states to have a psychology degree but then i’m not sure which are the universities that i should apply for. And I am taking the SAT in Oct so can I still apply for the spring intake?</p>
<p>I do have some budget restraints as well so i think maybe i would stick to public universities instead of privates. State wise I have no preference as I dont party and I dont mind a quiet town. </p>
<p>Hope to get some advice from people here… Thanks</p>
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<p>I believe it depends on the employers. Most MNCs have no problems hiring graduates from US schools, I don’t think the MAP in the Civil Service would have any problems either. The only trouble might be with very small local companies with managers who have never heard of your school before.</p>
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<p>You will be paying out of state tuition (which is nearer to a private version tuition) anyway as you are considered out-of-state for all 50 states since you are an international student.</p>
<p>@frankchn Well, Purdue is 40k OOS compared to Berkeley like 50k OOS.</p>
<p>Berkeley is 50k sing dollars thank goodness. And it offers finaid even to internationals (that’s why I chose it haha)</p>
<p>“Not true, due to CR and W. Most Singaporeans who take the A-levels can get 800 for M if they are careful though.”</p>
<p>Haha it was the opposite for me since I’m an arts student :P</p>
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<p>Ooh, does it? I didn’t know that. How much aid did you receive, if you don’t mind me asking?</p>
<p>You can only get it in the second year onward and it’s mostly need based. I’ve heard someone living in terrace housing/both parents working getting US$6000 a year so it’s not that bad.</p>
<p>oh and @firrisse: NYU is generally not easy to get into but so far I’ve only heard of one friend who got rejected. And UCB and NYU are the only two schools I got accepted into in my application last year so. If that’s any indication… they seem to be partial to Singaporeans/internationals (especially UCB, they need the money). Not saying that you shouldn’t beef up your application though.</p>
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<p>Interesting, but I don’t really see why Cal should be disbursing any money to international students (and it is really quite generous when you are getting US$6000 a year in I presume to be need-based FA from a dual working family living in landed property), especially when they are having a lot of budgetary problems on their own. </p>
<p>Maybe he got an merit-based undergraduate scholarship instead?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure it was financial aid, because they don’t give many (if at all) merit scholarships to non-citizens. I’ve also seen the financial aid application form and it’s need based.</p>
<p>It’s an initiative by the International Office so I just think it’s a nice gesture on their part. I’m not sure how affiliated they are to the rest of the university (I got a feeling they have other sources of money for this) Plus, I really need it - my parents might have to sell the house to finance me. Sigh.</p>
<p>oh and @firrisse: NYU is generally not easy to get into but so far I’ve only heard of one friend who got rejected. And UCB and NYU are the only two schools I got accepted into in my application last year so. If that’s any indication… they seem to be partial to Singaporeans/internationals (especially UCB, they need the money). Not saying that you shouldn’t beef up your application though. </p>
<p>Thanks for your reply! May I know what was your SAT1 and 2 scores?
And does UCB focus more on your school grades? </p>
<p>How do I write a good PS? I borrowed some books from my school lib but it’s not very helpful cos I don’t really know exactly what is considered as good. Some of the sample essays are pretty descriptive and narrative, and includes a few paragraphs or personal thoughts and reflections at the end…but for the most part I find them more descriptive than anything else.</p>
<p>Oh and wrt to my post on pg 266, what do you think are my chances?</p>
<p>Uhm well my scores… Haha I was genuinely disappointed in them. Really. All I will say is that SAT 1 was above 2300.</p>
<p>UCB is a very diverse school. There’s no ‘focus’, but being a holistic student/all-rounder is important to them (as is with every school, I think). The thing about Berkeley is that there are no teacher recommendations, so the rest of the app (SATs, personal statement, CCAs) then take up more weightage.</p>
<p>My thoughts about the personal statement - the more personal, the better. I wrote about something that really resonates within me, something that I feel had a big impact on my life (which unfortunately cannot be revealed here, too personal lol). I think the biggest mistake one can make is listing your achievements/prizes etc in the PS; the admissions officers can read about that from the rest of your app so why repeat yourself? Don’t waste the PS on stuff that can be gleaned from elsewhere.</p>
<p>Btw if you’re from HwaCh I probably know you (I was from HC…) and I probably spoke to you at the recent uni fair too lol, judging by your reference to 2010 admitted students. Back to your grades question (I just saw your post on 266) I think that Cal is leaning away from grades at the moment (this is purely subjective) but that doesn’t mean that you should accept anything lower than 2200 
Haha and by that I mean, aim higher!</p>
<p>You have a good chance, but do you have other passions/hobbies that you are successful in (not necessarily school stuff)? That might help.</p>
<p>Btw NYU is expensive. That’s why I didn’t go, even though they offered me their scholars program (which, contrary to its name, doesn’t offer any money). About Virginia - my close friend got 4A’s, very involved in school guitar club, pop/rock band frontwoman (a few gigs) got in. Apparently it’s not hard but then again, this is purely subjective.</p>
<p>@frankchn: from your experience applying into wharton, how hard it is to get into wharton ED?
Do you happen to know any applicants from Singapore get into wharton? what do they really want to see in you? thanks :D</p>
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<p>It isn’t easy I guess. I applied to the Fisher program at Wharton ED and I was deferred to RD then rejected me during RD (along with Harvard and MIT). </p>
<p>I do know people who got into Wharton from Singapore though and I think they are looking for substantial leadership experience (students’ council, etc…) on top of the usual ECs, academic achievements and so on.</p>
<p>I applied to NYU stern ED and if they reject me would they still consider me for like say school of arts and sciences? Or would they give me an outright rejection?</p>
<p>And btw i got a friend from my school who got into wharton. He has tons of outstanding ecs, most demanding curriculum and also a GIC scholarship. So yeah i think it’s pretty hard and i think the scholarship helped.</p>
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<p>It will be outright. You can only apply to one NYU School/College/Program.</p>