<p>hey if people like me didn't feed the "capitalist" CB machine in my time, CB might have gone bankrupt and youngsters like YOU wouldn't/couldn't be able to take the SATs! anyway it was money very well spent. the best financial decision of my life so far :)</p>
<p>confused vnese i don't think you need to retake, but it's just my instinct to tell people on CC to retake 2300 scores. so there i go again: if admissions officers would be impressed by a vietnamese 2330... what would they say to a 2400?! </p>
<p>who is z h a n g k a ng? how come you guys all seem to have inside jokes that exclude people like me. </p>
<p>and oh next time i google stalk someone i'll just type their names like t h i s too.</p>
<p>Regarding what limnieng said, I think he's just putting our local schools on the pedestal. I personally felt he's pro local school and thus, can't provide people with a accurate view of the subject matter. </p>
<p>Provide a strong foundation? Yea, they really do because they try to squeeze everything you need to know for your major down your throat.</p>
<p>Take a look at NUS faculty of arts curriculum: 2 modules from outside FASS, 2 GEM- 1 science 1 arts, 1 singapore studies, 1 humanities, 1 social science, 1 asian studies. For your major, you have fulfilled 100 MCs which is 25 courses ! 7 unrestricted electives.</p>
<p>I felt that there are not enough breath in NUS curriculum. 25 courses for a major is way too much. The canadian and US schools only require like 8-12 courses and they have an option to double major easily (spreading credits equally among 2 majors, not 100MCs in major 1 and 48 MCs in major 2). I prefer to have more free electives to try out different disciplines across humanities and social science. We can leave specialisation to grad school. I think they should also revamp their "core" or "distribution requirements" which seems to me like a total joke. Just take a look at harvard, chicago and columbia distribution requirements- those are the real testament to the liberal education. NUS curriculum is stuck somewhere in the middle of the broad & general education of US and the specialist degree of the UK. I don't think you can achieve best of both world.</p>
<p>The main thing that concerns me about NUS FASS is its student quality. Most of their alevel or poly grades aren't very impressive. It looks like a dumping ground to me. Furthermore, I feel that majority of them do not have real passion for humanities and social science or are truly interested in learning for learning sake. It just doesn't have that intellectual environment.</p>
<p>I can't afford a USA education so I am heading to Canada or UK. I'm kinda stuck in between McGill and St Andrews (ancient university in Scotland). Anyone have any comments about these two schools?</p>
<p>I agree that the NUS curriculum is not designed to provide breath. In fact, when I was there, there was no such thing as GEM or taking any modules outside your major! I think what they're doing is trying to copy some of the "breath" provided in a US college, where students can very well choose to study whatever they please, to the point that they can graduate with a "undeclared" general degree. I myself do not subscribe to this new policy of NUS. It seems to me, as you say, trying to "achieve the best of both world", but not doing very well in them. From your description, it seems like NUS is still holding on to what you describe as "specialist degree of the UK". Which is better? I have no specific opinion on this. I think it really depends on personal preference. However, I would like to note that I am pro-local school only to the point of putting US/UK schools on a pedestal at the expense of denigrating local school. Yes, I believe local schools have much to provide.</p>
<p>And about your main concern.....I'm sad to say that you might find the student quality at any school to be a mixed bag, even at prestigious university. There's lots of reason for how a student gets into a university. Sad to say, it's not all about how well you do in high school. In the US, there's affirmative action, legacy, social mobility, CC transfers and a whole host of things that affect admission. Learning for learning sake? I dare say you will find those come far and few in between at any university. So I don't think that's a grouse that should be placed solely on NUS FASS. You'll find the right passionate crowd if you look for them in any university. Furthermore, we really shouldn't equate student quality to alevel or poly grades.....</p>
<p>Lastly, McGill would score higher on the prestige scale.</p>
<p>Hey all, I was just wondering if I have to submit the FARSA or the CSS Profile or the family's bank statements/tax returns or something to whatever university I'm applying to (particularly Columbia)?</p>
<p>i think you only submit those if you are applying for financial aid. according to nadash you would need your parents' tax forms, certificate of wages (from employer) and certificate of balance (from the bank).</p>
<p>you should go to every college's website to find out their own requirements, but they'll usually ask for the same "International Student Financial Aid Application" form.</p>
<p>the form reads "International Student Financial Aid Application" . so i guess prolly not. you may need them after you get accepted for your f1 visa but i don't think u need to send it in for now. but i'm not a pro at this so yea idk.</p>
<p>after you get in and accept the offer, you're going to need to submit proof of ability to pay, so yeah eventually you'll have to submit tax returns and bank statements. if you get a scholarship, then it's even easier :)</p>
<p>A bunch of people from my school get in last year. around 5-ish? compared to 1 in Brown, 1 Pton, 1 stanford, 1 washU after waitlist, 1 UVA, 1 Vassar, 2 NYU.. and judging from my school's standard of applicants, maybe not THAT tough :P Oh forgot there's one H waitlist if that counts for anything.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong it's not a BAD school. In fact it's pretty good but i think somehow the package just isn't there. Marketing is our pitfall.</p>
<p>Happen to be at school this morning and saw someone's stanford envelope sitting on the General Office's table waiting to be picked up by the postman. Little did the person know that the postman, or all postmen as a matter of fact, has since very long refused to pick up mails from the school and post them for us. The other day saw a Jardine application. It was like 5 days til the deadline i think and i'm quite certain the app is gonna be rejected cos it'll reach hong kong way wayyyy past the 30 Oct deadline.</p>
<p>See, this kind of little things accumulate and then kill applicants in the end. haiz.</p>
<p>wait a minute. i just sent my ed stuff(1nov deadline) yesterday and the post office lady said it wld take 6-8 days but the postmark will be that day itself. i thought the deadline was the postmark not the date its suppose to get there. and i forgot to write the "if undelivered, please return to bla bla bla" did anyone experience a lost mail or something?</p>
<p>
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It was like 5 days til the deadline i think and i'm quite certain the app is gonna be rejected cos it'll reach hong kong way wayyyy past the 30 Oct deadline.
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</p>
<p>Yo, they be called postmark deadlines for a reason!</p>