Singaporean connection

Student Lounge International Students
1321

<p>fiona: Singaporeans are extremely overrated? what do you mean?</p>

<p>oceanwave: yeah, u of mich doesn't have any financial aid for Singaporeans either. like I mentioned, would you consider getting a scholarship? Also, there are some very generous liberal arts colleges who actually give out financial aid to singaporeans despite being not need-blind, but I can't be sure if they'd offer environmental chem. Check out the Wesleyan Freeman Scholarship and the Carleton scholarship (iirc). have you ever thought about just getting a bachelor in chemistry and then going for a masters in envt chem?</p>

<p>petrina_678: there have been rare cases of colleges accepting 'O' levels only, but you listed NYU and 3 Ivies which would make it almost impossible, or perhaps impossible. There're tons of A-level applicants out there better prepared for college and applying to those same schools. I'm also concerned that your SAT scores won't match those of A-level applicants. I would probably have done pretty badly for SATs at 16!</p>

<p>you might have a better chance at an LAC with your O levels. I must say, though, that your CCAs are extremely impressive for a Singaporean applicant - I was never that crazily involved, and I think you're great. </p>

<p>also, since you are taking a gap year to do so much stuff anyway, you have 2 shots at the application process. if you don't get in at first, just do something you like during the gap year and do it really well. you'll definitely stand out as passionate.</p>

<p>What art school are you applying to? I have friends' friends who are at RISD now.</p>

1322

<p>Overrepresented... That's what I get for writing too fast.</p>

<p>BTW - I heard from Adrianni, friend-of-friend, that Wesleyan requires scholarship recipients to take out some loans.</p>

1323

<p>thanks. yeah i might include that my school decided to cancel graduation night this year, and i was crazy enough to organize a prom night for the whole school. Only that nobody wants to come -_- i think that will make for an entertaining admission essay! </p>

<p>Oh and yes i want to apply to RISD too! how do your friends like it there? do any of them take classes at brown? since they do allow cross registration. </p>

<p>Im also interested in parsons, FIT and maybe SVA.</p>

1324

<p>yes it definitely will, hahah! and no, that's not crazy, that's just spontaneous daring and cool. when you finish that essay i would love to read it.</p>

<p>i don't know actually, as i said they're friends' friends haha. RISD + brown, whether it's cross registration or their dual degree program seems a really attractive combination to me. i think that as long as your portfolio is up to par, the rest of your accomplishments should do the trick for you in getting in.</p>

<p>what do you want to be? what happens if you get into both the art schools and the colleges?</p>

1325

<p>actually, thats the thing, i cant actually declare what i really want to be/do ..</p>

<p>So thats the main reason for the gap year. I'll be interning in a few different sectors, such as in Singapore press holdings , advertising firms , design firms, and maybe even in some financial companies.
So the idea is for me to try stuff out and see what im truly passionate about. But im confident its art/humanities related. </p>

<p>And as for comparing me to A lvl students. I know they indeed have an edge over me. Yet, im also quite different from the majority of them ( my CCAs and such) but also, isn't it fair to say that most US unis judge more by personality rather than just grades including the A lvl cert. On top of accomplishments i also have a fair amount of hobbies/passions ( my own business , my own rock band lol ...).</p>

<p>I also come from a relatively weird background ..although i am a Singaporean citizen , i have vietnamese heritage , in fact i still have a "village" of relatives still in vietnam, which channel newsasia just filmed a documentary about, it will air in december.my family created and owns a chinese medicinal tea, which is still sold in stores. I have an adopted sister who is from china.. OH and my step father who is dutch stripped (to his underwear) on TV for a competition... oh yeah im strange and different alright.. LOL</p>

<p>So i dont know, but I think these qualities make me stand out from the crowd.
Oh and i think i have the ability to do well for the SATs, i did some practice questions and it seems pretty straight forward. Im terrible at maths but even the math section of the SAT did not really deter me. I guess i'll just have to try it and see .. </p>

<p>thanks :)</p>

1326

<p>hmmm that's tough. might it be better to write about your weird heritage and how it made you the person you are? to me that might be more sincere and more personal than a possible prom fiasco. haha</p>

<p>US colleges look for personality, but they're first and foremost institutions of higher learning. you must still prove that you're ready for college work first and are one of the best students out there.</p>

<p>just give the SATs a shot. you might have done well for the practices but nothing beats the real thing :D since you have a gap year you have many, many shots at the SAT. afaik the colleges you've listed only look at the highest scores regardless of sitting, but of course don't try too many times. if you have the ability to do well for the SATs, that makes the two of us woohoo</p>

1327

<p>fiona: actually being overrepresented may not be bad. it's just like a mini-NUS with a much better rep. if you're gonna come back to Singapore anyway, it's pretty unlikely that a lack of American connections would hurt you bad - in fact, the ridiculous number of singaporean scholars at umich would be a pretty powerful network. it's just like home :) i think i'll be homesick</p>

1328

<p>cool i totally understand that, lol..
but that my point was, i should not be discounted as a student just because i only have O LVLs. </p>

<p>I was trying to say that, if i can score just as well or better than an A lvl student, i should be given a chance too. </p>

<p>And im not that bad of a student.. :) </p>

<p>anyways i have another question to ask. My final term and prelim marks as mostly really bad or a flat zero. The thing is i have actual reasons for that , which was at the time of prelims i was taking my O LVL art paper, and hence was excused from taking some prelim papers. And as for the final term results those were horrific because i mostly did not go to school and hence i missed a few papers and most of the class work that added to the final score.
Well it just looks terrible... what should i do? if there is anything that can possibly be done...</p>

1329

<p>You're taking gap year - So just submit only your final 'O' level results. Shouldn't be a problem. </p>

<p>I'm more concerned that that would negatively affect your teacher recommendations - If you were absent frequently, and you didn't submit class work, I wonder if the teacher can really give detailed positive recommendations.</p>

1330

<p>ah ok, well i have a very very very close relationship with my teachers, im not worried about that at all...</p>

<p>but are you sure i can just leave out my school grades.. arnt they considered our high school transcripts? they are supposed to be important right!</p>

1331

<p>AFAIK most JC candidates who applied postgraduation (ie after NS, taking gap year) submit their A levels / O levels only. The RJC US application websites advises J2 applicants to submit their O level results, not their prelims or midyears.</p>

<p>To be honest, since you're considered as underage candidate, it may be wise to contact the admissions committee of the universities you're applying to. I believe that the number of underage applicants is very little, especially in Singapore (US applicants sometimes do that if they have taken all the advanced courses in their high school)</p>

<p>One girl from my school applied to a very selective Ivy for class of 2012 - as a J1. She was purportedly rejected because the school thought graduating early would compromise her college preparation. She had excellent essays and recommendations. And she would have left in September of J2, completing almost the entire syllabus. </p>

<p>I advised the submission of O level results on the basis that
1. Midyears/promos will be negative
2. NSmen usually submit their A levels only, not promo/prelim results</p>

<p>So, to allay concerns about preparedness which the university may have, the uni may or may not request additional information. Best to contact them directly.</p>

1332

<p>oh and i will not be underaged at the time of admission, i will be 17 or 18. </p>

<p>ok thanks that cleared up some of my doubts.. but raised new questions.. lol</p>

1333

<p>Haha, by underaged, I mean, hasn't completed the 'normal' process... </p>

<p>Though what is "normal"? :)</p>

1334

<p>i see what you mean lol ok</p>

<p>yeah but truly what is normal, i guess all international students dont follow their "normal" standards to begin with.
but from what i've read/heard most colleges accept O lvls as equivalent to their high school diplomas.</p>

1335

<p>SIL: scholarship? hmmm...seems that getting into a uni is alr hard enuf...getting the scholarship would be similar to winning toto man...and the main reason why i do not want to enroll into a s'pore uni at all is because of the structure of the degree programs. correct me if im wrong but im quite sure that unis in the states allows for one to take up mods without weird bidding systems (which does not make any sense to me) and they focus more on participative learning (i.e. the only uni in s'pore which allows for this truly is that of smu and since it doesnt hav a science fac, its def out for me). s'pore unis are rather stale in a way. im probably just sick of the system and wanna try something new. </p>

<p>its weird that tho FA is mostly in the form of loans that they do not provide it to intel students...isnt it the same as a bank loan?</p>

1336

<p>fiona: where can i get the list of chem rankings? tried googling with no success....mayb the key phrases were off or something..</p>

1337

<p>here's the only relevant link i found with a big problem: its for graduate programs not undergraduate programs...
U.S</a>. News: Best Graduate Chemistry Programs (2007) : The Consus Group Rankings</p>

<p>if im not wrong, there is a difference btw undergrad/grad programs rite?</p>

1338

<p>What are you talking about, oceanwave? Terrible grammar and spelling going on there.</p>

<p>I'd just like to say that getting FA from Cornell is like asking a pig to sing... Yes, it will work, if you're a specialised pig trainer. It is much easier to get a scholarship and get admitted to Cornell than to get Financial Aid and be admitted to Cornell.</p>

<p>I'm not too sure what you mean by participative learning. In case you're delusional about the truth, classes at large American universities (Berkeley and Cornell being prime examples) are still mainly in the form of large lectures. Introductory courses may comprise hundreds of students. Mean class size for Berkeley is 30 students. </p>

<p>The participative learning you're talking about will probably be provided at liberal arts college, where classes take the form of discussion seminars. My top choice, Harvey Mudd College, is part of the Claremont consortium of 5 liberal arts college. It is famous for professors inviting undergraduates to their houses (probably because the college town is half-dead, but anyway...) </p>

<p>FA mostly in the form of loans - I'm not too sure about your colleges' FA policy (I'm applying to two need-blind, and two which are likely to give me aid) but some schools do practise 'gapping' where the school admits you, but does not meet your full financial aid - in the hope you take out loans, obtain scholarships, etc etc.</p>

<p>However, I have never heard of the university offering loans as part of their FA package to overseas students. Loans for domestic students are either from the US government (Stafford loans) that are given only to US citizens/green card holders or bank loans/private lenders (Fannie Mae) that require an American co-signer. </p>

<p>They may suggest that you take up loans (finding the bank yourself, your local bank usually) if you cannot pay in full for their college - my friend, who was offered a scholarship to Wesleyan, was 'gapped' and asked to take out loans. In that case, it's up to your discretion whether you want to pay that much for your education - my friend decided to enroll in NUS law rather than fork out for a relatively unknown LAC.</p>

<p>NTU is a very good alternative to NTU. Although my school's namesake is NUS, I've heard nothing but good things from my juniors conducting research projects with NTU professors, while my experience at NUS leaves much to be desired. NTU Science has new facilities, lots of funding, and many NUS professors have moved over to NTU (wonder why...)</p>

<p>This thread: Debates NUS Chem vs NTU Chem and Biochem
Flowerpod.Com.Sg</a> > Nus Chem Or Ntu Chem N Biochem</p>

1339

<p>fiona<em>: didn't s a m get into mit as a j1?
petrina</em>678: hey, i think you are a really interesting person. i think you definitely have some great stories to tell for your essays and of course it's quite heartening to see a not so typical singaporean once in a while :D</p>

1340

<p>1234d - Not talking about Sam. Sam went to RSI => amazing godlike (you too...) Another girl from my school, who didn't have any amazing feats, was rejected from a very selective Ivy (she's really nice and had -amazing- recs though)</p>