Occupied with US Applications

Dear friends,
I would like to sincerely apologize for not updating as often as I should have. I’ve currently occupied by university essays and forms.
I will be back on Jan 2. Jan 1 is the deadline for most of all US universities. For more resources, please check out www.recom.org  .
For advice on US essays, please check out quaintly.net .
I’ve been using both to guide me in my application and essays. All the best to all applicants! Can’t wait to get it done with….

US Application Essay Horror

Time of writing: 6.50 am

Woke up: 6 a.m

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

1) Complete  short essay for Common Application US about “one of your activities (extra-curricular, personal or work experience) in 150 words or less.

2) Complete a 250-word-or-more essay about one of these topics:

i) Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you,

ii) Discuss some issue of personal, local, national or international concern and its importance to you,

iii) Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence,

iv) Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence,

v) A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you, OR

vi) Topic of your choice.

SECONDARY

1)Write an essay for Cornell University’s School of Engineering about:

Engineers turn ideas (technical, scientific, mathematical) into reality. Tell us about an idea you have or your interest in engineering. Explain how Cornell Engineering can help you further explore this idea or interest.

2) Write an essay for Harvard University:

Possible topics of interest

- Unusual circumstances in your life

- Travel or living experiences in other countries

- Books that have affected you the most

- An academic experience (course, project, paper, or research topic) that has meant the most to you

- A list of the books you have read during the past twelve months

3) Write 3 short essays for Stanford University (each about 250 words):

Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging.

Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. What would you want your freshman roommate to know about you? Tell us something about you that will help your roommate — and us — know you better.

Tell us what makes Stanford a good place for you. *Answer that I might write: Stanford Linear Accelerator. Only Stanford enthusiasts get this joke.

4) Write two essays for Princeton University:

The FIRST ONE – choose one of these options:

Option 1 – Tell us about a person who has influenced you in a significant way.

Option 2 – Using the statement below as a jumping off point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world:

”Princeton in the Nation’s Service” was the title of a speech given by Woodrow Wilson on the 150th anniversary of the University. It became the unofficial Princeton motto and was expanded for the University’s 250th anniversary to ”Princeton in the nation’s service and in the service of all nations.”

Woodrow Wilson, Princeton Class of 1879, served on the faculty and was Princeton’s president from 1902 to 1910.

Option 3 – Using the quotation below as a jumping off point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world:

”Some questions cannot be answered./ They become familiar weights in the hand,/ Round stones pulled from the pocket, unyielding and cool.”¹

- Jane Hirshfield, poet, Princeton Class of 1973

1. ‘Woman in Red Coat” from Of Gravity and Angels (Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 1988). ©1988 Jane Hirshfield. Reprinted by permission of Jane Hirshfield.

Option 4 – Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a jumping off point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. Please write the quotation at the beginning of your essay.

The SECOND ONE for Princeton: (argh…) NO CHOOSING, JUST WRITE….

If you are interested in pursuing a B.S.E. (Bachelor of Science in Engineering) degree, please write an essay describing why you are interested in studying engineering, any experiences in or exposure to engineering you have had, and how you think the programs in engineering offered at Princeton suit your particular interests.

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In all, there are 8 essays of varying lengths to be written thoughtfully, reflectively, and meaningfully in two weeks. And unfortunately, or fortunately, I am applying for engineering major in all of the universities above.

What a good horror story to make a movie about – the essay episode that is…

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*The author is heading to Singapore today at 2.30p.m by First Coach Bus, and will be updating after his Toe-full journey in Kiasu-land. Probably, if his impulses go haywire, he might update in Kiasu-land about the more superior broadband in Kiasu-land compared to the one offered by TMNet Streamyx – and no, this is not even an ad for TMNet Streamyx.

TMNet Streamyx…… bringing you backward

SAT (Sko-las-tic Ap-tee-tude Test) 2

ZZZZZZZzzzzzzz………………… *phone rings* In the midst of my half-sleep half-awake confusion….

“Hey, Winson, guess how much I got for Mathematics?” “800!!!!!”

“What?” (I was fully awake upon hearing this.)

Yes, Jonathan Mah Koon Chung, my close buddy, has got a score of 800 out of 800 in his SAT Mathematics Level 2 Subject Test. Congrats and dude, what the ham!!!!! Haha…..

Well for my part, I did not too bad but certainly could not compare with Jon’s super high Maths score. I only managed a 660 out of 800. This is a summary of my scores:

Chemistry 740

Physics 780

Mathematics Level 2 660

Overall 2180 out of possible 2400

As you could see, my Mathematics really pulled my entire score down. I am considering a retake for Maths 2, but perhaps I will decide after my IB exams. However, I have sort of expected this score for Maths because I left out too many blanks in the paper.

Anyway, I can take consolation in knowing that I have met National University of Singapore SAT Subject Test (or SAT 2) score requirement:

“

• ^ Mathematics II is a compulsory subject for all courses except Law. Applicants applying for admission to Law may take Mathematics I, in lieu of Mathematics II.

An SAT II score of 2100 would be minimally sufficient for candidates to make a competitive application.”

Yes, I can now make a competitive application. =) To the rest out there, don’t fret… just do your best and let God take care of the rest… SAT 2 is not too hard actually, just need great time management… My time management was not really good for Maths.

Jon’s scores are somewhat like this, from our conversation:

Physics 720

Chemistry 780

Maths Level 2 800

Overall score 2300 out of 2400

I guess I could only be happy for my best buddy. He would really need it for his US Application. Especially application to Stanford and all. I am applying for Stanford as well, but in Stanford’s own words:

“SAT Subject Tests are recommended but not required for admission. We recommend taking at least two SAT Subject Tests, as such information will assist us in our evaluation process. Applicants, however, who choose not to take SAT Subject Tests will not be at a disadvantage in the admission process.”

SAT Reasoning Tests would play a bigger role in admitting ourselves into Stanford. The Reasoning Test will come on December 6, 2008. All the kan cheong (buzz) about SAT Reasoning Test will come after our IB exams (Nov 4 – Nov 13, 2008). I am aiming for a high Critical Reading Score to avoid the need to take TOEFL or any English Proficiency Test for the US Application Process.

This post is dedicated to Jonno, Jon Mah, Hamnoj, Long Sausage, or anything associated to a character by the name of Jonathan Mah Koon Chung, the one who has provided excellent accommodation to me throughout my IB days. His DJ house is a 6-star hotel, with a well-trained waiter (read: Jonathan) who can play Call of Duty 4 with you anytime you need it.

To Jonathan, all the best from here. You would need the good scores for US admission. Well man, seriously, our scores are not too bad for two dudes who only knew about the testing format i.e how many questions, how long, when we took the test. Simply, ZERO preparation and knowledge of what to be expected! And for Jon to get a full score for Maths, that is just the hand of God!!! (it’s possible that technical error may had happened in the College Board system but well, as of now, let’s take it that Jon is a maths whiz.)