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Yeah, to all those who are bombarding my mailbox with your application essays, you have to read this guide first. Actually, I think all of us who help on essays should gang up and require everyone to read this first. :)
Fully resonate with what pinkpau said on the attitude of some of those who ask (Not all are like this). Some of the examples that I frequently get:-
1. It's 1am. Phone rings. "Hi, I have urgent questions on applications. ......" "May I know what is your name?" "I'm rushing, just tell me the answer. " and then drop the phone with not even a simple thank you.
2. It's 5am. Sleeping. Got a SMS. "Please call me ASAP. Urgent questions on applications". Often, I don't even know who they are.
3. After emailing, 3 hours later, "Hey, you haven't replied my email". Another 3 hours, "You still owe me a reply on my essay".
4. After responding a long email on advice, either no reply or just "tq".
Thanks Su Ann for highlighting this issue. I read Wun Min highlighted on this before too!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/educat...
Columbia Uni rank 10th. You should be very very proud of it!
oh i really really love the way u write. very inspiring.
Wish you all d best in Columbia!!
you've actually sent lengthy replies to some of my emails (though none about the ivy league / US colleges) before and I never bothered to reply with a nice courteous thank you. I cannot for the life of me figure out why I didn't, I think it's because I said 'thank you in advance for all your help' but that is well, such a feeble excuse that I really want to hide my face right now.
but i won't. especially not after reading the 'and to you folks who just disappear without a word of thanks after i send you my long replies, please dont ever email me again.' part of this post! thanks so much Su Ann, for replying all those unnecessary questions that i just HAD to ask (though i'm not sure if you remember:P) in fact, i probably won't ever be able to thank you enough. please do forgive me for not thanking you before.. yah, such bad manners. so so so sorry :(
you're actually a huge inspiration to people like me, who, prior to reading your incredibly well written guides to US College Applications, would NEVER in a million years have thought of even applying to ivy league institutions. now, i'm not so sure. who knows? i might even be seeing you at Columbia one day! (Though this is just me being ambitious)
Just a thought though, (which you don't HAAAVE to reply if you don't want to ;p)
Would asking for financial aid when applying to the ivies mar a person's chances in getting accepted? Cos US$50,000 a year is seriously alooooot of cash. Heh.
Anyway, again, thank you, Su Ann!
thanks very much for taking time off writing this walkthrough, it's been very helpful and enlightening to read them, especially regarding the essay section of the applications.
am currently under the american degree transfer program, and it's been overwhelming, but reading your blog about your life in the US really refreshes me about my goals and ambitions. and hey, maths isn't so bad. ^_^ are you taking calculus with analytic geometry? i could always help ^_^Y
anyways, do take care, keep blogging, have fun living life to the fullest, and all the best for your courses! yeah!
~madonna
that said, if i were applying to a US uni, i'd be kissing your feet now cos i don't think i've seen such a detailed walkthrough before. :)
And again, I really have to salute you la. You're the most helpful loveable online blogger I know and have read and met in person. How can anyone like you exist on this planet?
<3 i am becoming your biggest fan
Bleah.
No wonder i never heard from the admissions comm since.
thanks and all the best! =)
The scene is so competitive these days-- it will take a ton of creative writing skills to make an account of life in relatively cushy Malaysia match up to essays from genocide survivors and former slum children.
pau so mean. purposely use small font one. my specs pecah so can't read jor... ):
Honestly, u deserve some form of an award for literature. (not related to this walktrough), your style of writing deserves some official recognition.
oh btw..I wana see pics.....
We have this tendency to always look for a shortcut, walkaround, quick fix or loophole just to drag ourselves over the finishing line. Hey, as long as I don't have to bust my ass doing it, right? and dont get me started on the lack of basic social courtesy.
Of course, this is such a broad paint stroke on Malaysians and I'm more than happy to be proven wrong. (Did i just hear someone shouting for me to get off the high horse already? =P )
kaichi : thankew!
cls : i remember you :) you're claire, right? well it's really cool of you to drop a thank you comment. better late than never! as for financial aid, yes applying for aid does heavily affect your chances of admission for almost all the schools, except schools that are 'need-blind'. meaning they dont take into account your the cost of your 'need' when deciding whether or not to accept you. such schools are harvard yale princeton dartmouth amherst middlebury and some others that i forget :) look it up anyway
madonna : you're most welcome! i did ADTP too btw. are you from taylors? and no i'm not doing calc with analytic geometry... yet... :P
entwined : hahahahaha you're welcome :P and actually i think it's a lot easier to just email someone for help rather than look it up. would probably take more time, but i guess lazy people wont mind waiting!
thegeekinpink : yesyes JPA students do get scholarships but only for certain ivies and US schools that are on 'the list'. nooo i'm your biggest fan <3 mrs taugeh <3
grouchy : /patpat there there, it's the adcom's loss.. every college needs its resident grouch :P
rupert : ya seriously i dont know if they really think i'm just someone put on earth to answer their questions or if they're just not aware of basic etiquette. thank u for the bday wish!!
liz : retrying this year? seriously?? all the best!!!! where are you applying to?
pinkyboo : haha glad to know you found it helpful :)
oiyen : you wouldnt have needed it anyway!! you got into such a good school! yes totally agree about the msian cushy life thing.. but i think a lot of msians also know how to ham it up wan :P
evo : actually, i DO have plans to change my font size soon haha even *I* have trouble reading my own blog now. im gonna change my whole layout after my midterms, so fret not!
carolyong : CAROL I CANT WATCH UR VIDEO FROM THIS COMPUTER LAB :( what are you saying!!
alvin : yes very well said. come to think of it.. i know this really lazy malaysian who doesnt know head from tail about wordpress coding and always has to message a certain puppy... but i hear she's very cute so nvm!!
and i think it's so awesome that you decided to write your "guide to US college application" posts because i think it would seriously encourage malaysians to apply for US colleges. i'm sure there are people like me, who (used to) think that there was no chance for them to enter prestigious colleges when they have to compete with talented students from all over the world. personally, when i was in msia, i didn't think i'd ever be able to attend a uni. but when i migrated to nz, i realised that i just have to work hard to pursue what i want, and to grab opportunities when they come along.
when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. but if life hands you nothing, you plant your own lemon tree and make the best damned lemonade! hahaha.
Thanks for all this assistance. It's great to see young people helping others. Sorry that some people are being a pain to you! I should borrow your rant. lol
nuff said.
Regarding ppl who don't say thanks after you e-mailed them long replies, you echoed my sentiments exactly. Because Kenny Sia has been working overtime as a travel help desk. :(
Sometimes I really wonder why I am doing this for such ungrateful people. A part of me is just scared of people hating me I guess.
But so many people hate me now it doesn't really matter anyway haha.
i remember you were debating about putting up your blog address or mentioning your blog on your essays... did you end up doing that? just asking out of interest because i'm not planning to apply or anything. :P
I have said this before, but I truly feel that you are a very great person.
Love you lotz.. <3
Anyways nice to reminisce the dreaded college app period..and what is jengjengjeng at the end of your post? Sounds like something my dad would say :D
and thank you very much x 6.02 x 10 to the power 23! for answering to my enquiries about the States as well, and writing such an awesome kick ass guide to US applications. you're the most rocking pau ever!
Anyway, I would like to know why u took ADP but quit the program in the end.
Is there any reasons?
Cause I'm thinking of taking ADP as well and I need some advise.
My gmail is Jianyuantanx@gmail.com
Thanks!
oh, and i gather you did ADTP? were you from taylor's?
this was really helpful. i was cracking my head on these essays
Thank you!!!
STOP. DRINKING. COFFEE !!! STARBUCKS IS EVIL !! D:
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/55134/Cupp...
To stress your point here is a BIGGGGGG THANKKSSSSSSSSS !!!!! :)
And is that really kennysia commenting ?? OMG OMG OMG This blog just got free advertisement ( Major Adv. )
Thanks a lot for this US application walkthrough. It really helps a lot. Besides, my friends and I always read your blog. You are really a great blogger.
Thank you.
I'm Veronica. Actually I'm a parent, so I guess I am different kind of "fan" altogether. Ya, I said fan cos you really have a great following and judging by the intensity of the work you put in to help others with their applications, I'd say you deserve it :)
I am a VERY involved parent in that I do a LOT of research because I need to.... have 4 kids to put through college and not enough money:(
Anyway, I'm writing to say thanks for all the work you've put in. I've gained a lot from you. I'd just like to say that although I didn't go to uni in the states, I have been through 1 application and am going through the second with my son AND I visited my daughter's uni, so I guess I can be of SOME help to people who really are at a loss la - so, I'm offering to help those in KL, can drop me a note and arrange to meet, can be KLCC or some place like that la.
The 2nd reason I'm writing is to exclaim, "What a small world" I met Suet Li, your friend's convict in arms back in KL just this year and am so amused so see our small world!
Boy, looks like I'm writing a blog here! Sorry for the looonnngg comment.
so pinkpau, you are incredible! :O
i hope they'd revamp the m'sian education system for the future generation. like seriously, seriously do something about it. not just "planning" cuz i believe the malaysian education system also plays a part in hampering our chances in entering US colleges.
for example, sylvanna was once a fighter of spoon-feeding has now succumbed to the lures of the amazing spoon-feed process that she's mentally become a plushie.
once again,THANK YOU!
OMG this is the best-est ever guide to uni apps that I've seen
=)
Cheers and a gazillion thanks for all your hard work
Hope u have a happie life in the US!!