Ubiquitous

Ivy League-bound? Maybe

// June 1st, 2009 // 11 Comments » // Academic

Last summer, I was devastated to find out I couldn’t attend UC Berkeley for financial reasons. This entire year, I stayed in Canada studying commerce and wondering what was so fundamentally wrong with me that 1) the Ivy League universities rejected me and 2) I’m unable to go to the wonderful schools like UCLA and UC Berkeley that DID accept me. Suffice to say, my desire to get a better education beyond UBC was never fully snuffed out.

I spent months dwelling on the issue and due to a series of wonderfully-timed events and opportunities, I decided to apply for transfer application to just a single US school. What’s with me and one-shot deals? I spent weeks perfecting my essay and days chasing after professors to get them to write me recommendation letters and give midterm grades. I did all of this in secret. Not a single one of my friends know. My PARENTS did not know. About a month ago, the only people who knew I applied for transfer was probably a handful of profs, a counsellor, the admissions committee, and the mailman.

This time it wasn’t randomly applying for the prestige, but rather, the result of intensive research into a program that matched my interests and aspirations perfectly. I remember that morning vividly, calling the Admissions Office trying to find my decision. When the lady on the other end replied, all I could say was “OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD”.

I have been accepted into Cornell University for Fall 2009 transfer!!

*Runs around the house in ecstasy* I will be studying a mixture of management, economics, government, and history at Industrial and Labor Relations!!! At this point I haven’t gotten a paper copy of my acceptance and financial aid yet, so I don’t know if I’ll be going. BUT OH, MY, GOD, five years of high school, two years of IB, a year of university, it wasn’t all in vain! The application process taught me so much about myself too I will really have to weigh all the commitments and leadership potential I have at my current school against a totally different path in the States. I hope to bring further good news.

P.S. - shhh, no one at my current school knows! They’ll kill me if they find out XD

Popularity: 9% [?]

I Blog for UBC

// November 21st, 2008 // 11 Comments » // Academic, Online Experience, Work/Volunteer

Indeed, it’s the epitome of geeky blogger pride. People sometime elevate me to the status of a campus celebrity, but seeing no photos of myself have made it on my UBC blog yet, I highly doubt it.  However, it is a very special/odd feeling when my friends or classmates come up to me and say, “hey! I read your blog!”

There’s a bunch of us blogging for the University of British Columbia (the theme isn’t too sleek and professional, then again, UBC’s edgy like that XD)  in fact. The entire blogsquad of 10 or so people is going out for an awesome night of laser tag and sushi tonight =D But I digress. UBC was recently ranked the #34 top university in the world (Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge claimed top place, surprise surprise). To make it sound more important than it really is, you might be wondering what it’s like to blog for a world-class university, to be the tech-savvy face for all current freshmen as well as incoming highschool students?

Well to start, we use Wordpress and premade themes LOL. Aside from skimming over juicy details of alcoholic consumption and latenight m/o sessions (ew, gross), we pretty much have freedom in whatever we say. It’s so casual and awesome, I love it. I use the same conversational tone I always do. I’m free to rant and rave as I wish. Recently, one of my entries got featured in a New to UBC newsletters sent to all 6000 first year undergrads. THEY DIDN’T EVEN WARN ME *goes back to edit out all the grammar mistakes* Too bad we can’t put adsense blocks on the site to generate $$$ from all the clicks.

Now the reason I mentioned this is because it’s my excuse for the sparse updates on Ubiquitous since the start of the school year. I’M SORRY PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

P.S. - for those who still remember the university dilemma/drama from a few months back… Berkeley, I’m so over you. UBC’s my new love now =P

Popularity: 10% [?]

Chatter at the Orthodontist’s

// April 22nd, 2008 // 22 Comments » // Personal

I don’t know what’s wrong with my orthodontist. At my appointment today, I told her that I need my braces off by May since I’ll be out of the country for a month (she actually first told me that I could have them off by last October, then March, then April…).  So she says something about “picky, crazy schedules” - yes, I’m so glad MY life isn’t monotonous and repetitive like yours, dear orthodontist!

Then I ask about follow-up appointments after I get them off, and mentioned in passing that I may not be available for a year. She inquires what school I’m going to, and I tell her Cal, most likely. It would’ve been great if she left it at that, but nooooo, this lady who’s been nice and cheerful for the past two years suddenly goes on this huge rant about Cal and how it’s gonna brainwash undergrad students like me and how its liberal influence will result in me cutting off all communications with my family and ruining my future prospects in marriage (”Just like York University in Ontario, my friend’s daughter went there!” she says).  First of all, wtf?! I never asked for her opinion so why give it, especially when I’m paying her (and her huge assistant staff) $6000 to do their jobs! She barely knows anything about me yet she insists that “don’t think that the liberal campus won’t effect you and turn you into someone else, because it will!”. She apparently visited it the campus with her daughter a few years back and her husband was highly offended that they even went there (gee, I wonder where her daughter ended up going, the ultra conservative local community college?). It’s a public education institution for God’s sake, not a hippie sex corner where radical young people riot all day!

In addition, there was also a mini-lecture about how “education won’t bring you happiness… trust Dr. - (she often talks about herself in third-person like I’m a little kid), I have blah blah blah many degrees and I’ve seen what happened to people I know!”

Wow, are people now-a-days in this industry SO TERRIFIED of and SO AGITATED over losing a customer that they will proceed to rant about stupid topics?! Ugh, get a grip woman!

Popularity: 4% [?]

All Good Things

// March 27th, 2008 // 17 Comments » // Academic

Come to an end. So Spring Break is over and it’s back to school for everyone! I can now stop listening to depressing music and quoting Nelly Furtado.

This will be short and sweet as I know everyone’s busy catching up. Two emails/messages to share.

You have been offered admission to the University of British Columbia based on the interim grades we received. A letter advising you of this decision, which includes registration information, has been mailed to you. UBC is also pleased to offer you the President’s Entrance Scholarship valued at $4000 (value will be confirmed on your final admission average).

LALALA.

Congratulations! I am pleased to offer you admission to the University of California, Berkeley for fall 2008. You have been admitted to the College of Letters and Science. Given the record number and extraordinary quality of our applicants this year, this offer is a great accomplishment. You and your family have every reason to be proud of your academic and personal achievements. Enjoy this moment and picture yourself at Berkeley, a place where you truly can change the world. Again, welcome to Berkeley! We believe in you and the unique contributions you will make here at Cal.

Sincerely,
Walter A. Robinson
Director, Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Decisions, decisions! How will I choose?

Popularity: 4% [?]

Link Love

// March 20th, 2008 // 15 Comments » // Academic

A few days ago I posted the school colours of some of the universities I applied to. I’ve got quite a few guessers (some very wild ones)!

Regina and Wednesday got UBC XD

Meg gussed Stanford and Princeton correctly.

Arielle got Columbia and UCLA right (tbh I had to double check the blues and oranges for the UCs as well). She just got accepted into NYU so I was shocked she didn’t get the White & Purple

Marie took a leap of faith using other people’s guesses and got Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, and a place in my sidebar and RSS!

The answers are posted below.

Yes yes, some very big names up there. But really, the one I’m counting on is UBC, and a big fat scholarship from them as well. $40 000 a year for those elite US private schools, seriously! It’d be nice if NYU sent me something though, seems like everyone else have been getting letters. *Prays*

March seems like the month of huge contests around the blogosphere. The main incentives are pretty much 1) free advertising 2) free layout 3) entrecard credits 4) cash. I won #1 and #3 and Mindblogger, thank you!

If anyone is interested, I’m also selling 6000 Entrecard Credits for $19.99 here. It’s the cheapest out of all the ones listed right now, so start bidding!

Lastly, don’t click here. Just don’t. Okay now do it. Please and thank you.

Popularity: 3% [?]