I was around back at school today after a short corporate meeting in the morning. There I managed to bump in a short one hour of gyming back at campus with my new alumni card before getting more work done in the day.

Alumni what card?
There, I was told by the gym auntie in-charge there that the alumni card I’ve got for this year’s batch is very different from the older cards issued previously- much lower in quality. This was so as I come to know after showing her how cheap and flimsy the cardboard-like laminated card I got in the mail last week (which is now peeling off at all the edges), even the photograph appears white-washed. My card which arrived in the “credit card” style holder in the letter already have it’s laminated coating damaged by simply removing it from the delivery holder, it’s that bad. For a lifetime membership thing, this card can’t even last 3 days!

New gym machines!
On a side note, the gym recently got a bump of new machines, such as a doubled number of treadmills to eight as well as the introduction of few new elliptical trainers as well as a new free weights and barbell training area, which sadly is always a hogging ground for dragon boat members. All these new additions are of course courtesy of the now dysfunct gym back at the old T14 block.

University university university
Our principal, Mr Tan was around on a tour with a few accompanying heads and directors to check out the new SP gym as well, thats where I got to chance upon him and we chatted for a while with regards to my application to the universities I am gunning for. He reassured me that I won’t go wrong and will have no problems entering the Imperial College, having not only studied there himself but also with the strong ties SP has with Imperial itself. He added that it will be a better choice as a technical college for engineering and research than Cambridge (which is ironically also one of the few Colleges I am gunning for in UK itself). He added that he will also be present at my scholarship prize presentation ceremony next week to witness all the selected SP students receiving the award as well.

Having done training, thereafter I was very much around my usual work W1115 area as a mentor helping out my juniors and undertaking project group members on some technical and software aspects of my gaming motion simulator (which they will be seeing through in their final year project). Few members were there to share their problems about group and management conflicts when forming their “ideal” teams, which I always emphasized is a very critical aspect for a team to be successful through their FYP and I was glad to be much of help in solving and giving advices which set them very much back in pace.

I did a fair bit of reflection thereafter with regards to my university choices, I mean I want to spend a significant amount of time doing research and development after I graduate, as I always want to bring something new and groundbreaking to the world, like the new age of you know!. That too, of course meaning having to do my PhD in the process as well. So the 4 year masters course in Imperial and Cambridge will be the most logical choice for a “fast track”.

I can’t deny that studying in US will be a very enjoyable experience too, with them being the preferred choice for engineering, but I felt I needed a more firm decision of choice myself rather than “going with the flow” or being so flicker minded- having never seen myself so open with so many choices at this crossroads period before. Later do I know that I got a tip off from one of my contacts who knew one of the Engineering Deans from MIT and they are interested in having us meet, whoa MIT, this will be very exciting!

Oh yes, for the record, I’ve got my NYAA Gold offer letter for interview today, double yay!

Look what I got unexpectedly in the mail- A thick blue plastic wrapped package which reads Imperial College London, whoa presents! cool!

Ripping out the contents revealed a full 140 odd full colour printed 2009 prospectus on yes you guessed it, on Imperial College itself. And hey it’s even more posh than the one Trinity of Cambridge sent me. For the record under the 2009 TIMES good university guide, the Imperial College is currently ranked 3rd in UK and 5th in the world, well if ranking matters to you. But studying in Imperial is going to be expensive, considering it being smacked right into the affluent areas of London itself, man will that be a pain in the pocket.

But hey wait a minute, I didn’t request for a prospectus, as I already knew what I wanted online! Mmmm I think they could have sent this out of courtesy from the details I’ve provided my emails with the engineering department. Good on their part.

Was around school yesterday to settle some administrative stuffs, so I was very much busy the whole day, so I will blog on it today (technically at 12am+). My UCAS application to Imperial and Cambridge are almost ready, the thing left are some documents and academic transcripts verified true-copy and ready so I can send them over to the UK and some unis I am banging for in the States. The people at the SP Examinations board were very helpful in getting it all done in a jiff for me, despite requesting for it on walk-in. Was told the representatives from the British council that they can help me with it too, especially sending them over for me. Thereafter I was back in my usual school work area scanning all my certificates into softcopy so they can be submitted online.

I was told from some teaching staff that getting into Cambridge with a Polytechnic background is going to be a worthwide challenge for me and would be something they would strongly see and help me through, especially in the name of SP. I am really appreciative of all their efforts in helping me out in contacts as well as supporting me with testimonials which I feel will help me greatly in my application.

It came to me though that many commented on the Imperial College being one who still have to “sell themselves” to get students in, contrary to Cambridge, so as claimed, it alway seems that getting into Imperial is actually not a problem as many from SP has done so before. A “welcome to apply” reply email from the Imperial college admissions to me reassures that remark as well. In all, good or bad, you still can’t deny that Imperial is one of the world’s top ranking institutions so we have to give credit on that, after all it might be a college I will be studying in.

Since we are on the topic of studies, oh yes, my scholarship provider had sent in the official prize presentation ceremony invitation card few days ago. It is a closed award ceremony for both the Defense Science and Technology Agency scholars held next month in Orchard with Mr Teo Chee Hean as the guest of honor. Looking forward to that!

About 2-3 days after I requested a 2008 prospectus from Cambridge. It arrived in a shiny wrapped blue envelope, the lack of any intrusive airmail postage and the impressive short delivery time probably signals this set of printed documents originating from a repository in Singapore, possibly the British council.

I am intending to apply for a place in Trinity College, thus the relation of the package from Trinity itself. Inside contains a full set admission and application guidelines together with the main college prospectus guide, Q&A guide (though theres nothing in there for Polytechnic students), together with a slip adding the personal touch with compliments from the tutor of admissions Dr Paul Wingfield himself.

I’ve been doing quite a fair bit of research work on major league University admissions. Later do I know that with the exception of the usual contact channels through the rather commendably down-to-earth college admission tutors (we don’t call them “Deans” like we do here in bombastic Singapore) and the respective college unions, online student discussion forums, SP staff, freelance clients to even the people you meet on the streets can provide rather invaluable information as well- little bits of the puzzle I am putting together to prepare myself, especially for the admission interviews ahead.

I was initially quite lost as most of my senior peers and lecturers are mostly Singapore or the most Australian based, and can’t help much on on their experiences and detailed procedures to enter- little critical things for an international student like me with a Singapore Polytechnic Diploma- an exceptional case. This is so as the content published mainstream are for students applying within UK with an ‘A’ level qualification, (let be international students with ‘A’ levels as well) with me neither falling into any of those categories.

Back what?
As much I value feedback and comments, it’s from all these contacts where I also come to know about back door entries as well. Apparently from a mother of a PSC scholar studying in Cambridge, that successful scholars under the president scholarship (PSC) are more or less guaranteed a place in the top universities, so by the organisation writing to the college involved for a conditional place without any interviews at all. PSC is prestigious and powerful, to the extent of being able to defer national service for guys without a doubt too (as highlighted in this particular case well), so you can see the push of power here as well.

However, the government scholarship I am in for don’t think likewise- They have a stand that all their scholars are able to apply and enter their universities of choice based on their own ability, refraining in any aid whatsoever (strangely, despite being a relatively large corporation themselves). This too as they believe that their scholars get far better satisfaction and devotion in entering on their own accord, though the odds are ultimately still on them.

With respect to admissions only, don’t this give PSC scholars an unfair advantage? Given that, if you were to get into a top university (after all those interviews, etc) with a PSC scholar, does this mean that you are more of a self made person than the other who entered based on direct recommendations?

As excited as I am jumping to pounce into completing my mainstream UCAS application for Cambridge, it’s puzzling given the PSC case, knowing that colleges always accepts applications fairly.

I had this funny mixed feeling of happiness yet guilt about going so far and being shortlisted for the final NUS scholarship interviews- As one of my main intentions was to study overseas in the UK, particularly in Cambridge and the Imperial College. I wanted to pull out, but I won’t want to count my chickens before they are hatched despite having my aims set, besides considering myself rather fortunate being having offered a place in NUS as well as NTU (which I kinda declined even though I didn’t applied to study there). Adding to the guilt was now being the critical period for final admissions and appeals with respect to people failing admissions.

I’ve seen both sides of admissions, being rejected into the corner for consecutive years to the contrasting extreme of being treated like god- It definitely made me see more and appreciate the coaxing nature, yet the harshness of university admissions- something which I know many are going through now. I do not intend to use NUS a stepping stone, or even compromising my possible stay in NUS with this public entry, but I just feel that I have to be frank in what I pursue.

However, all those who knew my about situation told me not to pull out so soon and go for the interview instead, emphasizing “whos knows what else can come up?”. I wanted to see how far I can go as well, so there I was last Saturday morning was making my way to the NUS University Hall. The eye opener of that final interview was me being the first person to be interviewed that day out of a handful of 8 on the list for the highly prestigious, yet bond-free NUS global merit scholarship.

So for those who are on or yet to go through the final rounds of the interview, here is the experience: You will be interviewed in the deputy head meeting room of NUS with it being chaired by 5 professors and presumably the main Deans of the whole NUS. The setting is rather corporate board room style and it being 5 versus 1, expect lots of questions to come from all angles as they start questioning you based on your portfolio, if you put it in literal sense.

However, despite how daunting that may sound, the interview actually takes a very casual setting- there are no technical questions and the proffs there are very down to earth and are more interested to know more about you, your future commitments as well as your passions on top of what makes you tick and able to contribute to the college community.

In the end we all ended up chatting like friends, addressing each of key issues and even bringing the whole group to laugh with an occasional joke here and there. I think I did well- abit too well than I intended it to be.

Like with every ending interview, I was all high on jumpy adrenaline thereafter- My mum was like laughing at me on how easy I take interviews now- the normal nerve wrecking experience is all like second nature to be, having gone through almost more than 10 interviews in the last month, it’s always like what I call it: “You are the pieces of a half-finished jigsaw puzzle belonging to your interviewer”.

The results of the scholarship will be out end this month, with the university acceptance period open since 2nd of May. May the best man wins.

Whee! Got a letter from my scholarship provider, the Defense Science Technology Agency today congratulating me on being awarded their scholarship! It will include fully paid fees for overseas studies in a top overseas university (as stated in their letter) including accommodation, not to mention all the nitty gritty book and computer fees as well! Woot! Now I just got to get all those enrollment stuffs settled. UK here I come!

Ultimately, this scholarship is what I will be going for. At this point of time looking at all the unopened NUS letters and enrollment packages they had sent over the past weeks, me ponders should I reject the NUS Global Merit Scholarship offer during their last round of interview next month and maybe give someone else more deserving that place.

Had my NUS Global Merit Interview, it is one of the 2 interviews conducted in consideration for the prestigious Global Merit (GM), undergrad (Merit) or the basic undergrad scholarships. The interview was conducted by 2 Proffs and a Dr, so it’s 3-1, the setting is very done typical meeting table style.

The interesting task of the day was finding the interview location to the Tan Chin Tuan Wing along 21 Kent Ridge Road, or the University Hall, which upon asking for directions come to know about being like a good mile away from my initial landing point in NUS- The Engineering block. That is where I come to learn of and appreciate the rather speedy and efficient shuttle bus service in the campus itself (Why don’t SP have such bus inter-campus bus services?). The interview was cool, reporting to the candidate gathering room on the second level prior to being dispatched to the 4th, the lifts there were awfully slow despite being endowed with 2 of them, but that was where I got to appreciate the architecture and the modern styling of the stairwell better too, ironically. It was only 5-10mins upon entering the building and going face to face with the interviewers, rather a rush job but at least I wasn’t late. It went well, no hiccups.

Strangely, though I didn’t applied for NTU, got an email from my school asking that they were rather interested in inviting me for a session where they can run me through their programs offered as well as the scholarships available for me, but isn’t the application period over already?