Typical "kiasu" syndrome

[spiderpig]

Kiasu, dialect (which, I forgot) for "scared of losing", is a trait prevalent in almost all Singaporeans. It manifests in everyway possible from parents throwing their children into a sea of "enrichment" classes that range from swimming to violin to art, just to seem more clever than other children. I swear kids these days have no real childhood.

So I have been infected with this "disease". Actually, it's one of those good-bad entities like... white-blood vessels. Kiasu-ism enables the average procrastinator to stop lounging around and be motivated to work. Then again, it can make us into paranoid robots. :\ Which is usually the case. Anyhow, being the early-planner that I am (>__> I started planning for college when I was 14? *glances at file*), I have come up with a list of US universities that I am considering.

Why only US? That's because in of the three Singapore universities, I'd most probably be going to the National University of Singapore (NUS) as the courses are good and they have the courses I want to do. So that's out of the list. Oxford or whatever England-based university will be too damn expensive since the exchange rate between the UK and Singapore is 3:1. (That probably is the most outstanding reason. 'coz I've always wanted to go to Oxford.) @__@ I don't want to go to Australia for reasons I shan't name ('lest I offend some people) so it leaves me with the US of A. Honestly, Australia has this "you'll go there if you can't make it in Singapore" type of vibe (which usually only applies to the business students? I don't know!! DON'T KILL ME!!) and it is quite costly. With all the anti-Chinese-ism going around lately... Oh well. My philosophy is that if I can a) get a scholarship or b) have the money to go abroad, I'd rather "splurge" it on a quality college.

Anyway, back to the reasons why I choose the USA. Firstly, US degrees are quite well known, or one of the most well known, around here. I mean, say "I'm a Harvard graduate" and people will go "Oooooooh... ahhhh...." etc. Stereotypical, I know. That's why if I can't make it to the US, I'll just get a NUS degree which, in my own opinion, is just as good. And a hell lot cheaper XD Secondly, I have relatives in the US (mainly in New York, but I have friends in San Fransisco too), so I don't think I'll die there and have my parents worry who will take care of the body and send it back. :\ Thirdly, although US college education is much more expensive than the local and Australian colleges, it's cheaper than going to England. >_> A lame reason, I know. Haha.

I'm leaning towards liberal arts colleges or universities that have good liberal arts (omfg I typed it as "liveral") courses, since I want to try to pursue a career in the media (e.g journalism, editting, script-writing, maybe even acting?!). Uh huh. >__>


Amherst College
Brown University
Claremont McKenna College
Cornell University
Dartmouth University
Harvard College (wtf? How can I not put this here?!)
Lafeyette College
New York University
Swarthmore College



Belmont University
Boston University
Duke University
UCB (HAHA WILLIAM HUNG >_>)
Yale (friggin' expensive @__@)



I'm entreating your help because living in Singapore, restricts my knowledge about good liberal arts colleges in the US, since we usually only hear about the IVY LEAGUE!!! group. Ha ha. The colleges don't have to be super well known or anything, but as long as they're good...

Comments

[shingo-emma.livejournal.com]

Lol... not offended at all.

I mean... it's actual a sore point for australian uni students at the moment... since foreign students pay 4x, the unis are making it easier for foreigners to get in, and cutting back on places for australians ^^;;

I can say whole heartedly that any anger is directed at the money grubby unis and government, rather than foreign students... Since they want to hike up everyone's fees at the moment. And also from the experience of working in the international student department in the University of Canberra... you have no idea how many people are knocked back. I was working on the files on applicants/current students, and the files of current students amounted to less that a fifth or sixth of applications for one semester (and UC is not what i would call one of Australia's top Unis).

Now I'm not trying to sell you Australia here, but i think you should still try to consider it. From pouring over applications, it is the buisness stream where all the dropkicks from their own countries go (from MANY countries, just not singapore)... And i don't think the majority end up in the better schools either. Australia also has some really strong media schools (such as NIDA, and other i can't remember atm, where people like Mel Gibson, and other top australian actors have been to ^^;;).

But you have to remember American is getting harder and harder to get into... Hence why Australia is picking up the slack at the moment. Harvard and such are also insanely expensive... my cousin is currently at Harvard, and I could buy a 4WD and more with the money she has to fork out per semester on fees, let alone all the other expenses she incurs.

and... anti china-ism? ::blanks::

Anyhow, if you play your cards right, you'll be fine ^o^

[izzyferret.livejournal.com]

Ivy League = OVER RATED. I'm sorry, companies will want to hire you, but what good is that if you wasted your college life? And yeah, Ivy League schools, such as Harvard, are VERY expensive. And they're all like...law/business schools. (I guess if you want to go into business that's good for you!)

Uhh, but anyway, if you want a liberal arts school, there's a TON of them. We have a lot more than 3 universities, so you have to specify more than just "a liberal arts college in America". You have a choice of areas! You can go to the north east, the north west, the midwest, the southeast, the south west...

If you go to BU you can visit me! But in all seriousness...uhm. Well, there's the University of Vermont. It's close to Canada, and it's REALLY pretty up there. That's my suggestion.

[spiderpig.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I think Australian universities are great in some ways! (Just minus the business school students from Singapore XDXD) My cousin went to... Swinburne (?) because it was one of the few unis offering the course she wants to take, which I think is cool (it being the few universities).

BUT in the end, I'd most probably stay in Singapore XD. It's much much much cheaper. *STINGY!!!*

[spiderpig.livejournal.com]

I know! It's really annoying how people here keep on going "if you don't go to an Ivy League school in America, you'll just be wasting your tiiiimmme", because they don't know of any other schools. :\ Argh! But then again, the schools do have some sort of standard, but I guess half the time students are stressed to the tips of their hair. >__>

Weeeeeelll, I just generalized it 'coz I have no real preference? XD()() Every where is far for me. >_>()() So, I'm just looking for good ones? HOHO. I'M NOT BEING SPECIFIC AT ALL. ;__;

Gosh, Harvard is fucking expensive. I think I checked it out last June and nearly fainted. The only thing that came into my mind was "SCHOLARSHIP DAMNIT!!!" XD()() Actually, the US is only valid for me if I ever get any scholarship(s), because I'd probably go into debt for 30 years if I ever took a bank loan. My parents... don't have the money anymore. ;___;

Oh well, one can dream!

[shadsdf.livejournal.com]

Roughly $6000 per semester US$ for international students to come to MUN, and we have a good business school [not as good as engineering, which is 7th best worldwide >_>].

I pay about $3000, though if I wasn't in res and drove out every day it would be $1000. Although there was a controversy lately over raising fees, so I dont know how long that will last... ><

*cheapest university in Canada* WHEE.