Confessions from the Lunatic Fringe

I write; in 15mins

2011-09-07T19:47:00.001+08:00

People keep pestering me: how do you write about yourself in 500 words? Too short!

I agree. It is tough. So I decided to try; I gave myself 20mins max; I always believe it either is or it isn't, 4 hours or 15mins, the result is always ultimately the same. So here it is:

@@@@@@@@@@@

The first time I traveled – my mother bought me a ticket to go to college. She said – Go. And find out for yourself what the world is, what you are. No arrangements. Nobody to pick me up. I made my lone way to college.

Dinesen said: The world is a locked box. And man is a locked box. In each, lies the key to each other.

My mother grew up in poverty, never was motivated to work hard. Never had much ambition; Life circumscribed her lot. But she learned via a different road she walked, and she wanted me to have what she did not. She said: Go decide what you want in Life; have no regrets later.

Since that first flight, I have travelled ceaselessly. Not so much the first few years, which mainly involved long greyhound bus-rides, exploring nameless towns, talking to people whose names I never asked nor remembered – the owners of the secondhand bookshop above the candle-shop, beside my college; the owner of the Hongkong Restaurant which served such amazing dimsum-balls, that was what they called it on the menu; the lady who lost her two fishes on the bus and cried by the road.

Post-college, I learned to circle further. The long drive out of Phnom Penh, down uncharted dust-roads, until we stumbled on a group of boys who made a living catching tiny frogs for fishbait in the flooded padi-fields, by a granite-mining site. The 104 year old monk who ran a school and orphanage outside Yangon, on offerings from believers for some 1600 kids; at 9pm, in the kerosene light, they were chanting A-B-C-D-E. The sandwich shop lady in LA, who was so happy for someone to walk into her shop – we spent an hour talking about everything, she insisted I looked like someone who drove trailer-trucks, a trucker, before she gave me my sandwich; the innumerable individuals who spent hours trying to tell me about their lives in my office, as I pretended to look disinterested. Each and every one of them, I cannot say I remember, but I can tell you I forgot not one.

More than 100 different cities later, if I were ever summoned before the Maker to account for how I have fruitfully spent my life, I have nothing to offer, but this: the arabesque of my Byzantium memory, of all these people and places. This is what I sought, this is what I saw, this is what I felt – these are all part of who I am.

A friend asked me on my birthday recently, what would you do if you were the richest man in the world? I would buy a ticket for every kid in my school and that I have ever met, and send them off – no map, no guide, no pre-arrangement. Go out into the unknown. Explore. That is how it was meant to be. That was how life was meant to be lived.

Dinesen was right. The more you see of the world, the more your know yourself. The more of yourself you accept, the better you will learn to comprehend the world.

Today, my mother is in Xinjiang, China. I think it is her turn to also see the world too. Sometimes, our paths cross. We meet, like opportune strangers; we laugh. We are thankful.

And we part.

K.Sim
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500 words

2011-08-30T08:34:00.001+08:00

Since I have to work on a public holiday, I might as well blog. ;)

I am sure, I should be, the chorus of indignation of: "What? Only 500 words?" should have reached a certain frenzy by now. If you have yet to realize, commonapp essay has a suggested word limit of 500.

I have been saying quite often that- a life which can be written in 500 words ought not to be written. People misunderstand. What I meant was - with such a limit, do not try to write a sweeping essay which attempts to catalogue your life. Try a day. An incident. A minute. Afterall, you are attempting to give us an idea of who you are via a brief. Hence find the moment/incident/whatever that best crystalizes "you" and present it on paper.

Note: do not spend time describing details. Cut to the chase. Quickly move on to what you are trying to say. Try innovative forms of writing. Have fun trying. So that it might be fun, too, for the reader.

About a month ago, I met up with someone from bukit timah JC. I read his essay. I kind of demolished it, in usual frankness and swiftness, like a vampire in a vegan shop having a beetroot sale.

Problem is, everyone starts an essay with a hidden list of activities and what not he/she thinks would best illustrate what a wonderful applicant he/she is. And then finds ways to insert them into the essay, regardless of relevance.

Point is - activities/achievements do not tell me who you are.

After ravaging the essay and telling him to dump it into the rubbish bin. I told him to rewrite, from scratch. This is often the best way to rewrite, with no regard for the predecessor-essay. Start afresh. Then you have no baggage to carry.

If you are reading this, bukit timah JC boy, the essay you emailed me two days later was absolutely wonderful to read. I'm glad you got my point in twenty minutes. :) And I could feel, reading it, that you enjoyed writing it this time round. Sorry for not replying your email; you know me.

What have I been doing? Why not blog posts? I have been trooping around developing countries in the region doing work. Wonderful thing is: I am joined on by ex-counselees spanning 12 years. Glad that they are also interested in something beyond "self". :)

On my birthday I had a phone call: "Hello you might not remember me, I am XXX, your student from 10 years ago (wrong, actually 12, I remember haha), I have not contacted you all these while so you might not remember me (I do). I just wanted to wish you happy birthday! And wonder if you would come for my wedding next year, if you are not too busy."

Haha. Of course I would. Silly. Of course.

Back to doing work.

Banshee of Bishan

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Bishan JC

Essays you think they do not want to read

2011-07-23T11:33:00.001+08:00

I was sitting across M as she was talking to a kid who is reapplying this year again; I was emailing.

Then I heard the kid mumble something.

Me: Say that again.
Kid: @repeats himself@
Me: Elaborate please.
Kid: @elaborates@
Me: So why didn't you tell anyone or include that in your essay?
Kid: Is that even something anyone wants to know or read about?
Me: Well, I think it is an essential part of your life and who you are so why wouldn't admissions wanna know?
Kid: Oh I thought they were looking for something else??

I think part of the problem with essay writing is that people often think there is set formula by which essays are written. Most "cunningly", actually it is not, use the essay to showcase their "abilities", elaborate on their CCAs and achievements, etc. But frankly, how much more of canoeing/winning a soccer match/falling off a bicycle do I need to know? Is it even useful information? Usually I tell people, if you have to use your achievements to illustrate your worth as a unique human being, you cannot be too interesting. What happened to the rest of you? There must be more; maybe you should start by looking at the other bits??

A kid came in and showed me an essay which detailed how she committed a mistake, what it was, how 5 years later she realized the magnitude of her mistake and how she has decided to change for the better.

Over 800 words. I asked her, if I wrote:

I once made a mistake but now I realized I was wrong and I am truly repentant.

Would it not be the same as her whole essay which melodramatized, seemingly, every action and second of the experience. Isn't there something more to the experience? So what from then onwards? How did that incident/lesson change you beyond that one epiphany? Is there a relevance to a later discourse you are attempting?

Essays shouldn't be so formulaic.

1. Tell a story.
2. Have a formula of: I did wrong but I realized and changed for better.
3. End with a "moral of the story" summation.

Frankly, I think individuals are more sophisticated and multifaceted than that; this is too Aesop's fables simple.

No?

Loitering in school on a Saturday because Daniel Grayson is on campus giving a talk!

Kevin

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Essay advice

2011-06-24T09:13:00.001+08:00

Someone emailed: I am trying to write my essay but it doesn't seem like a good essay. Can you please give me an invaluable piece of advice even if it is five words?

Erm. Now I'm suppose to be some Chinese kungfu sage living on top of some mountain dispensing 5 worded epiphanies.

Advice:
Do not write an essay.

If you get what I mean.

More soon. Running off for a meeting (I'm actually lying in bed, snore)

KS

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New media

2011-05-20T18:51:00.001+08:00

Blogging from the phone. I am now so New-Media-Royalty! Move over, TPL!

Sitting at a Spinelli so I decided to take a picture of my shoe while lounging on a couch to prove my superiority over Kate Spade; Bally shoes ftw.

Ok now I also learned to upload photo. :)

Will blog from phone now while on the move! Cheers all. Update very soon.

Baron of Bishan
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Bishan Blog

2011-04-08T22:10:00.002+08:00

For limited time only:

thebishanblog.blogspot.com

since ppl kept complaining on email zzz

TOO LAZY

2011-03-24T20:11:00.002+08:00

Ok this blog is too messy and read by too many. I AM ToO LAZY TO REFORMAT IT SO I AM MAKING A NEW ONE!

If you are one of my ex-counselees from my more than a decade of counseling, er, email me, will give you new address.

Otherwise, in the true spirit of KS - good luck finding it! :)

I think it will be up by tomorrow. If I have the time.

KS

Back

2010-10-26T06:55:00.003+08:00

If you have sent me an EMAIL which I have not replied, please email again. Sorry, it must be buried under.

Please, for sanity's sake, do not email me any essays to read unless it is for EA/ED. Thanks. I try to read each and every.

KS

5 hr bus ride

2010-10-09T21:13:00.001+08:00

On a 5 hour bus ride back to Williamstown; 4 years since I was last back there. Thank god for wifi on bus! :)
KS

Talks by Brown, UoT, USC and Notre Dame

2010-10-05T10:57:00.002+08:00

University of Toronto
6th, Wed, 330pm
SR 7

Nagoya University
7th, Thursday, 415pm
Student Services Centre

Brown University
8th, Friday, 415pm
Mini Theatre (above SSC)

USC
11th, Monday, 2pm
SSC

Notre Dame Uni
11th Monday, 4pm
SSC

UPENN Session Tomorrow at Asian Civilization Museum

2010-10-05T00:30:00.001+08:00

Tuesday,
October 5, 2010
7:00 p.m.
"Introduction to the University of Pennsylvania"
Singapore
The Asian Civilizations Museum
Ngee Ann Auditorium
1 Empress Place

Last Talk of the Year

2010-10-04T21:42:00.002+08:00

Because I am leaving on Friday for US, final talk for the year will be held earlier this year.

I do not know what I am going to talk about, but it will be generally this:

Last Advice for Those Applying Overseas.
Date/Time: Wed, 330pm
Venue: LT4.

Sign up please.

Kevin

Someone said

2010-09-29T15:35:00.003+08:00

Someone's email:

"I clicked on “older posts” and read and read till there were no older posts to go on and had many good laughs at your anecdotes. And looking at the gems of advice you have in there, I regret that as a student I did not attend any of your talks. I also regret not having approached you earlier, being intimidated by some of the things I’ve heard about you (there is an urban myth that you dismiss people without 2300s immediately).

Well, that trepidation dissolved when I met you last week, and by beginning our correspondence I am hence ready to face up to your brutal honesty, because one thing I learnt reading all those blog entries was that the application process is about so much more than getting into a university. For all the eighteen year-olds (or twenty as I am), it is the opportunity to round-off a decade of blooming existence with some honest evaluation of where life’s journey has taken them and chart the route ahead for a roaring twenties. Like drawing up another five-year plan in good old Communist Russia. I know that even if I fail to get admitted, this reflection on the events of my life hitherto had made me distill through my history, the places I’ve been, the people I’ve met and the things I’ve done for the very essence of my self-worth."

Alas. The dark dissipates for one! :)

Keep thinking. Keep writing.

KS
p.s. Alas today I had to use my brutal honesty again on a student - "Ok now, you, shut up and listen to what I am trying to say..."; Ex-student standing on the side gawks in horror.
But we all had a good laugh at the end of it, me, the poor child involved, ex-student and Mayee. Ha ha.
Honesty is important. x.x

Hello

2010-09-27T21:15:00.003+08:00

I have been laid low by a terrible fever for the past 4 odd days. Crap. Especially this period of the year.

Hence, when I opened my email box after 4 days, it was a loooooong list. So if you have emailed me, or even SMSed me, please be patient. I am still feeling a bit woozy. And I have ten thousands things waiting for me to do. :(

One important question: How should I choose schools? Does it really matter WHICH school I end up going to?

Frankly?

1. When "choosing schools" - while it might be an unavoidably narcissistic endeavor - please remember that apposing this process is the process of schools choosing applicants too. More often than not, despite whatever they might say about the importance of self-belief, schools choose applicants more than applicants choose schools. Fact - the pool is very competitive in these recent years.

2. Hence, there is a need to consider the notion of "fit". Treat college selection as a two-way process, a relationship. More importantly, the highly ranked one, or the most beautiful individual, might not be the best "fit" or choice in this relationship.

3. Many parents will say - this is such a losers' logic (they have told me so often before). Why? I think it is because too many, especially here in Singapore, see education, the paper you get eventually, as an end. And completely fail to understand that what is important about an overseas education is more than just the degree with the attached reputation of the institution. What happened to the process? You mean we only go to college to 'study' in the strictest sense of the word? Really, that paper alone, if you take nothing else back from your education, will really not buy you much of a future.

4. I think many people fail to understand the many unimagined opportunities and lessons one can find in college, beyond mugging for a good GPA (having said that - GPA is still important). Remember, the best schools are also most well known for the environment, diversity and opportunities, not for their gold-gilded certificates.

5. This is the same reason why I don't like to talk about schools like Harvard. Why? Because after many years, very very few people can articulate to me very convincingly why they want to go to Harvard or Princeton or any of the highly selective institutions. I can think of at least 10 just off my head - very convincing and salient arguments; but I have yet to hear of even a few. The worse I have heard of? Because Harvard has a great economics department. Sorry, I really roll my eyes at these. Someone told me - because Harvard has a great spread of majors. Uh huh. Or only Princeton can make me fulfill my potential. X.X

6. When you say I have to go to X school or else I won't go. Because X school is good. Hence without X school, why bother going. Are you implying without X school, you will then not emerge premium? Does this not prove already the fact - that you are so unremarkable, that without X, you would be nothing? That you can only be the best if you have X? Please, have some faith. In yourself. Not only the school.

7. It is senseless to compare X vs Y. Because at any given school, the experience will be different. There will be trade-offs on any choice you make. But at the end of the day, it will all be so different, that it is not even logical to even compare. Hence, the notion of fit, sometimes with a bit of risk-taking and self-belief, is worth considering.

Hence, apply to a range of schools. Make sure you explain your rationale to your parents; we are all victims of culture, era and limited information, until we decide to open our minds and see the world for what it is. And wherever you end up, know that there is an amazing experience waiting for you, a great education - as long as you make an effort to make the most out of the opportunities you will be afforded. Choose. Be brave. Because you will also be 'choosen'. Life goes on. We need not always get what we want in order to flourish and thrive. Nah - that is for the real losers. We, the real people, thrive, despite of it all.

Am I making sense, or am I too medicine-addled?
KS

UNI FAIR

2010-09-20T16:43:00.004+08:00

This is open to WHOLE SINGAPORE.

Brandeis Uni, Case Western Uni, Carnegie Mellon Uni, Emory Uni, New York Uni, Rochester Uni - College Fair
Date: 22/9/10
Time: 5-6pm
Venue: Stamford Training Room (Beside Mana Cafe) at Raffles Institution

Please feel free to drop by.

Kevin Sim

In cambodia

2010-09-17T16:49:00.000+08:00

In PP with Brown.

Fun.

Oxford Interviews

2010-09-13T21:33:00.002+08:00

All Oxford interviews, via Skype, will be held at Raffles Institute, to make the organisation easy for all involved. The school has kindly agreed to allow me to use the facility to run the entire Oxford Interview.

Interviews will be held from 6th to 17th of Dec.

However, we are currently trying to see if it is possible to finish it within a week - to make it easier for applicants who need to return to their home countries after the A levels.

Please note, that not all applicants will be interviewed this year; this is a change from the previous years.

Whether you will be interviewed or not: the decision will be out about mid November.

This is all the information we have for now, while we work through the whole works of trying to set up the whole process for the whole Singapore Oxford cohort.

Cheers,
Kevin

Ha ha.

2010-09-13T13:28:00.002+08:00

Conservation with teacher:

T: Hey students complain to their teachers you show favoritism, they say it is evident on your blog.
Me: Eh, where?
T: Donno. Maybe from the thank you letters from students?
Me: Maybe you should talk to those students - they are usually the ones who got the brunt of my honesty, wept, were able to understand what I am trying to say - then went on to work on their applications with a more sane-state-of-mind. And eventually got in on their own merits.
T: Oh ya, true. But you know how these students are so kiasu, so they like to imagine things.
Me: Eh - you ask Mayee, who watches me counsel student - I am super honest to all. And I am equally open to an invite to "hey Mr Sim, wanna have coffee in canteen?" froma anyone, as long as I have time. But all too often, people come in and say "Please help me get into a top school" and get my very honest opinions about the process, and go away unhappy - because they think they did not receive any 'magic formula' from me.
T: So what is the magic formula?
Me: Self-awareness and reflection. The college admissions process is one which would require you to recalibrate your sense of place and worth, rethink your life is a larger scheme of things (coz you are now competing with all international students and are moving out of the microcosmos of 'school life'). Most people believe an aggregate of scores, results and CCAs culminates in an admission letter; I wish it were that simple.
T: So there is no like 'game' to play?
Me: If you think there is, go play it. But there is none.
T: Ya, I also think there is nothing objectionable on your blog. Haiya, all these despo kids.
Me: Ha ha.

Talk by Columbia, Northwestern, Georgetown, Princeton.

2010-09-13T13:25:00.001+08:00

Talk by Columbia, Northwestern, Georgetown, Princeton.

Date: 15th Sept (Wednesday)
Venue: LT2, Raffles Institution
Time: 7pm.

ALL (reguardless who you are or where you're from) are welcome!

Kevin

Szechuan dinner

2010-09-01T13:59:00.001+08:00

Those who have not, did not, email me. Last 12hrs to. No need to be shy. Anyone, whichever school, is welcome to join.

Those who did, email u tomorrow with details.
KS

It is okay not to know - a piece of advice for those who worry (written in 15 mins)

2010-08-31T21:56:00.003+08:00

I got on very well with Simone in college; we had the same hobby – going to the 24-hr supermarket when all is quiet, the shoppers few, the sky all dark, when friends are busy working or drinking or playing bridge – in the night we steal out in her car, to go shopping: way past midnight.

I remember, being very Singaporean, on my first run to a 24-hour supermarket, having already in the car-ride enroute to the supermarket, planned my purchases, imagined the placement of the target products on their respective aisles; I was a commando-shopper, trained in the Asian art of speed shopping. To maximize time.

I remember walking through the dark and cool open air parking area, through the automatic doors which opened with suitable majesty; about to rush off, I told Simone – See you at the aisle soon, I’ll see where everything is placed. She stopped me and said – Stop it. Enjoy!

I remember we went to the left-most end of the supermarket – the place was huge, the ceiling was uncustomarily high, the aisle space wide and quiet. Then we began to explore, each and every aisle and shelf.

It was also on these trips, we saw many things, over many different excursions on our 4 years there – a man wielding knives in the kitchen appliance section, swinging two large knives as if he were an apprentice ninja, while wearing a large pot over his head; when he saw me, an Asian, he gave me a mock kungfu bow, before sheepishly replacing the knives and pushing his trolley away. We witness an old woman opening cartons of orange juice, drinking some of each pack, before replacing them back to the shelves. At the spice section, a couple actually asked me how do Chinese people make those amazing “Mandarin Orange Chicken”; I disabused them of the notion that there was something called Mandarin Orange Chicken in the ancient kingdom of China, it was just a western invention of fried chicken drowned in saccharine marmalade; they remained unconvinced and asked where I came from – I said Singapore, they ruminated: What? Where’s that? Hawaii?

It was also along these aisles, I discovered the beauty of McCain’s pocket pizza. Microwaved, the fillings scalded the tongue in a weird delicious gush of cheese, sauce and accidental piece of pepperoni. Perfect for winter. Perfect, after the odd hour shopping excursion, over a cup of hot chocolate. And tartare sauce and muffins. Disgusting in that combination. But when I made teriyaki chicken, toasted some muffins, put the chicken in between, with a mild helping of tartare sauce, it became a rage in college; one day they even made me cook for the whole dorm. I threw a lot of oyster sauce on the meat I cooked on an electric barbeque hot plate, teppanyaki style, with some teriyaki sauce, soya sauce and rice. They all called me a food wizard – they were just drugged by MSG I figured. My hair smelled like burned Asian sauces for the next one week, or it was my nose hair I was smelling.

It was also along these aisles, I found my best friend, who stayed with me all four years of college, Simone; she even came to visit me in Singapore, before her wedding; she said before she belonged to someone else, she wanted to see me as herself. It was also here when I told her I needed to quit school to go back home, because of the Asian crisis, that she offered to sell her stocks, her inheritance, to help me fund my education; while we were choosing which oranges to buy, she calmly and unhesitatingly suggested the plan. It was scuttled when I bought Scratchies and won the top prize the following week; Life provided where I thought there was no hope. I stayed on. We continued out post-midnight adventures.

We once also saw, on a very cold winter night, someone sleeping at the lowest rack of a shelf, on top of a whole bed of towels – a woman with a child; one of the employees walked past, shrugged and said – no harm. We agreed. No harm. Simone left a ten dollar note tucked into the woman’s jacket. No harm.

Hence, recently when a lot of people have been wandering into my office – they worried: My friends all know where they are going, they are going to get to their destinations in the shortest time; while I really do not know where I am going. They know what they want to do. I don’t. How? Am I doomed?

You know, the world is turned by people who know what they are doing and where they are going. But it really was discovered by people who did not know where they were going and weren’t afraid to venture into the unknown, take some risk with whimsical chance, brave the lack of certainty, but still eventually get somewhere.

And even today. There is still a lot more of the world, life and its burgeoning opportunities, to be explored.

It is okay not to know. Especially when you are young – because that is the only time you can still afford not to know.

Blessed are those who know what they want and where to go. Blessed are those too, who remain free to discover and experience everything anew.

Writing this, I kind of miss Simone. I can’t find her anymore, not even on facebook; I do not know her married last name. I do not know where she is.

But, I think, it is okay not to know.

I am still exploring the world, about 120 cities now. Sometimes I think I will bump into her again, by some weird mathematical formula of chance. Probably at some 24 hour supermart, way past midnight; I’ll hang around the fruit section where they place the oranges: call it a gut-feeling.

Ok

2010-08-31T10:39:00.002+08:00

I read 2 more essays.

Less finished than the incandescent. But definitely compelling in their own ways, given more revisions.

I see a lot of mimicry - but one of them pointed out, it was inevitable for many. I take imitation, of my essay talks, as a consolation. But eventually, I have to say, the attempt to mimic gave way to more pronounced voices of the writers. Now all they have to do is revise - in their own voices.

Nice.

I have finished ALL essays submitted so far. I think. Barring Zombie King's. Which just came in.

KS

TALKS

2010-08-31T08:57:00.001+08:00

Richmond University, Conneticut College, Franklin and Marshall College, Vassar College, Wheaton College
Date/Time: 1st Sept (Wed), 0900-1000hrs
Venue: Raffles Institution
Stamford Training Room (beside MANA CAFE, right after you enter main gate)
This is open to EVERYONE

Interviews with Smith College, Kalamazoo College, Bowdoin College
Date: 5th Sept (Sunday) 0900 onwards
Venue: Raffles Institution (proceed to my office)
While this is mainly for bishanians, if I have a spare slot, I can always slot you in

Tufts University
Date/Time: 8th Sept (Wed) 1000-1100
Venue: Raffles Institution, SR5
Open to everyone

Reed College, Skidmore College
Date/Time: 9th Sept (Thurs) 1100-1200
Venue: Raffles Institution, SR5
Open to everyone

Bishanians be warned. If you are applying, or thinking of applying, please get your lazy bums down to these talks; snore, so don't make me roll my eyes at you, there are obvious benefits to attending. Some are also very generous schools, in terms of financial aid, and have a long history of recruiting able students from Bishan and Singapore. So you have been warned.

KS

Incandescent

2010-08-30T21:06:00.002+08:00

Finally someone wrote something incandescent.

His universe struggled, heaved, travailed - and an imaginatively original essay was born.

This will probably be quite the definitive essay for this year, even though its still so early in the process.

Someone actually pays attention to my writing hints; or actually catches them. Nice. I feel exonerated. x.x

Haha.

Rumors are rumors

2010-08-29T11:19:00.003+08:00

Rumor:
People have been coming back tom y office, saying their scholarship officers and friends have been stating - if you are applying to LSE and Oxbridge, choose one. Because if you apply to both, LSE will not admit you, because LSE is trying to prove that they are very selective too and is an equal alternative to Oxbridge.

Facts:
1. Your scholarship officers and friends/seniors ought to be slapped.
2. LSE, fortunately, is not as idiotic as the above people.
3. You do not know how UCAS works - when you make your 5 choices (or 4 for medicine), these choices are NOT revealed to any of the schools you are applying to. (if you believe in a conspiracy theory and think this is just a lie concocted to dupe you by UCAS, you should - put your third finger from your right hand into your right nostril, then stick out your left hand and depress the power switch on your comp and hold for 5 seconds) Then we are free from you. Yeah.
4. If you did not know about point 3. then you have also not shown a sufficiently healthy skepticism about information to do your own research; all you need is 3 mins and you can find out online how UCAS works. Meaning, you really need to behave in a less brainless manner.

If you realize you have just committed minor-hari-kiri by omitting LSE or Oxbridge due to the above rumor, you might want to revisit your UCAS and hope that you have not submit it - because if you did, even I cannot help you! Then go hunt down those perpetrators and smack them.

*rolls eyes*

HAHA.

This is as bad as the rumor someone came in and said: Princeton will most likely admit you, if you apply ED, because you are showing you don't like the other top schools.
Fact:
1. Princeton is hyper selective, hence just because you ED, doesn't mean we do not look at your results and others components of your application.
2. If you failed to realize, Princeton cancelled their ED several years back........
3. Princeton is not an 18 year old who makes decisions based on these crazy whims and fancies.

KS

Pls Take Note

2010-08-26T18:50:00.004+08:00

This is open to ALL Singaporeans from any institution.
Conditions:

1. From a low income family (way below average).
2. Non grad parents.
3. Basically - disadvantaged background, having to go a longer way to get where you are today.
4. Doing very well in school.
5. Have competitive credentials beyond just school grades.
6. Singapore citizen.
7. In JC 1 or 2 and above. (people in army can also be considered)

Please contact me. We are 'pre-launching' a foundation which will:
1. Provide for your college application process. (fees and all)
2. Assist in getting you admitted to a top college. (you will have to work with me, unfortunately)
3. Pay for your education to a select choice of colleges in US & UK.

This is for college attendance for 2011 or 2012 (deferment is ok for NSmen).

Please note that we have our own selection process and reserve all rights for our choices.

Do write to me with some basic background information or information you feel I need to know, including:
1. Family income (pls provide specifics).
2. Address.
3. Family educational background, including siblings.
4. Your results, plus releveant standardized tests.

All information will be treated as confidential.

Thanks.
Kevin

Essays and more essays; and some food

2010-08-25T21:24:00.004+08:00

Someone said something which I thought - proved she has finally arrived at essay-writing-haven. "You can't sit down and force an essay out, you can't find it through sheer discipline, the essay has to find you."

Essay writing is also a self-reflective process, or rather requires it, before something good might emerge. Few can write good and compelling essays at will.

And she wrote a good first draft of a potentially very compelling essay. Well done. All my "storytelling" has not been in vain.

Guy who wrote about FOOTBALL, you left the coversheet with my comments on your essay on my desk - you only took back your essay but not the comments sheet. It was a good essay - so do come see how you can improve it.

Any for Szechuan food? Next Friday dinner? My treat. Just email me; although limited place only; I have yet to strike toto this year, so can't be free flow for all. Zzz. (THIS IS OPEN TO ANYONE FROM ANYWHERE TOO)

The Madhouse

2010-08-18T20:24:00.002+08:00

My office is becoming quite a mad house, a confluence point where the exotic creatures (interesting ones) gather, like some serengeti waterhole.

A 7th month female ghost, a Dong Fang Bu Bai and his loyal Indonesian courtier, a Jock who isn't, an Econs/Chem/Math God, an Australian Architect, and some mad characters. (I say this with some fondness). Me and Mayee have been laughing our heads off.

Oh well, at least it is fun.

Read a few more essays. Some more glimpses of salvation is afforded to me. Some people gleaned some inspirations (from the talk I hope) and their universes travailed, and some good essays were born.

One rather imaginative piece, another full of passion, albeit unwieldy. Not too bad. We are getting there. I think. :)

What talk should I give next?

Hope

2010-08-17T15:04:00.003+08:00

After ploughing through the essays today (ok only about 8-10), I came across 2 essays which brought relief and redemption. Ha ha. One was:
1. Funny
2. Passionate
3. Tongue in cheek

Other was:
1. Contemplative
2. Intelligent
3. Sensitive
4. Interested in the world at large and in people and things around him

Both were:
1. Revealing about the applicant (with information which was useful)
2. Genuine and compelling
3. Insightful - showed that applicant was observant, curious, etc
4. Strong sense of personal style - the 'voice' was distinct

I fell in love. Then I burned the rest of the essays for 7th month ghost festival. The ashes floated peacefully away, and someone gets to read them in the netherworld. More punishment, apparently. Ha ha.

Haha.

Kevin

A few comments

2010-08-14T10:43:00.003+08:00

Read a few essays this week, some comments:

1. You should not try too hard; some people find a metaphor and then try to squeeze everything they want to say into the metaphor. Ie: life is like a bowl if Laksa - then go on to describe, by ingredient, taste and color, how your life co-relates to them. Such an essay reads very badly - it really is 'trying to hard'.
2. It is NOT the metaphors which will win you friends when people read it, it is your own observations, your own views and ideas, and you do not have to go to those lengths to craft together such unwieldy examples.
3. I said to look at the common things in your life; but try not to valorize things which should not be 'epic' - not every essay needs to be 'epic': ie do not speak about that first excursion to the zoo as if it were a trip to Africa where you ran with the wild wildebeest herds.
4. Don't focus so hard on writing so much - you lose your voice, where the essay reads like a 'statement' and I cannot 'hear' the person and personality in it.
5. Essays ought to be 'natural', not forced.
6. Do not lose sight of what you set out to convey and do not forcefully insert pre-prepared lists of events/ideas/achievements into the essay if they do not fit in well.

Malaysian boy who walked me out to NJC gates, contact me.

KLIA

2010-08-08T16:09:00.002+08:00

At KL intl airport and typing on iPad. Came to give talks.

Feel bad that people came all the way from Singapore even though they are not malaysians even. Zzz. I will state it very clearly that I have often volunteered to give talks at some institutions but they have routinely turned me down, due to very sectarian and parochial reasons. Lol, this is such a roll eyes moment - they don't want me to talk to their students coz I am from bishan jc (apparently competing school).

For myself, and my kids as well, you will find bishan institution (and bishanians) an open place. If u get a uniform n slip in for my talks, I really couldn't care less; we believe in sharing. Or if u can round up 10 or more people, I can be summoned (like some mythical pokemon). Or have a macodonalds party, I will come. Lol.

This kl trip marks the 82 trip out of Singapore in 3 odd years. Zzz. The amount of time I spend being bored at airports is amazing.

Someone emailed me if I am having dumplings parties this year. Dunno. Anyone wanna eat dumplings?

Kevin @ KLIA

Full circle; essay talk

2010-08-06T21:59:00.002+08:00

Today, I asked a kid sitting across from me in my office (yes can you believe it, I was booked out from 9am to 7pm on a non-school day, zzz): what does your mother do? Only to realize this was the son of my form teacher in Secondary School (I was her first batch of student). I told the child, this is one day you should feel very thankful to your mother. Ha ha ha. Oh god, what an amazing thing.

Anyway, US personal essay workshop

"Two Simple Singaporean Essays: Transfiguring your life through observation and imagination" (Oh god, me and my mad titles)
Venue: Dunno which LT (yes yes, stop complaining, I will book a very large venue this time to accommodate the crowd)
Date: 16th August
Time: 430pm

Ha ha.

KS
- flying off to talk US in KL. Yeah!

Another letter.

2010-08-05T08:26:00.002+08:00

Another letter. (See I'm not that evil a person, the 2 boys who almost cried in my office yesterday, please take note. LOL)

Hi Mr Sim,

I have been procrastinating for very long before I set my mind to write you this letter, for deep down my heart I am scared that I am not good enough for all of what I am getting now. If not for your help and advice, I would not have made it thus far, with my dismal prelim results, no money, no stellar CCA records and whatsoever.

I still remembered those touching/funny/inspiring stories that you’ve shared with us during your talks and workshops. Sometimes, I felt like attending your talks twice just to absorb everything that you were trying to let us know. In your last talk for the Class of 2009, I nearly cried hearing you telling the three stories which are not only so amazing individually but also so beautifully linked together, and which I will bring along with me wherever I go.

I am really glad that I went through US college application. US application, with all its excruciating soul searching, has changed how I look at the world and myself. I will never forget the comments you gave me for my essays. Although sometimes, I took a long time to understand, but it only made the process all the more rewarding. (Pardon me. I am really slow :-P). You taught me not to be bitter about the past, but to realize how the past has impacted on me; you taught me not to state monotonously, but to describe; you taught me to believe in myself and give it a try even the chances are slim...There are simply too many things that you taught me to enumerate here.

After I failed my Smith ED application, I was a bit discouraged. But when I looked at the RD school list you decided for me, I was SHOCKED—there were so many great schools on it! Schools that I never thought I could ever try. I was much encouraged at the thought that you actually believed I had the potential. I did not expect much, as I knew there were so many more qualified applicants out there and so few financial packages given out each year to international students. However, miracles do happen, and in my case, you made that happen. I was so surprised to find out I was admitted by MIT on 14 March (aka. the famous Pi day) that I thought the MIT online portal must have been hacked or something.

I sincerely thank you for all the things you have done for us—talks, workshops, blog, drinks, food, jokes and many more. As I embark on my new journey, I would like you to know how appreciative I am of this opportunity you’ve given me. Thank you.

Best Wishes,

Xunjie

I AM BACK; My favorite Singaporean Auntie in USA (haha, Veron don't take the 'auntie' label too seriously)

2010-08-05T08:21:00.003+08:00

Sorry, been doing too much traveling to too many out-of-the-way kind of countries; dammit, I have not bought my tickets to fly into KL for a day to give talks... zzzz. Got to do it now.

A letter from an absolutely wonderful lady in the US; if you are her vicinity, please contact me for her email/number. I think there is a lot of useful advice, for parents, even for kids. I should invite her to guest-write an 'auntie' section on this blog, ha ha.

Wish more parents were like this, where life remains a learning and open minded experience. (Can imagine parents rolling eyes at me)

(Veron, I will be replying to you very soon, I know I have been very very slow in replying) :)

Dear Kevin,

I chance upon your blog recently. I love the way you write to your students and the sense of humor and the sarcasm that goes with it! Yes, some times, they deserve to be slap! From your blog, you are right on spot about the US admission process. RJC is very fortunate to have a counsellor like you to guide them through the process.

I am a middle age "Auntie" who live in Atlanta, GA. I have 3 boys and the oldest is 14 years old. Being the typical kiasu Singaporean, I have been reading on all the US college system as 1) I am so insecure and kiasu ( LOL) and 2) I can help my children navigate through the system. My husband is a American and went to Northwestern as a undergraduate and MIT as a graduate. The process is much different from when he went. With such a intense Singaporean wife, he adopts the lackadaisical approach towards my kids education in general. I find out that there is a lot of free things and opportunities available in the US if one were to look hard enough.

Ang Moh parents can be very intense. In a lot of ways, they are very involved and I think much more involved in their children academic life and in their school activities.

Now that I have been in the US for quite some years, I have been much more holistic with my approach towards my children education. I am so glad to see your advise to your students. A lot of our contact have been to the Ivies and so does a lot of our friend who has not been to the Ivies. I would say that there is not much difference in terms of their career success. One of the major advantage on going to good college is that your cohort help you to grow and think critically, the discovery of self. Most of all, the confidence to make the dream a reality.

I see that you have students coming to Emory. I do not know about Georgia Tech. If those students want to, please feel free to pass my contact to them. I will also be happy to communicate with them and/or their parents. I can tell your students where to get the best chicken rice, where to buy pineapple tart, what kind of spice mix they can buy here to replicate the prawn mee they have at home. And if they are a delight, I may even invite them to my home for some home cook meals! The South is very different from the folks in the North, Midwest or the West. Like a lot of the big cities, there are Singaporean groups. Our group comprises network with more on adults and some of them with kids. That may not excite your students as they feel that they are dealing with their parents.

Why am I reaching out? Out of the goodness of my heart. My husband was very bless when he was studying in Kyoto University and he has a host family that he met every now and then. Of course, being the typical young, self centered young adult that he were, he did not fully appreciate how bless he were. Good karma goods around. As we bless others, we will in turn be bless. When I first got here in the States 15 years ago, I was very bless with strangers and neighbors who did not know mw but took the time to help me acclimate into my new culture and environment. Took me a long and networking to find where are the places to eat! So typical of Singaporean right?

Veronica Wong

3 talks next week

2010-05-26T20:38:00.002+08:00

Monday
930-1030: UK Personal Statement Workshop
1100-1200: Why a tertiary education in the US?

Tuesday
930 -1030: US personal essay workshop

If you are from my school, please go sign up outside SSC. If not, if you wanna come, just drop me an email. Should be doable.

All important question

2010-04-28T13:34:00.002+08:00

Some people have been asking in various emails and ways (you'd be amaze how emails can go on for 500 words and: how were admissions at your school this year?

Frankly - as long as the kids find a good place to go, and good education can be had at too many institutions as long as you have an open mind, I am not very bothered about numbers. But since you wanna know, especially those all important schools, I don't understand why they are more important, so here it is:

(numbers are correct as per my knowledge, and before waitlisted candidates are notified)

Harvard - 1
Yale - 5
MIT - 4
Williams - 1
Princeton - 8
Stanford - 8 or 9, not too sure
Penn - 9

Enough? These numbers are quite meaningless to you. Just focus on your own apps.

And good luck for SATs this weekend.

Chowz,
KS

Back from the real world

2010-04-26T10:39:00.002+08:00

It is funny how one cycle just barely ended, and another starts; actually not very funny at all. Ha ha.

A few questions from emails:

1. When do waitlists get looked at?
When schools have an idea of their yield rates, some schools can start as soon as now, some a bit later - meaning post 1st May. Larger schools would take slower to react due to number of applications and replies, smaller schools tend to be a bit more chop-chop about it.

2. Seriously, at the talk last week, the guy kept asking about what they are looking out for in Asian applicants? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an Asian applicant?
Again, here you presume to 'think' like an admissions officer in the hope of being able to 'be' the ideal kind of admittee they want. Stop it. There is no way you can fully understand or appreciate what an admissions committee (not only one AO) wants, so the best bet is to play to your best advantages and stop thinking. Most committees have no specific WANTS; but of course having an Olympiad gold helps, being interesting helps, etc.
There is no specific formula.

3. Are admit numbers down?
They are, for Singapore, as a whole, I believe. That is due to applications being so 'up' on the whole, esp places like Chicago. US applicants are also up heavily, meaning schools would also admit more US locals, I think. The region as a whole is also getting more competitive and more interested in the US, meaning more apps and more difficulty getting admitted.

4. What is the best advice you have for applicants now?
Get in touch with reality. I have been hearing ,all too often, phrases like: "Oh if he can get into Yale/Penn/Stanford, means I can too!" Really - get real and get in touch with reality. These comparisons often fall prey to egotistical fantasies and self-aggrandizement. Stop pretending to "know" your seniors and their applications; you don't. Stop making such assessments, because often your own benchmarks and scales are probably very different from what admissions committees, which are full of adults (not your parents) who think very differently from you (a youngster). And stop having an over-inflated opinion of your own worth and achievements; that prevents you from working hard and really doing your best in the process of applications.

5. What do you think of the kids for this coming cycle? Are they more interesting?
I have yet to even bother, I'm still caught up with last cycle's clearing. I usually start the year very disinterested, you can imagine why!

6. Isn't talking to applicants interesting?
If you like listening to 400 kids trying to tell you how 'interesting' they are and what their fantasies are, sure! Ha ha.
Sometimes, I prefer to go for a walk, go to Portsdown road and hunt down that odd eating place, play Warhammer, read a good book, go fishing. Life is full of interesting alternatives to a listening to young man/woman's dreams and hopes.
Don't get me wrong, ever so rarely, you come across a kid with a story to capture your whole imagination, heart and soul. Any so far? 1.

7. What questions should we ask AO at talks?
Do not ask "intelligent" questions which you think will mine you information for your apps or yield some century old secret about admissions. There are NO secret formulas.
Ask about things which you are interested in. Do not always ask questions which eventually lead to "How do I get in?". While I know that is the end point, but you need to enjoy the process, which involves getting to know the school better, in so many ways.
If you ask questions like "Are grades important? Are there things which are more important? WHy look at grades only, a human being has multiple intelligences which include things like playing a guitar, and that is important too right?" Look, we know immediately your grades suck. You are going to college to, first and foremost, study. Admittedly, college education is more than just books and classroom, but first we need to know that you are able to handle the basic workload, and we base that on your school grades. School grades also reflect your commitment to your own education, beyond just numbers and grades. Then we look beyond.

8. Please give me an invaluable piece of advice?
Know yourself. For an Asian kid, we are too used to being judged by our numbers and results and what not. But for once, someone is interested in YOU as a person, what your values are, what do you dream of at night, what are your aspirations. It takes time to recalibrate yourself, and stop yourself from writing your whole RESUME down as your admissions essay.
Saying that doesn't detract the importance of grades and SAT scores. Those are necessary too.
Do your best. Be happy. Life isn't all college applications. Life isn't only ONE school you have to go to. If it is, you better, as I mentioned, recalibrate.

yours,
Kevin Sim

Wellesley, Yale, Chicago, Stanford, Dartmouth, Duke Talk

2010-04-20T03:32:00.001+08:00

Wellesley, Yale, Chicago, Stanford, Dartmouth, Duke Talk
23rd April, Friday
7pm
LT1
Raffles Junior College.

Everyone is invited. Parents, grandparents, uncles, aunties, etc. Doesn't matter where you are from, who you are.

See you there.

Kevin @princeton

Bus through New England; land of Robert Frost

2010-02-04T23:34:00.003+08:00

There is always a certain beauty in taking a long bus ride through small towns in New England, in the dead of winter.

Just that - now there is wifi on the bus; how times have changed.

The landscape is sparse, brown, greenless. And terribly peaceful. The fleeting landscape lulls one into thoughtless reverie; the river running alongside my window now is frozen white.

I have many miles to go, before I sleep.

Miles to go before I sleep.

Even now, across the gulf of some 16 years, the running landscape out my bus-window recalls an atavistic memory of Frost' poem; I still remember:

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Kevin
@posted from my bus along a nameless highway in New England

Black and Green Numbers

2010-01-24T16:02:00.002+08:00

Someone asked: How are numbers at the Black and Green school?

Eh. I am thankful that ED has been amazingly generous to us.

Yale 1
Duke 2
Northwestern 4
Tufts 3
Stanford 3
Dartmouth 1
Chicago 3
Penn 3
Williams 1
Vassar 1
Emory 1
Cornell 2 (so far, not sure)
Wash Uni in St Louis 1

About 25-28% of our registered ED applicants got admitted.

Oxford 24.

@ Starbucks

Essays

2009-12-31T20:33:00.000+08:00

If you emailed me and I didnt reply - about your essay(s) - please take it that your essays have on major problems.

Unfortunately I am unable to give comments on the some 50-100 essays I receive a day, in the past 2 weeks. But if there are serious problems, I would have dropped a note to you at the very least.

KS

So funny - trivia

2009-12-23T12:19:00.002+08:00

These are breakdown for the last 500 people to visit blog; so many countries. The list changes as it goes.

67.00% Singapore Singapore
12.20% Vietnam Vietnam
11.80% Malaysia Malaysia
5.40% United States United States
1.00% Hungary Hungary
0.60% Canada Canada
0.40% India India
0.40% United Kingdom United Kingdom
0.40% Mauritius Mauritius
0.40% Australia Australia
0.20% Ireland Ireland
0.20% Qatar Qatar

Haha.
Ok running off to do some last minute shit.
KS

Letter from a Carleton Student

2009-12-22T22:37:00.004+08:00

Hello Mr Sim.

I hope you are doing all right under the barrage of emails and such which must accompany this time of year. I'm back in Singapore for the first time since going to the States, and it's nice to have the first break where I'm not doing anything in particular, though it's a short one. I'm sorry not to have corresponded for more than a year -- I did start to write an email a year ago which periodically was added to, but was never sent, because there was always more stuff to be added to it. Here's the updated version of what I'm up to:

Summary: I'm having a heck of a great time.

More detailed description: People are great, students love learning and we have great discussions, and there's a lot of studying and doing work together, which is great when you have a problem set due the next day and everyone in your class is staying up till 3am with you in the physics lab, and the class splits into two groups over question 5B, one group thinks it's this way and another thinks it's that, and they yell at each other. Well, maybe not yell. We've a professor who comes in at 5am every day, and sometimes a few of us meet him in our zombiefied state as he comes in in the morning. People are quirky, too, which sounds cliche but that's because it's true. People have all sorts of crazy talents (like being able to climb the outside of a building, which admittedly has a strange exterior) and not-so-crazy talents (like playing 7 instruments), and most people enjoy many different activities. Activities are fun. They do take away your sleep, though. Sleep is not something we get a lot of.

So for physics stuff, apart from taking a bunch of courses and all that, I'm doing research in the department -- last year I worked with XXXXX, an astrophysicist, from the winter through the summer. We are doing a population study of the M33 galaxy by looking at photos, and identifying regions of emission at certain frequencies, and trying to classify them into supernovae remnants or planetary nebulae (stuff left over when a star dies) based on the ratio of hydrogen and sulphur and oxygen. I learnt a great deal of programming too. The lab was nice and crowded in the summer, and we often played muppets videos and sang along to them.

In the course of doing this astrophysics stuff I also learnt to use the hundred-something-year-old telescopes in Carleton's observatory, which includes standing around outside/in the unheated dome in -30 celsius, leaning out of the dome slits and shovelling snow off so the dome can turn, and talking about the scopes to the public during our monthly open houses.

Weather is strange and volatile in this place. We had an unusually warm fall, still above freezing at the end of November, but the first snow was unusually early, mid-October. There was also this "heat emergency" for a couple weeks in the summer, which was about 30+ celsius, and rather humid, and more uncomfortable than Singapore.

By some amazing coincidence (from my point of view, anyway), there's a Chinese music ensemble at Carleton, lead by a rather famous pipa player, Gao Hong, who teaches and coordinates some of the music activities here. There're about 10 students in it (the Chinese ensemble), though not all at the same time. There are also many students who are learning Chinese (and other) instruments here. Because of the rarity of Chinese music here, we actually get quite many opportunities, and we perform quite frequently in various places around the twin cities, like the U of M and Mall of America. It's fun. I find it interesting that Americans are always very awed by our performances. Really, it isn't any more amazing than western music. I guess it's novel.

I like how everything here is so laid-back, and you just go for activities when you like it, which makes it easy to do many different activities, since there isn't any commitment required (for most of them). I also play table tennis, badminton, do outdoor/camping stuff, learn sign language, cook Singaporean food, and do a lot of other random stuff quite regularly. I also started playing in an American folk group two terms ago, on my erhu. Learnt a lot of things, like improvising, and with different genres. Random jamming, very fun. I also like the fact that I can take classes outside my as yet undeclared major. I've taken a freshman seminar where half the class is American and half international and we just sit and talk and discuss readings and our experiences, archaeology, linguistics which I find extremely interesting, a course on taichi and Tao teachings, and will take philosophy and geology later this year. Funnn.

Carleton is, of course, a rather wet school, but I have never encountered any pressure (from Americans) to drink. The international students tend to pressure more. I have gone on progressives and played beer pong, all without drinking nor feeling any pressure to drink, which I think is pretty remarkable.

In terms of the "personal growth" stuff, I am, perhaps, bolder, and less hesitant to try new stuff that I don't really know about, and where I don't know anyone. I've done that fairly often at Carleton, and in doing so you also learn about other people and different cultures. I expect I must have "grown" in other ways too, though that sort of thing often isn't immediately obvious to oneself.

But anyway, how have you been, and how is it at RJ? Hopefully life is dishing out to you interesting experiences. Amidst/together with all the stuff you have to do. If you will be in RJC/anywhere relatively accessible before 31 Dec, I would love to come over and have a chat. That is, if you're not buried under a barrage of emails. Charlie Cogan says hi, by the way, and last I heard XXXXX is living in a cabin about 2 hours north (or south? I forget) of Northfield and enjoying herself. XXXXXX, originally from St Olaf, is now our international student director.

Carleton is great! I think so, anyway. Thank you, once again, very much for all you did to help me get here. OK, I'm going to send this this time.

Really.

Merry Christmas,
XXXX XXXX

(P.S. thanks for this amazingly frank letter!!! :) )

Supp Essay - Stanford

2009-12-22T21:51:00.003+08:00

People ask me - how do you answer the question, listed below, without being boring or very sciency? Is there a fun or more relaxed or less typical way?

Yes - dont always gravitate towards 'CHEEM' or 'deep' concepts; simple ideas work well too. Question seeks to measure your appreciation of such an idea or experience, rather than evaluate your ability to identify such an experience or idea.

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.

My grandma used to say - existence, on a blue planet with white swirls spinning across an endless cold emptiness, is a void which you must fill.

Most fill it with the clatter of everyday noise, to deny the void, to forget its existence within all of us, and the irrefragable return to it we all must, one day.

Musicians fill the void with notes.

Artists - with swirls of color, bold strokes.

Writers - with words.

And attempt to transfigure the emptiness into something else; that is the true measure of Art.

Musicians are foremost in their success - they fill the void with notes, serenading the void into forgetfulness and substance; banishing the gloom; like strange flashes of lights of micro-organisms on the heaving brine, you see, when you are far out at sea, at night, in the holy darkness - they glow.

Artists are second - with intimations of imagination,splashes of color and substance, paint over the void. Like a thirsty man in the desert - who gazes upon the mirage of an oasis, and finds comfort and salvation.

But writers are different. They attempt to word the void, and in doing so, lend it substance; embracing the void, themselves become one with it - banish it.

Me - faced with the irreparability of the past, inscrutability of the future, the pregnancy of the moment - I write.

(Ok just my two cents worth)

Kevin Sim

ZZzzz

2009-12-03T17:48:00.002+08:00

Sorry it has been VERY busy - sorting out EDs, transcripts, missing recs, missing apps, missing ED agreements; I faint - imagining RD to come.

A few questions:

1. Does it matter how early we submit?
For majority of schools which are NON-ROLLING admissions: No. If things arrive early, they might choose to read early, especially schools with no EARLY programs, but decisions would still be made eventually at the larger committees which would come next year. But - it does not help delaying as well, internet/commonapp traffic is very heavy towards the last few days of Dec. Submit when you are ready.

2. Any advice?
Ok - this is far too generic a question, but I know it is mostly directed at essays. At the end of 12 years of education: surely there must be some introspection, some thoughts, some reviewing, some emo-ing; use them but be careful not to get to involved in these emotions. Maybe the post-exams mood might give your thoughts some clarity, where it has failed before.

3. What is the most important thing now?
I would choose something most people don't normally think about - solidly sensible school choices. Know yourself. Know your schools. Apply sensibly. I know some people, in the heat of the moment, would proclaim - if I cannot get into the top 5 schools, then I rather not go! You might regret come April, when your mind is clearer and above the fray of admissions-emoness. This is when you ask yourself: Why is it you seek an education overseas? Is there really much difference between a rank 3, 5, 8, 15 school? In Singapore - yes, but only because we have 3 universities; you need to recalibrate your perception, the world isn't Singapore and neither does everything else in the world conform to our standards.

4. What is the maddest and proudest thing you have done in college?
I read close to 1000 books in 4 years (and 6 months prior to college). I read in the toilet, over breakfast, when speaking to friends, on the bus, while walking, under the blanket in the cold winter, on long interstate bus-journeys, when my friends were in my room playing bridge; I read everywhere and once walked into a pole while reading Charlotte Bronte's Villette final paragraphs and wept, I know not for the grandeur of its ending or the pain of falling onto the floor flat, where I lay there and finished the last lines. I once took 3 English classes in a semester, and had to read 1 novel/play/book of poems per week for each course. What was I thinking? Zzzzz.

That is it for now. I shall endeavour to write soon.

yours,
KS

ED Last Min Checklist

2009-11-01T08:41:00.002+08:00

These are the things you really wanna make sure you did:

1. Click the right school and submit on common app; beyond saving your app.
2. Print out ED agreement, sign and send it; or do it online for some schools.
3. Make sure you uploaded the CORRECT version of your essays; you have saved so many copies by now.
4. If you are applying for FINAID, to click the "I am applying for finaid" box; submit your finaid forms or CSS profile.
5. Pay for your app and make sure you chose the right school for pay for, ie - EA/ED school.
6. Send your SATs score; esp those who have just received their new scores.
7. Your CEEB code is very important too.

Otherwise - good luck and start studying for A levels! :)
KS

Last Minute Advice for ED-ers

2009-10-23T08:25:00.004+08:00

1. Please tell me who is applying where!?!@.@
Do not worry about those are are applying to the same schools. Yes, there is competition, but the competition really, really, extends beyond this small circle of people you know, beyond Singapore, beyond South East Asia.
What do you get from fretting? Do your best application and send it out.

2. I am thinking twice about ED; I might change ED school!
Don't make me call you auntie - and dont make me denigrate all those wonderful aunties in the whole process of calling you that.
You ain't buying fish; and don't make me denigrate how-to-hunt-the-freshest-fish process.
Too late to think twice now, if you have come so far, done all your essays and what not, at some point believed you were a compelling candidate (discounting excess self-love) - go on. It is just an application.

3. My friends said my essays are bad! My teachers said my essays are bad!
If you think it best represents you - go ahead with it. And be thankful your friends and teachers aren't the AOs.
It is YOUR essays afterall.

4. My friends said: They could have written my essays, so it is not special.
Anyone could have written any essay; even in the most common essay topics there are very fresh takes on them. Just make sure that even through the most "apparently-common" essays, the reader get a sense of the vital you.

5. What if I don't get in?
Life goes on. We all don't get everything we want. It is a very important lesson in life. But a more important lesson in life goes like this - there are so many OTHER choices and opportunities out there; no one-choice is the best. Don't forget to appreciate and enjoy the rest just because of one choice being negated.

So do not fret.
Kevin
p.s. if you are one of those kids who have not been able to get air-time with me because of the mad crowds, next few weeks would be good time to drop me an email to make an appointment, after your daily exams just-before-you-run-home, to sit down and have a good chat. Come as a small group if you want, max 3-4. :) See you then. The regulars, you are banned from making appointments. :)

FAQs, post farewell

2009-10-20T22:14:00.002+08:00

Sudden deluge of emails and FAQs.

1. Will the universities look at me in a different light if I apply after I receive a scholarship?
Everything is taken in totality, I am sure they would be happy for you, but ultimately they make their decisions independent of any scholarship and will be assessing the whole of your application, which would include your scholarship.

2. Are you really the fierce and heartless man, or are you pretending?
I am.

3. What do you think of the current applicant pool at RJC?
Eh frankly? Never saw a more diverse and crazy group of kids! For example, look at that mad group of kids applying to Yale; omg I so pity the people having to make those decisions! If it were me, I'd be soooo tempted to take more than half of those kids and spend the rest of the night weeping and screaming if I didn't! Then again - no wonder I am not an AO! :p No one would want me! :)

4. Don't you think the guys are so much stronger this year?
Exxxxccuuuuuuusseee me! From power sportswomen to Math queens to Super Save the World Auntie; tooooo many amazing women candidates in our school. Where have you been looking?!!!

5. You cooking the curry? Can we request for other things for next week?
Excuse me. Charity got no menu one! Watch the blog for menu and days. LOL. And Zhou Penghui, there is no competition, I'm just letting people eat what I like to eat; free. Share the joy! :)

6. Any clear winners?
Very frankly, NOPE. I for one, know that - no race is won this early. But I am roooooting for Yong Jin!!!!! ;) Because he makes me laugh so much with his crazy emails.

7. Would you be writing recommendations for us? Can we request?
Since I cannot write 500 recs, I rather not. Unless, I know you exceptionally well. Or there are extenuating circumstances which I know of which I feel the AOs need to know, but it is FAAAR and FEEEWWW in between. My recs are often very boring anyway, and would probably do you more harm, yada yada yada.

And my office remains open for most part of November. Hope the free food continues without me going bankrupt. And for those who are not at RJC, I think of you too when I give out free food! I do! :)

KS

Curry Chicken

2009-10-19T11:14:00.002+08:00

Curry Chicken Fiesta (Free) (Gravy and dry)
Date: 21st Oct (wed)
Time: 630pm
Venue: Outside SSC
BYO Bread/Rice

:)

Madness, Weeping, Free Cars

2009-10-15T08:38:00.003+08:00

I spent the last 2 nights quartered in my office - 11pm. It is a kind of peaceful solitude, sitting there with no one to bother me, no horde kids banging on my, unfortunately, glass-door, and my door bell has been the incessant: Mr Siiiiiimmm, stop hiding under your deeesskkk, open the dooooor. Yet I doubt it will be much fun - for the next 3 months when the school will be empty. A school, like a nation, is the people.

And today I give my last talk - I'm gonna be like Oprah Winfrey and give out freebies, maybe a car or two even. Lol. But I won't weep like her; ok unless Whitney Houston comes and gives her comeback performance - "I didn't know my own strength". Which I overheard Andrew Tham changing the lyrics to: I didn't know I had breasts; very apt Andrew!

Don't worry, I am not given to sentimental considerations; but the empty school is almost as Frost said:

The house had gone to bring again
To the midnight sky a sunset glow.
Now the chimney was all of the house that stood,
Like a pistil after the petals go.

The barn opposed across the way,
That would have joined the house in flame
Had it been the will of the wind, was left
To bear forsaken the place's name.

No more it opened with all one end
For teams that came by the stony road
To drum on the floor with scurrying hoofs
And brush the mow with the summer load.

The birds that came to it through the air
At broken windows flew out and in,
Their murmur more like the sigh we sigh
From too much dwelling on what has been.

Yet for them the lilac renewed its leaf,
And the aged elm, though touched with fire;
And the dry pump flung up an awkward arm:
And the fence post carried a strand of wire.

For them there was really nothing sad.
But though they rejoiced in the nest they kept,
One had to be versed in country things
Not to believe the phoebes wept.

You should not believe that I weep; and DON'T COME TO MY OFFICE TO WEEP on the last day of school - which is like tomorrow!!!!

Mis-SMS

2009-10-11T20:16:00.002+08:00

Please be very careful when you send phone messages to me or not meant for me.

1. Today's SMS exchange
Student: Hey Mr Sim, did you get my sms?
Me: About what?
Student: About my ass!
Me: HARRRR!!!!
Student: Oh ****, I mean my app!
(lesson: watch for your phone's auto-spell function)

2. Last year's equivalent of mis-SMS
Student: Hello darling, I am in the shower and having a nice hot shower, and I was thinking about you and wishing you were here.
Me: Excuse me! You can't be THAT desperate to get admitted????!!!!
Student: OH **** I am so sorry Mr. Sim! I am so sorry! It was meant for my gf.
Me: That is more disturbing - that when you think if your GF you actually sent it to me; I am trying not to make the inevitable connection there.
(his GF's name wasn't even close to my name in terms of alphabetical order)

Have fun. What a terribly warm Sunday; spent the day writing recommendations. Which was fun; in the presence of Tham and Yong Jin at Dome Marina. Yes - I have no life.

May it rain tonight.

Princeton Supp Essay

2009-10-06T21:48:00.002+08:00

Someone asked me to post the response I wrote and read to you guys - the one from Princeton's supplement. BTW - someone stole the hardcopy of MY essay from MY office after I left it on my desk. Zzz. Mad people.

Here it goes; I wrote it in like 20-30 mins without any consideration for grammar and good sense!

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. "

Kudafari, Maldives.

I still remember - when I first stepped on your shores; the odd feeling of wet sand between my toes, the relentless sun mellow as it bowed towards the horizon. 6 hours on a plane, another 12 hours by boat; I arrived at the island of Kudafari - your home. How everyone scattered as I walked up - the first stranger from an outside world which was read and talked about, dreamt of, but never really experienced or seen.

And now, some 8 years later when I think, the somewhat odd picture of me standing there - defined many other things which make up my existence - since then, even when we are more than 3500 kilometres apart, I have always felt that now a parallel existence now runs alongside mine, and the song of my life has now a double set to it: richer and more harmonious in its duet.

Looking back, me standing there at the beach with the sun behind me, and you, some 10 feet in front me, welcoming, afraid, shy, curious - cast forever in stark relief my realisation of our relationship, which is much like that between domestic animal and wild animal. Chickens, pigs, sheeps are respectable animals, in the sense that they repay in kind the care and food we offer them, in return recompense us for our love; domestic animals derive their existence in relation to the society and community, and such is the civilised man and he is respectable. But the wild animal is different: the giraffe upon the Serengeti, the swallow flitting in the sky carelessly - they derive their existence from no one but themselves, and are held in direct relation to the Creative force, and are one step closer to the Creator; such is your state my dear friends. One cannot help when seeing a flock of wild geese sweep in undulating flight across the darkening sky, but feel the trace of the Creator's finger across the sky.

As I sit here, at 115am, wondering what you would be doing now - sitting in your darkening coral houses, the light bulbs dimmed by the hum of the overworked and unreliable generator - I hope you keep faith, with that strange freedom in your hearts, on an island in the middle of an unrelenting emerald turning deep purple with the advent night. And even now, I feel a strange closeness to you, as if a wild line is drawn across our intervening distance - burned into my memory that I might, like generations of elephants, find my way back home to you: along the trace of the Immortal finger.

Thinking of you - I lose a bit of my respectability. And take a step closer.

I sleep now. And give myself to the wildness which I hope - will take my dreams.

Happy for it

2009-10-06T06:49:00.004+08:00

I woke up; I thought, even without opening my eyes, that it felt like it was probably near 6 am.

Then I noticed the usual struggle of a passing rain - the light wind shaking the windows, giving it an occasional shudder, with sudden bravado but only to run out of breath; I went to my windows, open them, sat with my gigantic 4ft panda (which I won for 100yen from Tokyo), listening by the window wih eyes closed - waiting for the rain to fall.

And I suddenly realised that was what I used to do when I was 12-15, early in the mornings during the monsoon seasons, before I had to drag myself to school. Hoping that a large enough rainstorm would justify not going to school, especially when my parents woke up to find me still in my room rolling on the floor.

Then it rained, just a bit. It felt nostalgic - the way the light morning drizzle felt still as fresh and icy on my face.

And then it stopped. I opened my eyes, without my glasses, to see the same same gigantic bunyan tree, across the road in the park, with its outspread arms - looking as if it was scaffolding a liliac sky.

Somethings, apparently, don't change. And I am happy for it.

I know the prelim exams results are out - but hey - it is just an exam.

Back Back Back

2009-10-05T09:35:00.003+08:00

Oh goodness gracious me - what a month of doing so much sheeeet. :[

A few questions from people:

1. Should I apply ED/EA? Because I heard it will give me advantage!!!
ED/EA should only be embarked on by people: 1. Who are prepared and have everything in place 2. Who have sterling grades to compete in the small but highly competitive pool 3. Have finished their SATs on time.
It really doesn't give EVERYBODY an advantage; in some schools it is just an advanced RD; it will not turn pumpkins into chariots and mice into footmen for those scullery-maids who are Cinderella wannabes; trust me - stay home clean the house and bide your time and stop dreaming of glass shoes.

2. OMG did you hear about the Yale murder? Does that mean it is not a safe place?
Eh - I think in Singapore we have a phrase that says "Shit happens"! By that same logic you shouldn't also apply to London universities and what not. Why board planes which might, you know by probability and all, become a mid-air rollercoaster. If you are thinking like a middle-age auntie when you are 18, stay home, stay in Singapore - you are definitely not ready for the vicissitudes of real-life ourside this island; and watch out for mad SBS buses which might come hurtling your way. If you are a parent thinking this way - we are bringing up adults for an adult world, time to put your perpetual-mom identities in your LV bag (hope it is authentic, I saw them selling a bunch of fake ones at the Orchard underpass that day) and give your kids a chance to find their own way in this world.

3. OMG I have like 4 weeks to ED! What should I be doing?
It is funny how at this time of the year most questions start with OMG. Do what you would normally, set clear deadlines for your ED application. If you feel you are hurrying too much and not doing justice to yourself in the application - go RD. Take your time. Not doing ED doesn't kill anyone's chances in anyway.

4. Why must there be all these agreement on ED and ethical undertaking ah? Can't my child have more chances and just don't care the agreement la. Why must limit my child?
Dear parent - if you are looking forward to bringing up the Bandit Queen of the next generation, go ahead; p.s. I am assuming I am not talking to the Bandit Queen of last generation now, although I am not quite sure about that...

5. Record of phone conversation
Mother:(calls my office) Mr Sim, I heard there are lots of lesbians in US colleges! What if my daughter becomes lesbian?????!!!
K: Oh my god madam - does that mean that if I sent you there you would becomes lesbian too?
Mother: (slightly offended) Excuse me, of course not!
K: Eh - precisely right? Why would your daughter be when you will not be?
Mother: Eh - she young le!
K: Technically, if I sent you there when you were young, does that mean you would have, now, become a full grown mature lesbian?
Mother: Eh - no la, don't think so.
K: Yes precisely, do not forget that she is your daughter whatever she might become. Lesbian, scientist, godzilla, gorrila - even if she became Britney Spears one day, she is still your daughter!!!!!
Mother: Orrhh - I think I get what you mean.
(I surmise she is not members of the takeover Aware board (now deposed), because they do not believe in the existence of Lesbians - which according to one very conservative friend is apparently a man's problem)

KS

Cornell and UPenn Evening Program

2009-09-17T10:29:00.003+08:00

Uni of Pennsylvania
5th October, 7-9pm (Monday)
Arts House at Old Parliament
Chamber Room
1 Parliament Lane, Lvl 2 Annex Building
RSVP with intl@admissions.upenn.edu

Cornell University
4th October, 3-5pm (Sunday)
Hilton Hotel, Singapore
581 Orchard Road
Panorama, Level 24

Thank you to those who came for the Northwestern, Columbia, Princeton and Georgetown Program. :) Nice big crowd with some very mad questions! :P

Kevin Sim

LOL

2009-09-06T11:17:00.001+08:00

As usual I am quoted on paper saying crazy things. LOL. Who cares.

http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2009/9/6/education/4582871&sec=education

Admissions Essay - I wrote

2009-09-03T22:17:00.002+08:00

Someone told me: Hey all those college presidents wrote admissions essays to showcase what they would have written now. Could you write one NOW please?

Ok so I stupidly agreed and spent like 30 mins writing. Here it is.

I hate sedentary people; humans are made for the running. Running from tigers, mammoths, debtors, ex-girlfriends while going out with current girlfriend, teachers when you skip classes, Godzilla; running not too fast so that your boyfriend could catch-up with you when you pretend to run off in anger, running from work and into the rain one day before it is due - and generally running from the present and your life today. Hence I absolutely loathe people who are too lazy, too contented to move - or simply fail to realise the innate ability for the human to move on and move beyond.

I have travelled to more than 120 cities, met and spoken to tens of thousands of people; do I ever get tired? No - the more you run, the more you realise there is so much more to cover, the more you are aware of the time which is running out.

Yet being an admissions counselor is ironically the most non-running job one can have. Every year the kids you work with are the same age, yet yearly you age by 1; every year you send people off to a promise of a better life, yet you yourself remain and are left behind; it is terrible to be a sensitive counselor. To many - counseling is a job, but you know I don't really need this job and I can spend my time doing something out there. I first started as a counselor for a change - today it is more a calling - the calling is to teach the younger how to run. My duty is to push you out of the constipated anus of our education system, the end part where you exit, out into the world - running, running as fast as you can. Ironically, I have to remain 'sedentary' to teach people how to run. So people ask me: How do you reconcile these paradoxical mode of existence - having to stay in one place yet needing to 'run'? Is it possible? It is. A waterfall discharges a constant run of water in a poised curvature - into the dark pool beneath. Ten years later, you return, it remains - still the fixed curvature of running water, unchanged, discharged into the still dark water beneath. There is really a paradoxical mode of static and flight; in music it is called the fugue.

Is it not uncommon to wander into my office to find me: gone. Run off. No reason given. Probably one of my mad trips to another crazy place on earth. I run off, whenever I can.

When I was twenty one, my first ever trip on a plane out of Singapore, I found myself stranded in a small bus shelter, made of four pieces of large glass and a fifth one above the first four, with a temperamental heater which would cough up periodic spurts of warmth, in the heart of winter. It was in a small town, name not worth mentioning, in New England. I was waiting for my transit Greyhound bus to arrive; the schedule said 1140pm; it was 1.15am and there was no sign of it. Intermittently, I heard the rumble of an approaching engine, to look up, only a passing truck, some lonely driver on a long trek seeking solace of even the smallest town; a passing stranger of a vehicle close enough to be heard but not seen.

Then out of nowhere, a fellow bus wait-er, sauntered out of the dark into the shelter; late twenties, European looking. Hi - he said, in thick European accent, smirked at the uneasy proximity of two strangers in the middle of nowhere. He wrapped his blanket around himself - a thick one, orange with brown checkers which looked rather warm, and sat down in a corner. The conspiratorial heater took the advantage to whirr itself out and stop breathing. I kicked it to resuscitate it, to no avail. And I sat glumly down on the green plastic seats - uncomfortable, hard. And he laughed. A certain - hur hur hur hur. Cranky and sleepy as I was, I smiled, lack of sleep heightening the incredulity of the situation.

Come - he said. And open a flap in his blanket. Snugged in the blanket, I felt warm, cosy.

2am. I asked - what time is your bus? 2am, he said. "Come, its boring"; he dragged me up, pull me out, away from the protective circle of the shelter’s flourescence, into the darkness. And we sat in the darkness, wrapped in one blanket. I was cold; the air was crisp and bitter. We lay down on the freezing ground to watch the sky.

And as my eyes adjusted to the darkness. The inverted bowl of a velvet sky above emptied its stars into my eyes. A wide swath of scintillating blooms, some felt near, some further. Some visible only out of the field of my vision, disappearing as I turn to them.

And he mused - We are sailors on a blue ship in this endless universe; with the stars for lamp-post and each other for company. His words brushing and warm against the frozen night. And he laughed - hur hur hur hur.

We heard a vehicle approach. We dashed back into the shelter for our bags. It was his bus. He grabbed his bag, ran out of the glass shelter, for the bus, turning to smile. The automatic door closed shut. Only to reopen. And he stepped down, blanket in hand. Ran over, placed it on the otherside of the glass where I was standing, right in front of my feet, smiled. And he left.

My bus came at 4am. Damn bloody fucking blown tire - the bus driver apologetically said. As I took my seat, the stoic lamp posts flew pass in a cacophony of orange. I felt snug in the blanket. Safe. Accompanied.

I know not - where he came from. How old he was. What was he doing there. Where he was heading. Did he have a home? What did he do for a living? I did not even get his name. Hur hur, hur hur.

But it didn’t matter. Strangely.

I need to return his blanket.

The universe however big, is only so extensive. Even at the mercy of fickle probability - when Chance eventually runs out of permutations and patience - verily our paths will converge. Time is the only thing we need.

I fell asleep. Tired. The lamp posts further and fewer in between as we left the haven of the nameless lighted town.

I have many miles to go.

Northwestern, Columbia, Georgetown and Princeton Talk

2009-09-03T21:10:00.000+08:00

Next Wed, Sept 9th, 7pm.
Raffles Junior College, LT2.

ALL ARE INVITED - parents and relatives included.

Kevin Sim

Goodness gracious me

2009-08-27T08:19:00.000+08:00

Some questions:

1. Why you never post for so long?
Have you seen my office? It is like pasar malam or 7th month getai full of ghosts.

2. Have you read any essays so far which were good? Why were they good?
Yes - one of the main themes which ran through 2 of those were 'voice' of the writer was evident. You not only read an essay but you can literally 'hear' them.

3. What were they about?
Frankly, they can be about anything so don't worry about what other's write about.

4. Any more advise from reading so many essays?
Don't write blindly - without consideration. Don't be so self-indulgent. Don't force an essay, especially trying to make it too interesting or unique; essays need to feel natural.

So much for now.

Overworked KS.

Tired

2009-08-13T21:31:00.000+08:00

It is so hard to blog when the moment I walk into school I get hijacked by students, and my office is like a zoo till 6pm every single day. I can't even eat in peace! Snore.

If you have any questions - post them here and I will answer.

Remember to attend Essays Pt 2 tomorrow.

Kevin

Which bit how much?

2009-08-07T23:03:00.002+08:00

People keep asking - so can you tell me how much each part of the application is worth? How much weightage is there to SATs?

Listen:

These parts are considered as a whole.

1. School Results
This is the basis of their consideration for your ability to survive and excel in their institutions. It is amazing how much grades can tell someone about you - all straight As, sometimes perfect, gradually better - in different scenarios and with different situations, along with other parts of the application, it will react to give a picture of who you are as a student and potential college student.

2. SATs I and II
It is used as a supposed level-playing field to consider all applicants. Some kids could come from schools where curriculum is very easy - hence the SATs is useful here as another source of academic consideration. Remember - SATs is a form of STANDARDISED testing where people from different countries can take the same test, people from different parts of a country has a means to be measured against their countryman on a standardised examination. There is VERY little difference between 2200 and 2250.

3. Resume
It is just a part - again it helps paint a better picture of who you are, where your interests lie and how you spend your time.

4. Personal Essays and extra essays
They are for you to make your own case to the college by answering specific questions. Put your best foot forward! It doesn't mean your essays are so good it will UNDO all other sins you have committed in other parts of the application - that rumor is simply not true in a hyper competitive environment.

5. Teacher Recommendations
Are there to help assess you - it is an opinion from someone who has worked with you for a period of time and bears witness to your attitude and aptitude as a student and individual. It is rare that a teacher recommendation will get you in when you lack everything else.

All these are put together to understand you better. They, in many ways, complement each other in their effort to extract a valid and vital understand of you as an applicant.

Does this help? So stop fussing over things which need not be fussed over.

Dumpling Party

2009-08-05T23:18:00.001+08:00

If you would like to go for dumpling next friday evening for dinner - let me know.

Lady came to Singapore on a junk boat along with my grandfather - she is REALLY old. It will be at Zion road.

Sit, eat and chit chat over dumplings.

RJCians can go find the list at SSC (when I put it up) check with kathleen wong.

If you are not from RJC- let me know too, come know some people and have some fun! We are all friends; right?

Sign up by TUESDAY. Limited space.

Kevin Sim

Early Decision and Action

2009-08-05T21:49:00.000+08:00

Applying ED/EA doesn't significantly increase your chances - especially to a fantasy school. ED and EA only work when there is a 'match'; they want you and in ED/EA you are expressing that you want them.

People shouldn't rush to apply EA/ED especially when they are not ready - SATs, essays or what not.

Make ED/EA a considered decision and make sure you really want to go there. ED is binding, even with UK school.

Kevin

HELP - Private Counseling Agencies; what to believe?

2009-08-02T23:04:00.000+08:00

Lots of people asking me: There are SO MANY agencies with supposedly all these people who can help you, is it true?

I have one word of advice: if you want private help, go find a resident counselor who is holding a counseling job - they normally do private counseling. These are people with real knowledge and probably can give you real help.

Do not be swayed by words and titles thrown your way - people claim things all the time.

Lots of counselors who are professional and abide by a code of ethics who can really help you. Look at Singapore American School or what not. If you seek help, let me know I will point the way to good and real help with the counselors in other schools.

Trip

2009-08-01T21:39:00.000+08:00

Lots of people asked: What did you do in US?

Well, I was free on Monday and Tuesday - so we (ex-student and I) went driving out towards the desert, east of LA. It is amazing how the urban and chic landscape slowly melts into rows of strip-malls, hills, before turning into a complete landscape of bare brown rocky hills, flat dark earth with little kopje bushes. There was a point, about 15 mins before arriving at Palm Springs, where suddenly there were hundreds of enormous wind vanes/windmills - they looked like some alien white sunflowers have invaded earth.

Then we drove up to a random hotel in Palm Springs, at the downtown area which didn't look very downtown. While we were filling in the forms, the receptionist lisped bitchily to us: "So that you guys know - this is a clothing optional hotel for men." We walked out and went to Hilton for safety; a bit too adventurous of a hotel while suffering from jet lag. Maybe another day, maybe. LOL.

Then I went to Orange County (the original O.C.) to attend my conference at Chapman university; of course I conveniently skipped the fact that I bought so many things at the premium mall - people looked at me while I lugged like 10 large bags of shopping around. :(

O.C. is of course not LA or Palm Springs. Nice beautiful and quiet suburban environment; no clothing optional hotels.

I like LA.

Oh my ex-student was speeding and we got pulled over by a police in the desert roads - the fine was like USD400. I made good use of my counseling skills and convinced him to let us go. Phew.

And we also got cornered by some celebrity cook-show chef who was walking around the Beverly Hills filming her cookshow by forcing bourbon-chocolates she made down people's throats. I refused to talk so she interviewed my ex-student while I made weird faces at the camera.

Gonna sleep - waking up at 430am tomorrow to catch flight to KL to give talk. Then flight back in evening.

Zzz.

p.s. I had amazing $3 thai beef noodles in LA. What a scream!

Kevin

Back!

2009-08-01T14:19:00.000+08:00

Traveling for over 2.5 weeks isn't fun! Snore!

Apologies to the 30+ who went to the centre to look for me on friday morning, I overslept in a fit of extreme jetlag!

A few things people asked me:

1. I went to the US fair recently and someone told me: Don't apply for financial aid, because it will disadvantaged you. Just get in first and then they will meet all your need when you start school and ask for finaid.
Answer: If there is a worst piece of advice out there, this must be it! It is as good as me saying - go buy toto tomorrow, you will win 1st prize.

2. Someone posted on my comment page:
I agree with the Economics example of course, but I pretty much disagree with that advice for the sciences. I ended up being accepted by only two LACs. Checking out their equipment and courses, yeah, I realised that LAC #1 had less advanced equipment than my HS.
Answer: Well, to be frank, LACs are the highest proportional producers of science PhDs. I happen to have a couple of kids from that LAC who went on to do PhDs in Princeton and such in sciences; can't be that bad right? Also lab equipment does not equal good science programs; it is a fact that being an undergraduate school - they won't have grad school equipment. But Reed has a mini nuclear reactor - the schools I work in never had - haha.

Some stuff

2009-07-21T13:36:00.002+08:00

A: Mr Sim, someone told me I ought to play the 'admissions game', he was admitted 9-10 years into a top school and was advising me about it.
Me: Ok honey, listen here. 1 - It is a lot easier back then than now for admissions; things do change and admssions is an ever evolving process. 2 - How the hell the person knows why he got admitted; no kid knows why he/she got admitted, you can only guess so much. 3 - in the talks I have been giving you - what you think I am teaching you? I am basically telling you what you can do and how you can better prepare yourself for admission; that in short is like the admissions game.

B: I went to the talk last week and the *** person was telling me that you ought to choose school depending on which major you are doing not the school.
Me: That person is obviously clueless. I doubt Economics is much different from Cornell to UIUC to Harvard. Grad school - definitely, undergrad - find the school which best fits you. You might not end up doing the major you think you are going to do.

C: I heard you can go to Wharton by transferring from another faculty after 1 year.
Me: That is what you believe; what if you are stuck in Nursing School and unable to transfer? Transfer ought to be just an option, if it happens, otherwise you should be going to the respective school because you want to be there.

kevin Sim

School Choices & What Not

2009-07-09T17:26:00.003+08:00

Some questions people have been asking me:

How should I structure my school choices?

- please be a lot more self aware about your own abilities compared to the peers
- beliefs like I have bad results but I have a stunning personality - won't hold much water in admissions
- strategise your college choices well
- break it down to:
1. Schools which will most likely NOT admit me
2. Schools which might admit me or reject me (maybes)
3. Schools which will most likely admit me
- in making these choices, a lot of self-honesty and humility is required.
- please keep an open mind about schools

What are things which would dictate school choices?

- the usual stuff like grades, SATs, overall competitiveness, achievements

Which is the one area that is still within my ability to control at this juncture?

- your exam grades
- your essays, try not to write last minute essays
- please also do not finish an essay too early and put it aside
- I think essays worked on over time, but not overworked, are the best

Should I give up because I have bad SATs?

- sats are only 1 component

Should I apply EA/ED to increase my chances?

- whatever you may read, EA and ED only increase your chances if you are basically a good candidate for the school in terms of your overall competitiveness
- often, going RD and giving yourself more time to prepare might also work out for the better
- but if you like the school and you think you are competitive enough, go ahead and express your love for the school by applying ED/EA

Where can I get more inspirations and ideas for my application?

- if you are at RJC, come to my office more often. Even when I am not there, walk up and talk to people you don't know, listen to what they might have to say.
- exchange ideas and thoughts, you never know you might get more ideas from talking to others who are also applying; there really is NOT THAT MUCH to be competitive about with your schoolmates.
- you should know you can always hang out at the Students' Services Centre and feel at home

Have you seen anyone, this year, whom you think might be a very competitive student with a compelling reason for admissions?

- actually I did, someone really managed to make me laugh and think twice about what he had to say
- there are several others who seem very interesting, but I have yet have to time to catch them and interrogate them fully!
- I'm sure there are lots of interesting people; you just have to put yourself forward and express what are the superlative bits of yourself
- the most seemingly 'boring' can often be the most interesting, trust me on that

What would you like to see at RJC, when it comes to admissions?

- I wish people would be a lot less competitive, be more willing to share, to communicate; you would be surprise how talking to a lot more people who might not be of your 'clique' or 'type' can open your mind to things around you and about yourself
- don't take yourself and things too seriously; have fun in the process - as you can see I am never wholly too serious about admissions when I talk to you guys. ha ha.

I have a piece of advice for C.K. who has been a bit in the doldrums over application, and it is very valuable advice for all: don't take this too seriously - relax, learn to appreciate the process. Don't regurgitate memories of events or yourself; reflect and re-taste the experiences which are dear to you. Learn to see yourself from the point of a lover and appreciate yourself from a foreign point of view; eradicate self-appreciation. Learn to have fun in the process.

OK I am so talking crap. LOL.

Good luck and have fun (weird I can get rid of the bold letterings;cry)

KS

Good luck!

2009-07-08T23:23:00.002+08:00

Every year, when it is time for me to go to the US for the dean's meeting - I know admissions is starting again; how fast the cycle comes and goes.

Today someone asked me why do I always pretend to be such a distant and somewhat inaccessible person. Imagine if I were very friendly to everyone - can you imagine how many essays I would be forced to read? Ha ha.

But anyway - please remember as you apply for your universities: it is more about you than it is about which school you go to. If you think a 'lousy school' will not allow you to achieve the best you can be - then I am very sad for you. Wherever you go, please always remember, the future is still open and in your own hands.

In the whole zoo of schools in the US - there cannot only be 1 or 2 school you think are good enough.

So good luck. Don't lose sleep over the process. This is a process which will define the rest of your life - it should be one of unadulterated joy and excitement. And may that joy and excitement illuminate your application; that should be the way.

I will try to post from US!

Another letter - some inspiration for those who are able but lack confidence

2009-07-08T22:01:00.001+08:00

Maybe this will bring hope to some and maybe give others some reality check.

Hi Sir,

I came across your blog today and decided to drop you an email. I was from the RJC graduating class of 2008. I attended a few of your discussion sessions last year when I was applying for US schools. I just want to thank you for all the helpful advice you gave and I'm proud to say that I have been accepted by Stanford and will be matriculating in 2011 (NS right now).

I thought Stanford was a huge reach (my math tutor even told me it was nearly impossible) and only hoped to get into CMU (and I wasn't even confident of that!). I never considered myself a very outstanding student, but your talks gave me some motivation and I put in quite a bit of effort for my essays. It turns out that spending most of my lectures and school hours daydreaming about far-flung topics had its advantage afterall.

So once again, thank you for sharing your experiences. I have also attached my common app essay if you are interested.

Regards,
Chang Xing

Essay help

2009-07-07T21:53:00.005+08:00

Here are some points to consider - when you are in the process of cobbling together an admission essay:

1. Ask yourself whether this is an essay someone else would have written in some similar form? I.e. you are hardly the only person to win a sport's gold medal; you get the idea? We wanna know about you!

2. Don't try to be funny or 'cheem' - like writing about baking chocolate chip cookies and how the accidental choco chips inside are like the days in life - unexpected, sweet and delicious. Don't make me, or the reader puke pls.

3. Your mother may be Florence Nightingale - but you are not. Writing about someone else wouldn't get you admitted. Superman can wear underwear outside and still fly at speed of light - can you? Then why write about others? Write about yourself.

4. Please do not write CHEESY stuff and expect people to fall for it. Example - how do you spend a sunday afternoon? Ans: Doing charity work at an orphanage, because seeing a child smile makes my day. Like hello, that is like SO cheesy! The poor orphans probably were smiling at the candy you brought loh, not about your visit! They are probably thinking: Hand over the candy and buzz off nerd queen of Singapore!

5. Do not let your parents tell you what to write. It is very much about you.

6. Please do not write about how Elvis or Michael Jackson changed your life.

7. Do not take the essays TOO seriously; actually have fun doing it!

8. Try to avoid hyper-adventurous fictional essays like - Confessions of a Teenage Callgirl. Sometimes reading applications in winter can dull one's imagination and actually make one believe your fiction as fact.

9. Do NOT rave about pop stars and what not!

10. Do not write essays which involve: "Reading Harry Potter changed my life" or "Harry Potter is the greatest piece of literary writing".

11. Please CHECK WHAT YOU ARE WRITING, auto spell correction on word can be DEADLY. I once read an essay starting with: "I spent 3 months in New Zealand barebacking", when the poor child meant "I spent 3 months in New Zealand backpacking". You laugh, but when I read that application I almost died. I wanted to call his parents. It happens.

12. Do not cut and paste without checking: last year someone sent a "Why I love X school essay" with the phrase "The first time I read about Y school, I knew it was the only school I wanted to go to!" Cheap! And game over.

13. Mistaking Cornell College for Cornell University - and writing about the wrong campus and location after visiting the WRONG website. Lame.

Please do not run up to me and ask me to read your essays in school. I don't like to read essays when I don't have time to sit down with you and give you a good feedback on! I don't only do counseling in school you know, I also clean the Raffles Biodiversity Pond every Friday and Wednesday as a side job! Come see me then! Read your essays while I clean the pond!

Kevin

Confessions of a serial counselor

2009-07-07T20:44:00.004+08:00

Being a counselor is not easy. When you are truthful, people think you are harsh. When you are tactful, you feel that you are selling out on your professionalism.What do you do with 500-600 kids who want the best in education but do not realise that education is not only about where you go? How many marks you get? But frankly about who you are? Stop clamoring for names and rankings, go where you can be happy and bloom.

When faced with mad and not very grateful students, parents who think they know more than you, and forums which spread nonsense - where can a sane counselor find sane students?

Recently, I had another job offer at an outstanding high school with a unique missions; not to mention higher pay. I was tempted to go; because counselor at RI is quite a thankless job - ha ha - don't believe it, then sitting on my seat. Most counselors have 25-40 counselees, I have 400-600 and I get paid less.

But once in a while, you get individuals who basically understand what you are trying to get at - and it kinds of makes the days a bit easier. I got an email today - it made my day better. Not because he thanked me or praised me, really, I never lived for such things. But because I know, maybe just by fluke, I might have made a world of a difference to somebody out there.

Here - may it be an inspiration to you all. And thanks David - you probably made more sense in this email than I ever will wrestling with these mad children.

Hi Mr. Sim,

I hope you've had a great few weeks away from the constant barrage of questions during the holidays. I came across your blog, and I thoroughly enjoyed your posts. I just thought that I should let you know how appreciative I am of your hard work as an old Rafflesian.

From what I read from your posts, it seems like a lot of boys and girls are too grade-focused or too prestige-focused. It's hard to overcome the obsession over rankings and results, and it must be really frustating for you at times to crack the walls of so many minds (especially the parents). I thank you for being uncompromising in your mission as a true educator to make students realize what education truly is. You've made many people see beyond grades and the CV.

One of them was actually me, and I still keep your name card in my file.

Now you must be wondering how old I am. I graduated not too long ago - I was from RJC Class of 2006 - and I would be attending Princeton on full financial aid this fall. Nope I did not score glittering A's in the examinations. In fact, I scored E's for the whole of my RJC term, did not take any 'S' Paper, and only scored 3A for A Levels. Getting into a school which was willing to pay for my fees was the only avenue I could pursue as I was rejected flat out by Singapore scholarship boards. Without an 'S' Paper anyone's application wouldn't even make it pass the front counter. It's funny how life goes about sometimes.

I did not top the scoreboards but I did everything that I loved. I spent a lot of time running my CCA, playing sports for the school and country, and did my best when called upon to serve in the military. I did everything I could do to help the people around me rather than trying to find a cure for cancer. When I had to write my essays, I didn't write to impress. Rather, the more I wrote the more I pieced together the chapters of my life, and the more minute I realized I was in the whole scheme of things. In the end I wrote about how shallow my life experiences have been, and also how it feels to be a minority (the sport I play) in Singapore who has to cope with numerous questions.

I hope that you would continue to passionately help the students in their college applications, and to make them see the whole grand picture of life. Kick their asses to make them humble, make them humble to realize that this is just a college application. Let them know that it's really alright to go out and experience life. Let them learn that the purpose of education is not to score the A's, but to make sense of the world.

It's really great to know that RJC has a true educator in the house. If there's anyway I could help you, let me know.

Sincerely,
David

Some random stuff

2009-07-01T21:32:00.002+08:00

1. Should I apply for ED - they will look at me more seriously right?
Ans: Only if you are within their admit profile, it doesn't work when you have bad grades.

2. Are high SATs a must?
Ans: It is only ONE component of consideration. Most top schools reject as many 2400s (percentage wise) as the 2250s.

3. Then what do you think is the most important component?
Ans: All things being held constant (grades being sufficient and SATS being ok) - I do think the essay bit is most important. However, this is where most people write some pretty dumb things too, you won't believe what they write!

4. I read this book of personal essays, they are all so COMMON!!!
Ans: Read with pinch of salt.

5. But the book says these people were admitted!
Ans: As I say, there are conman out there who sell magic stones to make certain extremities of your body grow larger. Get the point?

6. My father knows a professor in Harvard, does it help?
Count number of professors, times number of friends they have who have kids who are applying to Harvard - you think Harvard can admit all those? You think that is how admissions work?

On the more sane side of life - I am in the process of directing a feature film; however it had to be cut into different segments of filming to accommodate my mad schedule. Finished part one - got to meet James Franco and bumped in Mason Lee (Lee Ang's son). God knows who I will meet in the 2nd part of filming!

Off to US for dean's conference on 12th July (actually gonna go LA and bump around for a bit with some ex students) and then 19th to Oxford Dean's wedding! (and some Pattiserie Valerie coffee sessions and shopping). THen back to work!

Kevin

FAQs

2009-07-01T15:42:00.001+08:00

Sorry for being away, too busy starting up Naviance for RJC's online applications. Zzzz.

A: Can you name me a few schools which are not receiving the attention they deserve?
Me: Uni of Virginia, Wash Uni in St Louis, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, Rice, Wellesley; the list is quite long, here are a few!

B: Will my extensive CCAs make up for my not so good results?
Me: Depends how bad your results are. CCAs are a part of the application, generally not seen as a substitute for grades.

C: Will full fee help?
Me: Yes, depending also. More like asking for finaid will be disadvantageous in most schools. Full fee will not help when your peers applying there, like Penn, are generally full fee kids anyway.

D: Am I disadvantaged becaused I studied at a Liberal Arts College?
Me: People will say yes, I say no. There are advantages and disadvantages; it depends how you make your education. Just as choosing any college choice would also bring some advantages and disadvantages.

E: I really LOVE X university, but my grades suck; but I REALLY LOOOVE X college.
Me: Yes I am sure you really love Keanu REeves and Brad Pitt as well, but sorry the world doesn't work this way. You have to earn your entry; and sometimes it includes having good grades.

KS
p.s. will be more regular from now on.

Split me with laughter.

2009-06-16T00:16:00.003+08:00

OK - show is over. For those who caught it - good on you. Send me more! Show me you got fun - RJ or NOT!

Ok - first contestant. So has talent. That split alone is worth reading his essays 5 times over and sitting through his life story!

It is good people still know how to not take themselves too seriously.

RGT - it is holidays!

2009-06-16T00:15:00.002+08:00

It is holidays so let us have some fun. Let's have Raffles Got Talent. Show me you got talent and I will bring myself to sit down with you and read your essays and what not. :)

So have some fun while you are at it! Don't be so Raffles Got No Fun.

HELLOOO!

2009-06-14T00:04:00.003+08:00

Ok I have been a bit out of sorts - sorry for not posting.

A few things:

1. You cannot apply to Stanford EA and Chicago EA! Some kid said but Chicago's EA is not Single Choice. Er - but Stanford's is. So even if you don't violate any agreement with Chicago you do so with Stanford - hence still overall violation.

2. You cannot say: I WANT FULL FINANCIAL AID and will be willing to pay 0 dollars. You can say that if your family has NO money AT ALL! Which is unlikely so please understand financial aid is here to help you afford college and you still have to take some reasonable financial responsibility for your own tertiary education!

3. Can I combine SAT scores from different test dates? Yes you can at most schools.

4. Will I have a better chance if I take a gap year and reapply? Unlikely - one year is hardly going to make much difference when they are assessing the last 4 years of your credentials; not even if you go save mountain goats in Andes from extinction. Just apply! (ok are there really goats there?)

5. I do not want to use my school results; aren't US schools interested in more than results? You so cannot do that. They are - interested in things beyond results as well, but including results. Princeton is not going to admit you to dance with pompoms and disregard your Ds Es and Fs.

6. My father's friend's brother works in Yale as a professor, he is going to write me a recommendation. I say - might as well get an alien from mars to write you one! Alien probably knows you better - because it has been peeking at you from his magic kaleidoscope. What has a silly recommendation written by someone who hardly knows you got to do with admissions? Admissions people aren't little kids who would be WOW-ed by a professor writing for you. Have more faith in your own ability; usually only weaker kids do such things when they think they need a leg-up in the competition.

I just got such a COOOOOL job offer I almost cannot turn down! :( A chance to make a difference in people's lives! :(

KS

FAQ - Fairly Anal Questions

2009-06-01T21:47:00.002+08:00

Me: What are your conditions for the selection of schools your kid is applying to?
Parent: That it is a school where my child can be happy in is the first and most important condition.
(I so admire this enlightened response)

A: What is it we must do now - like first and most important loop?
Me: Stay on top of the information loop - make sure the info you are getting is right and trustworthy. The more educated opinions you get, the more you can use them to help you in the application process.

B: If I DO NOT take SATs, is there like no way the schools will look at me? I heard some kids applied without and got admitted, because they were so interesting.
Me: Name the kids? Can't? Then do not trust such accounts. Work with real information. SATs are compulsory for schools which say they are compulsory.

C: Can I take Math I and Math II for SATs II and get them counted as 2 subject tests?
Me: No!
C: I asked an advising centre in Singapore, they said yes.
Me: *roll eyes* Do not ask a question and then question the answer. Trust who you want to trust. I have said what I know to be true and real.

D: Should I just apply for financial aid?
Me: FA is for helping people who otherwise cannot afford to go to school. Anyway in applying for FA as an Intl Student, you are drastically lowering chances of admissions; students shouldn't use FA as a chance to fish for money, it is for genuine cases where family is unable to afford money - to attempt supplement some of shortfall.

KS

The Essays I Read

2009-05-27T22:05:00.002+08:00

I read through some 15 essays today, submitted, kindly, by hardworking RJCians.

Here are some thoughts:

1. People have to stop trying to FIT things into essays - stop thinking of how to squeeze certain events, CCAs, awards, into the essays; they often feel forced make the essay rather disjointed. Write an essay as it is without preconceived or preplanned ingredients; you get what I mean yar? Like STOP IT - you SO do not have to mention your research project!!!

2. Please stop telling, start showing. Like in "Evaluate a significant experience...", please evaluate, and do not spend 90% of the time DESCRIBING the experience and try and nail down it deep and meaningfully with the last paragraph. That so fails to adequately fulfill the prerequisite of 'evaluating' the experience.

3. Similarly, stop telling me what you do, things you do, how you do it - tell me 'you'. Your activities, again I say, don't make you.

4. Worse are the essays where you decide there are like 4 different things you believe you DIE DIE have to put in, so you do a patchwork horror of an essay which fails to come across cohesive or vaguely sane. Quilts are so not fashionable.

5. When choosing your content - think of me asking this question: WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT? Maybe that can be a good signpost, or maybe give you nightmares.

6. Please do not write as if this is some random essay - do not write for me and try and second guess what I might want to read, but do not also write as if you don't really give a damn about whether I might find this useful or interesting.

7. Some people might disagree, but do not tell me about how much you love your: 1. Goldfish 2. Pet dog 3. Doll 4.Blanket; like - so what am I to do with this information?

8. Do not write a whole essay on how great your father is - you cannot borrow glory from your friends or father to gain admissions; I'd rather admit them then.

9. Do not write me, of all things, an academic essay on world peace, third world economics or worse of all, an 'academic' essay of your life.

10. Do not try to be fancy, when you cannot pull it off, really: it is ok to be succinct and simple - get the message across.

There was one essay I really liked. Why?

1. It was intelligent - there is considerable art, craft and thought put into piecing this essay together.
2. I felt there was a human penning this essay and I was able to access his/her thoughts and feelings.
3. It felt amazingly personal and real; there was a 'voice'.
4. It was able to tell me things about the writer through the process of the essay, without being too blatant.
5. It read like a personal letter: confiding, friendly, natural.
6. There was humor, wit, reflection - which made it feel real, and gave the essay texture and dimensions.
7. It was very artful. It betrays the warm and intelligent human being behind the pen quite well.

Hope this helps.

Kevin Sim

Volunteers

2009-05-26T22:56:00.003+08:00

I so have not blogged, trying to clear some admissions stuff from last year. It is never over. Tiring. Completely. :(

I have decided to go to Cambodia second week of june, to relook at Cambodian education system, and probably make a 20 min docu-story on a-day-in-a-cambodia-student's-life for the dean's conference next year!

Anybody interested? Would be fun and eye opening.

Kevin

That one story

2009-05-20T22:30:00.002+08:00

I have read through so many essays, so many applications, and I have worked with so many kids in my life it is no joke; or maybe it is a joke!

But I still cannot get the kid who comes up and say - oh my life is SO boring I don't know what to write for my essays.

Tell you a story.

3 years back I was stalked by this kid, let's call this kid X; everywhere! I finally agreed to meet him, had coffee. Common story - I was rejected by all schools and I wanna reapply again; BUT my biggest problem is that I I know am SO boring there is nothing I can write to convince people I am more than just a collage of activities and results.

I really felt a deep sympathy for him - because the last thing someone ought to think to do, after achieving so much in life, is to belittle oneself into a product. I sat him down and said, I am going to ask you about your life. I also read his essay which I quite frankly had a mini-paroxysm over - how he chose to present himself.

Hence I took my little notebook and pen out, started asking questions - to which he asked "why such random questions?" Answer was: "Shaddup and answer". Laugh, that is me, sorry. I went through a series of back alleys of his life, some almost forgotten events; he asked aren't you interested in the things I do during school? No - frankly, I can see from your CV quite easily, I am after why you do things you do, and the things I don't see on the application.

At the end of the hour, I looked at what I wrote down, spent 15 minutes reordering the facts, based on what he answered. I then said - read this, is this an interesting person? After reading he said - OMG, is this me? I answered - this were the things you were talking about the past 1 hour; I didn't even bother 'beautifying' them.

"You mean I am actually such a funny and interesting person? But these are like random facts about me pieced into a picture!"

"But is this not you? Not one bit is fabricated. Beyond the known, we are, unfortunately and fortunately, made up of 'random' things in our lives; Life, in all its grandeur, is hardly predictable and orderly."

He went on and applied and got admitted.

Most of the time, after being in this system for so long, we think we are only what the our education system and society has measured us against. Full stop. Frankly, a "student" is only ONE expletive which describes WHAT you are; there are so many more facets to an individual; not to mention WHO you are.

Of course, having said this, there are people who totally lose it and imagine themselves on very wrong terms and are experiencing total cognitive dissonance about their own self-worth.

But still I hold on to the belief - we all have stories to tell. You need to know where to look and what to tell.

Kevin

Think again - choosing schools

2009-05-20T20:57:00.002+08:00

Choosing schools. Big issue. Most kids think this way - I WANT to go to THESE schools. Very often it is all about rankings and reputation.

How much do you know of these schools by the way? Probably very little; mostly hearsay. Most use collegeconfidential as a bible for knowledge on schools - which is plainly very sad. Easy information is often relied on rather than more painstakingly sought out knowledge.

I think it would be more useful to think of college choice as a choice of friends or marriage choice. It is not only about you choosing them, it is about they choosing you. Unfortunately, most people do not consider 'fit' holistically when choosing colleges. "I want" becomes the overriding factor.

Here are some things you ought to consider beyond the norm:

1. Do you think you would actually enjoy your 4 years in such an institution; given the fact that colleges have very different environments and people, just to call the obvious?

2. Do you think - in that kind of environment, culture and system - you would actually benefit and grow in ways you have not?

3. Can you envision yourself in that school - being an active and integral part of the college community?

4. What is it you want from your college education? Diversity? Exposure? Lack of core? City living? Away from city academic detox?

5. Do you think you will perform in that particular academic environment; more mugger, more relax, more pressurising?

6. Do you want to gravitate towards more of the same? Culture wise? Or do you want a change and opt for a totally challenging and foreign environment?

7. Have you looked at colleges beyond the norm and what you know - which is usually very few. Are you willing to explore less known school (less known to you) and at least consider?

8. Do you have REAL and thoughtful reasons why you want to go to the schools you are choosing at first response? Or is it just "I wanna go there".

Most people can tell me Princeton is my dream school - but when probed are quite unable to articulate artfully the impetus behind this 'dream'. It is as good as telling someone, "I love you" but being unable to qualify why when further asked. Lame right? A choice which would resound for many years to come - maybe you ought to give it a little more serious, and less "legally blonde", thoughts.

Maybe that's it for now.

Kevin

I am so going to SLAP you (more FAQs)

2009-05-18T23:27:00.003+08:00

A: How do you make your CCAs/activties work for you?
Me: Do not ask what your cca might do for you, ask what has your CCA has done to you; that is a better way to look at you. It is not the 80 hours you spent at the old folks' home that counts, rather how has those 80 hours made you who you are today.

B: Is it easier to apply to a school, like Stanford which is more science and engineering, and apply for the arts college?
Me: Whoever said Stanford is a SCIENCE school, it is equally strong in both the arts and the sciences. And if you think getting into another school like the Arts and Science is easier, you are completely mistaken. Also do not play games like this because you might be stuck in a department and fail to transfer to the college of engineering you want so badly and have to do something you do not want to for 4 years! And WHO told you such nonsense?
B: Some other students from your school... and they said you told them.
Me: Ya right, anyone who knows me knows I will never say that. Give me their names I am SO going to slap them!
(I really will; preaching your own beliefs and using my name is just totally lame. I will so find you and slap you since I now have your name! You are doomed. :) )

C: Is leadership important?
Me: Look, leadership, like many other components - are just a part of a more holistic consideration of a student's entire application. Don't lock in onto ONE issue and make a mountain out of it. On the other hand, even if you end up without a leadership position - it is ok. We cannot ALL be leaders.

D: In the essay, what is the most important thing you can present?
Me: Very simply - YOU. Not your credentials, not your awards, not anything else; I want a good sense of who you are.

Slapper Kevin Sim

Project Schoolbus

2009-05-16T14:35:00.003+08:00

Eh - I run a NPO, which works mostly with kids from developing countries - to get them sent to US for college education with financial aid.

IF - big if - you feel that you surmounted obstacles to arrive at where you are today - just as competitive as anyone else applying for college, and that you have a story to tell: do drop me an email. I want to know.

And I will see what I can do to help.

You must necessarily belong to a disadvantaged group/background or have surmounted great difficulties in the past. Please supply me with relevant info, including current credentials and SATs scores, etc.

Thanks!
Kevin

Freudianly Anal Questions

2009-05-14T12:57:00.003+08:00

Rehash of some conversations I had with students and parents.

Me: How are you interesting?
A: Very! I think I am fascinating.
Me: *arched eyebrows* Yes like how?
A: I think I am different from my friends and the typical JC students.
Me: Yes like how?
A: People look at me and know I am different from the typical student.
Me: (while talking, logs on to Amazon.com and see if I can order Pepper-spray for future use)
Point - committing to words like fascinating, weird, quirky, interesting, without the ability to prove it and convince the reader - is meaningless. One big rule of applications, don't tell - show!

Me: Ok please collect instructions for mock application from the here.
Student D: Oh my god, I am so TOTALLY going to do it. (happily jumps)
Student E: Hey - that is so GAY! Are you gay? *shows signs of disgust*
Me: (being usual rude me and so Justice League member) Hey, can you don't say that?
Student E: But that is GAY!
Me: (sighs, pepper-spray has yet to arrive from Amazon.com) Will you just SHUT UP!
Point - when you head towards US where while there might be dialogue on whether homosexuality is 'normal' or 'right', people tend to accord each other respect. Calling someone gay as if it is a disease, is no different from an American calling you 'Ching' in a tone of scorn - both are discriminatory. Respect and be given respect please.
It is sad to be jaundiced and prejudiced. It is doubly sad to be so young, so educated, so informed, and still so prejudiced - against anything and anyone for that matter.

Parent: Mr. Sim, I am not a racist, but can you please tell me which schools have less or no blacks?
Me: Excuse me, they are called Afro-Americans. Next - I think you better send your kid to NUS. (then turns and walk away from a lost-cause, regally of course)

(At Oxford Talk)
I so kindly invited my dear friend Paul, head of recruitment at Oxford, to educate kids on the Oxford interview and application process at RJC. (shit I am suppose to say RIJC right? Ah WTH!)

Paul: Do you have any other questions?
Student: Can you tell me about Cambridge application and interview process.
(Silence... this is when I wished I could transform into sailormoon with short skirt and knee high boots with tiara and sceptre to distract Paul from the obviously dumb and rude question... if you cannot understand why the question is dumb, please never visit this blog again.) (p.s. I give you a hint, you can only apply to either Oxford or Cambridge)

Same thing happened Chicago talk, Isabel Gomez, Director of Intl Admissions at UChicago was asked:

Student Z: Should I apply to Business at Wharton or Econs at Chicago.
Isabel: Oh, please don't apply to UChicago.
Isabel (later confides in me): Was I too rude?
Me: No, you need not be too kind to crazy kids with no basic awareness of words which come out from their mouths.
Point - they are here to sell their own school, why would they then answer queries about other schools? Especially when they work very cooperatively with competing institutions, you are basically asking them to either - put down competing school or put their own institution down.

EQ is really missing from kids nowadays, not to mention empathy, respect and self-awareness.

One interesting question I put to a friend:

I work at a top notch institution, but how many of my kids are actually interested in ANYTHING beyond their own interests, welfare and life?

Someone like to answer that?

The admissions season is coming. Woe is me. 1 counselor to 500 mad kids wanting to apply to US.

Some thoughts on essays

2009-05-09T22:09:00.003+08:00

I recently opened myself to read some admissions essays from RJC kids who might have been ready enough to embark on their admissions essays. I had only one rule - make it compelling.

Here are some thoughts:

1. Students tend to believe that essays exist only in 1 form - a mix between self glorification, bad excuses for showing off, coupled with a standardised academic way of writing. Fact remains: the admission essay can take on almost any form! Last thing you want it to be is - academic.

2. Everything is relative: when you say I am "interesting" or "quirky" - you need to be able to back it up. I mean, if your friends think pretending to be transformers is quite quirky and interesting, remember the dean is not Optimus Prime and probably wouldn't find it a tenth as amusing. Remember who is reading on the other end and words like 'interesting' and "quirky" might symbolise totally different things.

3. Things which are interesting might not necessarily be about SCHOOL. I know school takes up an inordinately large part of an 18 year old's life, but the essay actually gives you a chance to talk about YOU - not schoolwork or school activities.

4. There were a few which had great potential, however the treatment was wrong and failed to capitalise on what could have been an astounding subject matter. Sometimes it is good having friends read your essays; sometimes it can be bad too.

5. Too many people have a preconceived idea - what an essay should be and what the admissions people wanna read. Look - you have no bloody idea what the admissions people want, and your mom doesn't either nor your dad, so the best rule is - put yourself forward in the most original form that is YOU and live with it. (This advice is worth a million dollars, trust me). Be innovative, be fun, be creative: but please be YOU!

Ok I tire. It is late.

kevin

A story from an ex-counselee

2009-05-07T21:03:00.003+08:00

This is a story a counselee wanted to share and hopes that it will give you hope and confidence. I thank her for her contribution. This is her story she wrote specially for this blog:

I grew up in Inner Mongolia, before moving back to mainland China. Having received the MOE scholarship to study in Singapore, I consider myself very lucky. However, I always had a secret dream of studying in the United States, despite a strong belief that I will never make it there: because I needed full financial aid and I am not really the strongest of students.

After doing not the best in my final preliminary exams before the A levels, I felt that my dream to study in the US, a dream I had had for more than 10 years, was totally crushed. Compared to my excellent schoolmates who had achieved straight As and could afford their own education fees, I felt that I was not in a good position to apply. But with a stubborn determination I went ahead to apply anyway.

When I first showed friends my 5 paged long essay, many of them had criticisms about my content and how I wrote, because I am not the best writer after all, even my GP tutor did not like the essay. I finally found enough courage to approach my school’s college admissions counselor, Mr. Sim, whom I have heard so many things about and some of the stories are quite scary to me. When he was reading my essay, I thought he was going to tell me, like the others, that it was a bad essay. But he started laughing, which did not improve my confidence; I thought I had written something very dumb. Then he pointed to one sentence and said: “You must never delete this sentence, this is your essay and your life!” and started laughing again. When I looked at it, it was about when my teacher used to say whenever we wanted to go to the toilet, we had to kill 3 houseflies before we are allowed to return to class, to help rid the world of evil. I wondered how could something like this be good and interesting or say anything about me? But he kept laughing and insisted that is my thesis statement, and it is better for him to laugh than to have no response after reading an essay. “This is real life, your life” he said and insisted there can be no greater advertisement than one’s own life.

I still had my doubts about my counselor’s advice, but it was rumored that he knows things nobody else knows about admissions and ever since he appeared at my school admission officers have been visiting like never before. So I persevered despite believing that with such conditions, I would probably not be admitted. I was even more surprised, after showing him my second draft, when Mr. Sim suggested I upgraded my school list and apply to a highly selective college for full financial aid during Early Decision. Once again I was filled with disbelief, because it is known many people are applying for that school and they all probably have better grades than me. When he offered to write me a recommendation, I was even more surprised. I asked him: why did you choose to help me? He told me each and every life was vital and has interesting stories, and that he could see and appreciate my life, its stories and journey so the least he could do was to write a recommendation for something he believed in. I often wondered what that recommendation was like, since it is rumored he wrote recommendations which were epic in quality.

The gratitude that I felt towards him was beyond what language could describe, although I also struggled to believe that anything was possible.

One month later, it was unbelievable to me that I was admitted into my ED school, with a FA package of U.S.$50,000 per year. I informed Mr. Sim immediately. All he replied was “and you are surprised?” and to advise me on how to plan for the next stage of my life. Every word from his email gave me great power to start a new chapter of my life.

Coming from my very humble background, going to the US is a very very extreme fantasy. Lacking both the money and super-ability of some other applicants, I never believed the day would come when I would board a plane to attend a college in the US. From Inner Monogolia, to Singapore and now to the US, as Mr Sim said, it is a beautiful story and now for the next part of the story. I now believe some impossible things can come true, dreams can come true with determination and help from people who have no reason to help you other than kindness and compassion. Or as Mr. Sim said: “because it is a good story!”

Any request for Oxford Info Video?

2009-05-06T21:07:00.001+08:00

If there are I will record and put it up for people who couldn't be here! :)

Oxford University Evening Program

2009-05-06T08:46:00.003+08:00

Speaker: Paul Teulon, Head of Student Recruitment

Venue: Raffles Junior College, LT5
Time/Date: 7pm, Friday, May 8th.

THIS IS OPEN TO ALL, GRANDPARENTS, PARENTS, AUNTIES, etc.

PLEASE COME EARLY! Due to swine flu we will have to do contact tracing, hence temperature will be taken and if you write down your contacts on a piece of paper:

Name, School, Telephone Number.

and pass it to the guard house as you come in, it will save you time having to fill in a form. Also - for JC kids, bring your own thermometre for temperature taking at the gate. Sorry for all the trouble, but these are mandatory - though not be me but for the safety of all I guess! :)

See you there!

Updates

2009-05-06T08:41:00.001+08:00

Sorry for a slack 2 weeks. Now I do think I am back on top of stuff, ha ha.

Videos of Yale, Wellesley, Chicago and Duke talk will be back up this weekend as I fiddle around with trying to convert LARGE HD video files to smaller ones for this website.

Also - I might post an Oxford University talk video too, will have to get clearance from Paul, the speaker first!

Kevin

Online Video

2009-04-23T22:54:00.003+08:00

I just had dinner with the admissions directors of Wellesley, Yale, Duke and Chicago - asked if their presentation could be filmed and posted for people who couldn't make it to their talk. They say yes! :) Some visitors on blog are like from 18 different countries - so I guess it wouldn't hurt to be a bit more proactive!

Bear with me, I will have to learn how to format to a point where the video will be able to be contained here!

Snore. Give me a week. Thanks for patience!

yours,
Kevin
p.s. will be posting something interesting tomorrow!

Admissions Talk - Duke, Wellesley, Yale, Chicago

2009-04-23T10:36:00.003+08:00

Admissions Talk Duke, Wellesley, Yale and Chicago Universities

Location: Raffles Junior College, LT4 (Bishan Campus)
Date/Time: 24th April, Friday, 1900hrs.

All are welcome! Including Parents, Grandparents, Aunties, Uncles and your mom's facial therapists! :)

See you there!

Kevin Sim

Out of Point

2009-04-16T17:43:00.000+08:00

This is a bit out of point, but do watch this. Amazing.

Teacher Recs - helping them help you

2009-04-16T12:37:00.003+08:00

While in some parts of the country, helping your teachers help you might mean - write it for them, I'd be suggesting some more ethical ways you might be able to help your teachers craft your recommendations.

1. Go for teachers who know you better - it might not necessarily be the subject you are best at! Teachers do appreciate effort which might not always end up in an A grade; having known you she might be able to better put your grades and effort in context. Teachers who know you might be better be able to come out with anecdotal evidences to reinforce what they are trying to say about you.

2. You do not necessarily have to find the want who writes best; find the one who wants to do his/her best for you. Essays do not have to read like Charlotte Bronte's letters; frankly I rather read an earnest and simple recommendation where I feel that the teacher really means what he/she is saying, rather than a typical crafted and formulaic letter of recommendation that uses very nebulous terms like "wonderful", "delightful", "nice" to describe the kid. To me, "John is a wonderful kid" is as good as "John is a good boy" and "John has fabulously curly hair"; actually in hindsight, I prefer the curly hair.

3. Just because your teacher was from Upenn doesn't mean a hoot to the admissions; so do not gravitate toward such urban myths. Do not be swayed by what some teachers might claim; I have heard some say "Oh, I know what the dean of X-college wants, so I tailor my recommendations to them so that you will get admitted". Like, hello teacher, get back to earth. Go for those whom you trust and know trust you in return. So do not all gravitate to one teacher because of such rumors.

4. One page - is enough. There is no need for teachers to relist your achievements because it would be evident in the other parts of your application form. Do not demand - "Must at least be 2 pages!!!"

5. When asking for a recommendation, remember to be polite - don't treat it as something the teacher is obliged to do for you and hence demand it.

6. Give teachers advance warning - do not ask for last minute recommendations.

7. Do not get recommendations from teachers who teach you the same subject, although try to avoid finding your tennis teacher or your sports coach to write academic recommendations.

8. Eh - I can't think of any and I need to go do something, maybe I will continue another day! ha ha.

9. Shall end with an example of bad points to raise in a rec: "Jane shelves library books in the library every day after school, even though she is not a librarian!" Like wow???!!! Saint Jane of Book Shelves? Like what does this do for the poor girl? What does this say that is helpful? She has no life? I'm not lying, I have seen such a statement before!

p.s. we have teachers' day on sept 1st for a reason you know; your recommendations are due Nov 1st or Jan 1st. LOL.

Kevin Sim

Ten Chickens

2009-04-13T21:30:00.003+08:00

I remember while giving a talk in KL - someone asked me: Are there like anythings I should avoid talking about, especially if my life isn't very interesting?

Look - interesting is so subjective. What kids find interesting nowadays - partying, being 'in', being so like popular: isn't very interesting to me, nor do I think admissions people would love to know. You live in a far more different world than they do - it would be good if they could understand the world you come from and then try to understand where you are today and how far you have come.

My subsequent answer to that question was like: Even if you live in a kampong, have 10 chickens, do not be ashame - tell me all these, and if you could I would love to know the names of your 10 chickens and why they are named so! Rather that than tell me how you won 1st prize in a spelling bee or how you worked on your chemistry project and won gold for it!

Why? Simple - I want to know you and understand the things which define YOU and who you are. And the medals you win, the canoe you row, is hardly definitive of who you really are. After 18 years of living, if all you can think about which defines you is - your gold medals (which I already know from the other parts of the application) - it would be very sad.

End of day, it boils down to an understanding of what really makes you the person you are. Not the medals, not the scores; then what you say?! Time to think about it, isn't it?

Kevin

Points to Ponder for 2009 Applicants

2009-04-11T23:01:00.003+08:00

Looking forward, here are a few things to note:

1. US college-going year 12 students will still be increasing.
2. International applications ought to still increase, though limited.
3. Slight domestic shift to cheaper universities; international applications should also move more to finaid-linked applications.
4. Last year saw some international finaid budgets slashed; oh dear, you really haven't seen the worse! It definitely will get worse this year. Don't ask me why - budgets are like projected one year ahead - get the point?
5. Consequently, full-fee international kids should get a little more slack; but no excuse to apply with bad grades to competitive schools. Doesn't work that way whatever slack you might get!
6. Some schools have cut travel budgets; hence some schools will not be visiting Asia. While I know who, please don't email me to ask. I don't say it for a reason.

Things I promise to do:
1. Conduct a survey on admissions' assessment on Singapore applications.
2. Swear to go read applications end of this year/early next year. I need to make some time.
3. Try not to be more patient when 80 people are queuing outside my office asking me to read essays everyday during peak season; despite - I AM NOT READING ANY ESSSAY RULE! Weeps, woe is me.
4. Try to reply the emails I get; peak season is like 40 emails a day from random people asking same question - hence existence of this blog!
5. Not to pick up calls from random numbers I don't know during application period!
6. Write more recommendations; I've been quite hands-off. :p
7. Have more fun-filled sessions of US admissions workshops at RJC - shall try some new ideas and workshops.
8. Find more interesting people to advocate for!

KS

Liberal Arts Education (Part II) - Not dancing and painting watermelons; the perils of cough-mixture + Bejewel Blitz

2009-04-11T11:29:00.004+08:00

I took some cough mixture - the one which makes you sleepy and giddy - and then played twenty games of Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook. Afterwards, I went to lay down on my bed; even with my eyes closed, I kept seeing those diamond things on Bejeweled falling down in my vision and I thought I could even hear the weird sound they make when they explode........ So I decided to wake up and do something a little more sane rather than watch multi-colored diamonds drop with my eyes closed. (Pls do not try this at home with or without supervision; my friend once played so much Pokemon on his gameboy he found his friends resembling different kinds of pokemons and felt the urge to call them by their pokemon names; too much games is baaaaaaaaaaaaad!)

Er, back to more sane things which we sane people have to deal with.

Some poor child just came back to me crying - Mr Sim I told my mom about the liberal arts education and the merits of it and she said Liberal Arts sounds like, quote, "you are going there to learn to sing and dance". And the words "liberal arts + college" just made her angry why her daughter wants to go to a college when she can go to a university!

So let this be a letter to that mother.

Dear Auntie -

I know your hairstylist has been a valid and constant source of higher-education counseling and information for you; I am very glad someone is out there doing my job for me since I refuse to meet parents, for obvious reasons - however today I would like to clarify somethings with you in auntie language.

1. Liberal Arts education basically involves, in very market-language, the ability for a student to try out various different subjects. Even if your daughter has never taken Biology, she can. If she so chooses to do subject combination of Biology, Econs and Literature, she can! Actually auntie, it gives her a lot more options, not to mention the ability to do the subjects you insist on her doing, like Econs because you want her to be an investment banker (although I don't quite see the link) and also allow her to pursue her albeit harmless interest in, like say - Anthropology. See, two for the price of one! Bargain. Like Kao Biore shampoo - 2 in 1, shampoo plus conditioner! And both parents and child emerge happier. Good right?

2. Why must my daughter do silly things like Anthropology, you say: my dearest auntie (which is an honorific I use for older women I have respect for and being very fond of, I assure you, with no denigrating connotations), what is the use of learning how monkeys look like 2000 years ago. Good point auntie, amazing passage of logic, but you see, kids at that age would have interests they feel they ought to pursue before they in turn grow old and feel that they have not made good use of their education and youth. Even if she wants to major in Anthropology, she can still maintain her other more 'sane' major in Economics; so in case she gets bored of digging dirt or looking at fossils, she can always be the investment banker you so want her to be.

3. Liberal Arts Education. Eh, it doesn't mean dancing, singing, and painting watermelons. Did you know Harvard and Princeton also runs the liberal arts education system? Oh, you didn't? Suddenly Liberal Arts Education doesn't sound so bad hor! Ya - it is just the system of education in US where they believe that even while pursuing a very pointed interest in Economics, it would be great if your daughter could have a broad based education in many other things. As I fondly Isabel Gomez, Director of International Admissions at Chicago pointed out - We want to educate you not for your job, but for life. I think it about sums it up very eloquently.

4. College in US means university; I know your daughter came from a Junior College in Singapore and you feel going to a "college" and not a university is like machiam kena (Malay for "like you are getting") shortchanged and very malu (Malay for "shameful"). But hor auntie, you see, College in US means the undergraduate division of the university. Then why Harvard called Havard University! Wah auntie, you very sharp - but you see when a student goes to Harvard for undergraduate, they enroll in Harvard College, like in Chicago they enroll in Chicago's College of Arts and Science. So why call university, why call college? Well you see, an institution is called a university when it is made up of an undergraduate college + Masters and PhD divisions. So when a student attends a very famous school like Carleton College, it is because Carleton does not run significant masters and PhD programs.

5. Going to a college will not also jeopardise your child's ability to enroll in a good university for PhD programs later, because universities are run by people who know this system very well and will not prejudge your child just because he/she came from a college instead of a university! Actually hor, Carleton is very famous for fielding one of the highest percentage of female PhD students in the US!

6. Aiyo why so confusing? My dearest auntie - I always advocated a deeper faith in our younger generation; if not how dare we imagine the future? Right? These 'kids' afterall are the future, if we think they cannot even make a decision for their own lives, what hope can they be? So have a bit of faith in your child, even if you think the decision, in your opinion, is not very right - it is a decision they must make and live through with it; the same we did when we were younger. And I am sure, we are better for it, right or wrong, for having realised we made these decisions ourselves.

yours,

Kevin Sim (on medication)

Why get a Liberal Arts Education? (Part One)

2009-04-09T10:56:00.004+08:00

Some parents find it 'wow' to have a kid, who at 6 years old, 'wants' and 'decides' he wants to be a doctor or dentist. They find it endearing and vaguely 'assuring'; on the contrary I find it rather delusional and unhealthy. If at 6, your whole life is already mapped out - it denigrates the burgeoning possibilities each and every individual has in his/her life. How interesting can life be when at 6, you know what is going to happen for the rest of your life; a bit of hyperbole but I think it works.

This is the basis of the US liberal arts education - that you may discover, for many of us for the first time in our lives, the many routes you may take. And this is often represented in the variety of courses you can take in college, and the ability to try them out without punitive retribution!

I had a student who thought she wanted to do Biomedical Engineering. She went into the belief that she wanted to do Pre-Med. Then she thought she wanted to do philosophy and sociology. Then she got so caught up in Eastern Philosophy and Mysticism that she thought she wanted to be a reborn eastern guru-mystic and abandon all earthly pursuits! Then reality caught up with her; she's been there, tried it all, and now she knows what she really wants - back to Biomedical engineering. Now double sure this is the route her life will be; and she didn't incur any disadvantages through her experimentations academically, and I think holistically, she has gained a lot. Some people might argue - wah why take so long only to redouble back onto the original route. Truth is - unless you know what it is you do not want, how can you be sure of what you really want.

I mean this is a very 'soft' argument - but these are the most formative years of your life, and probably the only chance you will have to sample, experience and decide the general direction you will go for the rest of your life. And it should be 4 years of diverse academic and social experience; not one locked up in the lab, not one in the library, not one in a homogeneous surrounds with one kind of people with one kind of culture.

I would love to be on a campus where there are 60-100 countries represented, where the socio-economic backgrounds of my friends are so diverse it is astounding! And US education is so much more than the classes, lots of learning happens outside class, in the way the college life in US is like an enclosed and representational microcosmos of the outside world. Of course, there will be necessary challenges and problems - get real if you think life ought to be easy and mapped out, all the more you need to go out there and face these challenges so missing from our Singaporean lives; and even come back a bit more appreciative of this land you live on.

But of course, going there - there is no greater sin than being a Singaporean groupie and only hanging around with Asians. Then it is a complete waste of experience. It is like going all the way to Italy and looking for Chinatown to eat Singaporean-ish food. Funny right? But it is a very Singaporean-ish behavior at times. Ha ha.

So go. Experience. Might not always be easy and beautiful. But you will look back years on and value it.

Kevin of the Coughing