8 Tips for Students Looking to Apply Abroad (From an applicant who just went through the process)

Looking back at the past year and what I went through during the application process, I can say that CAMP Philippines and my CAMP mentor really helped me in myriad of ways that I will forever be thankful for.

A few days ago, I got a chance to visit my CAMP mentor Chris Dee who is currently a junior at Yale. At one point, we ended up exchanging notes on the application process, synthesizing my experience (what worked well for me), talking about what CAMP has done for all the mentees and underclassmen and just going over the rising college-abroad scene in the Philippines and our role as “Illustrados.”

(CAMP has a super duper helpful guide for people interested in studying abroad (all the essentials are here): http://www.campphilippines.org/uploads/1/2/3/6/12362897/_camp_college_app_guide.pdf

With my CAMP mentor in the Yale, New Haven campus

I still remember going through the process like it was yesterday. The college application process was an experience in itself, filled with countless of highs and lows. And in between all those were valuable lessons I learned that I wish to share with you guys as you go through the process yourselves!

Top 8 Tips for Students Looking to Apply Abroad

1. Enjoy the Process; Treat it like a Game –As you start thinking about applying abroad, it’s inevitable that you will become busier than ever. To add to your academics and countless of meetings already, you will have to study for the SATs, write your essays and find ways to stand-out and boost your application.

Since you will go through it anyway, might as well stay positive and enjoy the process. The best way to do this is really treating the college application process like a (video) game with you trying to improve his score (SAT score?) and finding ways to make it to the next level! And besides, believe it or not, some of your best memories will come from the fact that you’re applying abroad!

An extremely helpful SAT guide: https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/955109-silverturtle-s-guide-to-sat-and-admissions-success.html

Because the SATs are over…Repost from Inquirer: “Much Ado About Getting In”

*This article was first published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer dated January 16, 2014; now that I’m also done with my last SATs, I guess this deserves to be reposted here in my blog 🙂

Last year’s CAMP Conference where hundreds of students gathered to learn more about the college admissions process abroad

With just a few more months before graduation, anxious of what their future will be like, high school students flocked to the Ateneo campus to check the Ateneo College Entrance Test (Acet) results which were released on Jan. 11. Some of my friends started shouting in joy and celebrating as they saw their names on the list of accepted students; they finally had a college.

At the same time, my other friends sat there thinking about what their future will be like as they wait for the test results of the other schools they applied to. The buildup to the college admissions results means a lot of goose bumps and late nights worrying whether or not one will get into the college he or she wants.

Chem Camp! Chemistry of Human Beings and Why It Matters!

Today was another busy yet fun-filled day. As you know, it was the first day of Chem Camp and at the same time, I also returned to practicing with the team today. Although I wasn’t able to get much sleep last night because there are a thousand things in my mind right now and I’m in a bit of a bind, I was surprisingly energetic and enthusiastic throughout the day. I should probably credit all the people I were with, who kept the spirit and energy at such a high level, namely my fellow Chem Campers and my teammates.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect from the first day of Chem Camp. I was honestly, a bit skeptical about joining Chem Camp especially since I wasn’t really a big fan of Chemistry during my Junior Year, but because of the fact that my Adviser chose me out of all her other students, I just felt that I should give it a try; who knows, it might actually be worthwhile.

Looking back at the day and everything that happened, it was definitely worth it joining the Chem Camp right from the very first moment when I reached the venue. It was my very first time to go to one of the top universities here in the Philippines, Ateneo De Manila, and I was immediately left in awe by the enormous campus decorated with tall trees and grasslands. I even got lost trying to find the lecture hall where we were suppose to gather for the orientation.

Things were only getting better. The orientation may have been a bit boring (what orientation isn’t?) but as the camp progressed and I got to know some of the campers, things started getting a lot more fun and interesting. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I whenever I meet new people and connect with them, I feel this tremendous joy and vibrance. To be quite honest with you, socializing was one of the main reasons as to why I even joined this camp and during the first day, I was not disappointed for I got to meet this group who were really jocular and witty. They actually made Chemistry sound interesting and I’m actually excited to attend Chem camp and interact with these campers again!

To add to all that, we had a really funny teacher handle us who was a bit nerdy but at the same time, was able to bring life to Chemistry. As I went through the module, I was convinced of what he said that he plans to help us see things in life the chemist way and realize the importance of chemistry in life. In other words, there won’t be any of those boring tests but we’ll be having a lot of experiments that will show us the application of Chemistry in our everyday life.

Moving on, getting back to practicing and seeing my teammates was another highlight of my day today! It was really surreal seeing them again after a bit of a long time and just exchanging stories. The aura they give out is really different and they really know how to have fun and just enjoy life. Being able to practice with these guys and create a bond with them is what makes being part of the team every bit worth it. It’s the camaraderie and friendships that are built that make all the blood, sweat and tears bearable.

First day of the week and I’ve already had so much memorable and high experiences. What I really learned though from all this is that we’re social beings and we are meant to interact with people and make friends. Like the common cliche goes, “No man is an Island.”  I used to be an introvert, afraid to interact with people, but I’ve come to realize that maybe starting a conversation or two with a person is always worth a shot. You won’t lose anything and think about what the other person might be thinking. That person might just be as scared as you and making the first move will make a difference and might possibly start a bond that lasts forever. And remember, people don’t bite (unless they’re crazy off-course, which is a totally different case).

The bottom line though and what I want you to take away from this is that don’t be afraid to socialize and be with people, for you may think you’re better off alone, but trust me, once you meet new friends from all sorts of backgrounds with a myriad of personalities, you’ll realize that life has so much more to offer!

Maybe there will come a time you also meet people who’ll make Chemistry sound like the coolest thing in the world!

-DOitChoco