28 April, 2007
I got into SCI. Now I'm beginning to wonder how difficult it really was to get into after all. And talking to my mother, one will come around to the belief that it was all some complex psychological mind game by the "relevant authorities".
I don't think I'll ever know if I got into USP if I don't pick NUS and reject NTU, because they'll only tell you if you're accepted by NUS. That's just bloody cruel, especially for someone who only wants to go to NUS because of USP. GRAARGHSDFJLNFZXevil.
I don't think I'll ever know if I got into USP if I don't pick NUS and reject NTU, because they'll only tell you if you're accepted by NUS. That's just bloody cruel, especially for someone who only wants to go to NUS because of USP. GRAARGHSDFJLNFZXevil.
20:35 / 1 comment(s) 
26 April, 2007
Ah, finally. All the interviews are over! Now I've just gotta sit back and cross my fingers. :/
13:40 / 0 comment(s)
22 April, 2007
After the interview, I feel less confident of getting in. It didn't go horribly or anything, but it didn't go flawlessly either. I mean, I don't see why they would want someone like me. Okay, this just goes to show how much self-confidence I have, but it's true. Most of the others just seemed so much better than me. And I know for a fact that I didn't do very well on the written test, having been out of touch with GP for so long.
But of course, there is some hope, and I'm crossing my fingers. I think the results will be released by the end of May, so until then.
The SCI interview was held in a group, and I initially didn't really like the idea, but having gone through it, I must say it feels safer, seeing that the attention isn't focused on you and you alone throughout the entire duration. But there were lots of things I wanted to say but didn't, for fear of appearing too kiasu or something. I know I shouldn't have felt that way and just said what was on my mind, but like I said, I have a confidence/self-image problem. I know. Knowing what's wrong is one thing, overcoming it is another.
At least the "portfolio" I prepared was actually seen by the interviewers, so my effort didn't go to waste. And you know what? I am SO GLAD that all my website layouts are made entirely by me because the interviewer actually asked me that. No stock photography or excessive use of brushes. So I hope that works in my favour.
I heard they put "yes", "no" or "maybe" next to your name after the interview. I do hope I get a "yes"...
But of course, there is some hope, and I'm crossing my fingers. I think the results will be released by the end of May, so until then.
The SCI interview was held in a group, and I initially didn't really like the idea, but having gone through it, I must say it feels safer, seeing that the attention isn't focused on you and you alone throughout the entire duration. But there were lots of things I wanted to say but didn't, for fear of appearing too kiasu or something. I know I shouldn't have felt that way and just said what was on my mind, but like I said, I have a confidence/self-image problem. I know. Knowing what's wrong is one thing, overcoming it is another.
At least the "portfolio" I prepared was actually seen by the interviewers, so my effort didn't go to waste. And you know what? I am SO GLAD that all my website layouts are made entirely by me because the interviewer actually asked me that. No stock photography or excessive use of brushes. So I hope that works in my favour.
I heard they put "yes", "no" or "maybe" next to your name after the interview. I do hope I get a "yes"...
22:20 / 0 comment(s)
20 April, 2007
AHHH. INTERVIEW. TOMORROW. BRAIN. FUNCTIONING. INCOHERENTLY.
19:51 / 1 comment(s)
17 April, 2007
Poo. I know I haven't blogged for what, half a month? Anyway the letters for the respective interviews came... the NTU's one this Saturday. ZOMGWTFABC. Fear. I don't have very good interview experiences. I mean there's the whole what-to-wear dilemma, and then I have to know the answers to questions like "Why do you want to join the course so badly" and "What's so great about you that we should pick you" etcetera, and try not to recite generic answers that they've heard a million times before. Oh and it was suggested to bring along a small portfolio as well. I have some stuff for it (am I glad I joined fac comm...) but I'm not sure if it's relevant. I mean I've never written anything for a school newsletter or whatever.
Anyway, I've finally finished Alastair Reynolds' Absolution Gap, the last of his trilogy. I read the last book in under a week, all 700+ pages of it. What I absolutely love about Reynolds is how extremely readable his books are. I'm able to devour page after page without feeling bored or wanting to put the book down; time just slips along with the pages, and before I know it, an hour has passed and I'm a hundred pages ahead. It's always easy to pick up where I've left off as well. I read the previous two books on and off, even reading other books in the interim, but it was always easy to go back to them and be immersed once more in Reynolds' lovingly-crafted universe.
What I like about his plots are that they seem massive at first--two or three totally unrelated story threads begin the book, but culminate in one ending that ties most of the loose ends up neatly. I say "most" because there are still some questions that have yet to be answered at the conclusion, but with such a vast number of fates the book juggles with, it may be impossible to satisfy that curiosity, unless Reynolds plans to write another sequel, which I don't think is needed.
Another device that I've seen repeated in both Chasm City and his trilogy is his use of characters who believe they are someone they are not. I won't go into detail with this because it's probably too tangential to be of interest to most people, but suffice to say it's always a surprise when you realise that that's who they were all along! This kind of revelation (pun!) is not limited to his characters' identities only, of course--there are many other incidents in his books which suggest at coincidences and reappearances or relations with other parts and details of before.
SPOILER AHEAD!! (highlight to read) For example in Absolution Gap, I highly suspect that the man that Scorpio saw amongst the refugees from Yellowstone they rescued was Khouri's husband. I was like OMG! REALLY. She's been searching for him ever since book one. END SPOILER.
Anyway, I've finally finished Alastair Reynolds' Absolution Gap, the last of his trilogy. I read the last book in under a week, all 700+ pages of it. What I absolutely love about Reynolds is how extremely readable his books are. I'm able to devour page after page without feeling bored or wanting to put the book down; time just slips along with the pages, and before I know it, an hour has passed and I'm a hundred pages ahead. It's always easy to pick up where I've left off as well. I read the previous two books on and off, even reading other books in the interim, but it was always easy to go back to them and be immersed once more in Reynolds' lovingly-crafted universe.
What I like about his plots are that they seem massive at first--two or three totally unrelated story threads begin the book, but culminate in one ending that ties most of the loose ends up neatly. I say "most" because there are still some questions that have yet to be answered at the conclusion, but with such a vast number of fates the book juggles with, it may be impossible to satisfy that curiosity, unless Reynolds plans to write another sequel, which I don't think is needed.
Another device that I've seen repeated in both Chasm City and his trilogy is his use of characters who believe they are someone they are not. I won't go into detail with this because it's probably too tangential to be of interest to most people, but suffice to say it's always a surprise when you realise that that's who they were all along! This kind of revelation (pun!) is not limited to his characters' identities only, of course--there are many other incidents in his books which suggest at coincidences and reappearances or relations with other parts and details of before.
SPOILER AHEAD!! (highlight to read) For example in Absolution Gap, I highly suspect that the man that Scorpio saw amongst the refugees from Yellowstone they rescued was Khouri's husband. I was like OMG! REALLY. She's been searching for him ever since book one. END SPOILER.
19:58 / 0 comment(s)
01 April, 2007
I'm working on my essay. Really. I'm over the minimum word count already, so I'm safe, but the actual content of my essay is so blah. :( I'm really doing this as a precaution, because I'm so afraid I can't get into NTU's SCI... I just realised that I don't really want to go to NUS's FASS. That's why I'm applying to USP, so it doesn't make it sound too bad. But I've been reading people's blogs and SCI sounds frightfully difficult to get in. As I mentioned earlier, I think the test means having to write an essay and I have absolutely no confidence to do that. ARGH. And there's the interview as well. I must come across as confident, intellectual, and god knows what else they're looking for. :S
What if I don't get into both SCI and USP? I'll be stuck in FASS. Okay, that's really bad. I don't dread it or anything, but it's my last choice.
I just realised that my 2nd choice for NTU is English... crap. I'm having second thoughts about reading English in uni. I should have chosen Psychology as my 2nd choice. Damn. But it's too late. Argh.
What if I don't get into both SCI and USP? I'll be stuck in FASS. Okay, that's really bad. I don't dread it or anything, but it's my last choice.
I just realised that my 2nd choice for NTU is English... crap. I'm having second thoughts about reading English in uni. I should have chosen Psychology as my 2nd choice. Damn. But it's too late. Argh.
12:33 / 0 comment(s)
I should go to bed now. I've been forcing myself to sleep early and it's been working, but half of me wants to stay up a bit longer to watch some shows, seeing that I haven't at all today, what with spending my time working on my essay (90% random internet surfing, i.e. screen sucking; 10% actual writing). I have one crappy paragraph, a sketch of the second paragraph, and a question I cannot answer for the third paragraph. A-R-G-H. I need to finish by tomorrow. Gasp. What if I cannot? ZOMG.
Okay that has convinced me to get a good night's rest so I can complete my horrible, pathetic attempt at writing an essay.
Oh and why do I have a nasty feeling that the entrance "test" to get into NTU's School of Comm and Info is to write an essay? I hate writing essays! Okay, that's actually a bad thing to say because taking arts subjects means having to write loads of essays. But I am horrible at writing essays under time constraints (look at my GP grade), and I'm not planning to be a journalist anyway. T_T
Okay that has convinced me to get a good night's rest so I can complete my horrible, pathetic attempt at writing an essay.
Oh and why do I have a nasty feeling that the entrance "test" to get into NTU's School of Comm and Info is to write an essay? I hate writing essays! Okay, that's actually a bad thing to say because taking arts subjects means having to write loads of essays. But I am horrible at writing essays under time constraints (look at my GP grade), and I'm not planning to be a journalist anyway. T_T
00:04 / 0 comment(s)