The best Christmas present ever even when Christmas isn't here yet.
Friday, 24 October 2008
Okay, here's the deal, many of you may not know this, but I've been quite stressed up over getting into Western Michigan University for quite some time. I paid $100 and applied to Western about a month and a half go when I was staying at Cam's place in Kalamazoo. My hopes on coming back to Western was pretty high then since they told me that they had accepted transfer students from UCSI before and it wouldn't be a problem for me to enter the January 09 intake. I happily filled up the form and supplied all the documents that I had and left. They told me that a counselor would open my file and contact me if there was anything they needed more.
A few weeks past and everyday I would anticipate for Western to reply me so that I would know what other documents they would need to open my file and check how many credit transfers I could get over there. After a month of waiting in vain and no confirmation on my credit transfers, I started looking at other options because I didn't really think I would be able to get into Western for a certain few reason but I still really want to get my ass back in USA. Still hoping to get into Western, I considered Murray State University in Kentucky and applied for it. Hell, I was even considering Plattsburg State University of New York since that uni gives financial aid.
Ironically, the final email from Western came which nearly killed my hope of coming back coz they mention that I had every document ready for the university except TOEFL. All American universities required either SAT or TOEFL to enrol and only 4 days ago did I found out from Western that I had to get my scores in latest by Nov 1. I totally freaked out, I was quite disappointed and angry that they did not inform me earlier because all these while we had emails sent back and forth. Western told me that they wouldn't open my file until I send them my TOEFL scores. And you know what was the other sad thing? The next Internet Based TOEFL exam was in January coz all the seats before that date was fully booked. Left with not much choice, I booked the January exam and had it paid up. It cost USD150. Little did I know that the money paid for it was going to be wasted.
Yes, I got the reply from Western Michigan University from another counselor that my case was passed to, about 2 hours ago, mentioning that they are considering making an exception and admit me without the TOEFL. But before that, he needed to speak with me over the phone. Knowing that there would be a big possibility that I'd be able to get in now without TOEFL, I gave him my phone number and he called not long after that. We talked for about 10 minutes. He asked if I was staying in KL now and why was I up so late at night. I replied him that I was excited for Western and I stayed up just to reply the email from them. He then told me a little about his experience in Malaysia the last time he came over and how he liked the weather here and I mentioned how much I like the summer in USA when I was working at Cedar Point. Finally getting serious, he asked me if there would be a problem for me since the classes are all conducted in English and I mentioned that back in UCSI, all the classes are in English too. Moreover, I've been speaking English all my life so language would not be much of a problem for me. Another question was if I was able to enter the January intake if it's possible for them to admit me in by then. My heart skipped 3 beats, I think. Honestly, I wanted to shout at him "HELL YEAH of course I'd be able to" since all these while I thought that I would only be able to enter the Summer intake coz I could only take my TOEFL test on January. It's pretty obvious what my answer to him was, I said "yes". The next thing he mentioned to me was that I am able to get 50 credit hours (out of the 60 something credit hours that I took in UCSI) transferred and it takes 120 credit hours for me to get graduate. Gosh I nearly 'pengsan" when he said that I wouldn't need to study for more than 2 and a half years to finish my course. The amount of credit transfer meant a lot to me since it was one of the main issue I had to worry about coz it would be hethic for me and my family to pay the loan off if I had to stay for more than that. I was and still am happy, no words could express how I am feeling now. It was such a relieve to hear his last words in the conversation, "So I'd be sending you the J(something) form and the letter of confirmation".
Moses was on Skype with me through the whole phone conversation and right after I got off the phone I couldn't stop smiling and telling him how it went. Basically, other than my parents and Cam that is aware of my situation, Moses was the one I could talk to. Seriously, I really appreciate him being there and supporting me as much as my parents and Cam did too. I ran into my parents room, told them about the good news, hug my mom and kiss my dad. Then came back to call Cam and Aaron / James. I am so excited. For the first time, I cried because I am happy, honestly, it never happened before. I was never this happy before. It is like the best Christmas present I've ever gotten so far even when Christmas is still exactly 2 months away or a dream come true.
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Added:
Really, I wish I could be in his situation...
Like I've mentioned before in January that I had always wanted to go to USA to study after my high school but because of financial status, my family couldn't afford for me to go over to USA and study 4 years there for a degree. I did not lose hope you see, my desire of coming back to USA turned to the Work and Travel
TEN years ago, I made a promise to myself. TEN years later, I finally see it coming true.I mean, I never thought that I could finish studying my Degree in USA but I still had plans to get my ass in USA after my Degree to work or something... But getting a uni there which accepts the credits that I've already did in UCSI, it was totally unexpected.
Until now, I still cannot believe the phone conversation that I had with Western. Moses and Cam keep saying "You better start believing it! Coz I'm going to meet you soon!" I smile every time at the thought of that.
It was pretty rough time for me to go through this application thingy and my desperation of getting into Western since my friends were all nearby and I didn't want to start getting to know friends all over again like I always have to. It was comfortable in Michigan, I felt at home somehow and I like it there. Especially for the past few days I cried so much coz every time when I found hope in something, another thing would come and destroy it. Basically, I was happy in the morning and then in the evening I was super down coz of bad news or some shit like that, it went on for a few days and seriously, it felt really really crappy.
Ultimately, I would want to spend Christmas in USA but I am aware that we don't always get everything we want so I'm just really hoping now that the embassy would let me come a month earlier before my intake start.
And for the first time, I'm going to see snow.
Thank God.
Labels: Family, Friend, God, Life, USA, WMU
posted @ 13:11,
