Moving OUT of Singapore

[Lisafuller]

Whereabouts in California are you thinking, Mal?

Diamond Bar or Orinda, most likely.

Seems like you are still betting hard on UCLA/USC and Berkeley (again). Good luck!

Can understand why, they are excellent schools. I do have my worries about UC Berkeley though, it's incredibly dangerous there. My daughter has a couple friends who go and they get several emails a day warning about muggings on campus, armed intruders, Etc. Not ideal.

[Lisafuller]

Diamond Bar or Orinda, most likely.

Seems like you are still betting hard on UCLA/USC and Berkeley (again). Good luck!

Praying hard is probably more accurate. UCLA and USC have both dropped to single digit acceptance rates. Even students with the best grades, impressive activities, fabulous extracurriculars and amazing essays can’t bet on getting in. Berkeley is similarly difficult, and my daughter doesn’t even want to go there after we visited the campus last Dec (only my son liked it — he said it was cool, like a dystopian Harry Potter movie). UC Irvine is another possibility in the LA area, with better odds. I think my daughter might even choose UCI over UCB despite it being a lower ranked school.

If she can’t get into USC or a top UC, then then we’ll try midwestern schools — best acceptance rates for the quality of schools, plus I’ve got lots of family, friends and work connections. UM Ann Arbor is a great school, but even UIUC and UW Madison are excellent (just haven't been able to convince my daughter or wife of that).

Honestly, a little relieved to hear she's not keen on Berkeley, read my earlier post for why.

My daughter got into Michigan, but decided against it as she ultimately wanted a smaller school come decision time. Excellent school, but has gotten very popular and competitive in recent years.

[Lisafuller]

Praying hard is probably more accurate. UCLA and USC have both dropped to single digit acceptance rates. Even students with the best grades, impressive activities, fabulous extracurriculars and amazing essays can’t bet on getting in. Berkeley is similarly difficult, and my daughter doesn’t even want to go there after we visited the campus last Dec (only my son liked it — he said it was cool, like a dystopian Harry Potter movie). UC Irvine is another possibility in the LA area, with better odds. I think my daughter might even choose UCI over UCB despite it being a lower ranked school.

If she can’t get into the USC or a top UC, then then we try midwestern schools — best acceptance rates for the quality of schools, plus I’ve got lots of family, friends and work connections. UM Ann Arbor is a great school, but even UIUC and UW Madison are excellent (just haven't been able to convince my daughter or wife of that).

The above was my conclusion a while ago, doesn't matter being educated here, there, or anywhere else. I still think there is add'l differentiation being done that filters things down a bit (and some stuff moves the needle more than others), but really there's no guaranteed ticket anymore for most kids (too many people, too many objectives the schools are trying to meet, and the list goes on). Anyways, just try, you may be surprised, or elated, whatever the right word is.

U Michigan is very good, especially Ross (if still planning to go business), although I think this one is still not easy to get in (at least noticeably more difficult than the others)? For business, the other options are IU (Kelley) or UT Austin. UT Austin is probably on par (overall) with UW Madison and UIUC (one of their big specialties is Computer Science). Perhaps both of these are lower down the list for other reasons.

If going business, one thing to consider is the school's placement to the coasts (if interested in certain industries or cities) vs. the overall university ranking (I know this may be a stumbling block for some).

Anyways, it's been a controversial discussion at times, but I wish you guys luck.

U Mich in particular is a school that EVERYONE and their dog is applying to this year. Can't exactly explain the popularity but it's one school that seems to only get better and better. Get in now and by the time of graduation it may very well be in the single digits.

[Lisafuller]

Praying hard is probably more accurate. UCLA and USC have both dropped to single digit acceptance rates. Even students with the best grades, impressive activities, fabulous extracurriculars and amazing essays can’t bet on getting in. Berkeley is similarly difficult, and my daughter doesn’t even want to go there after we visited the campus last Dec (only my son liked it — he said it was cool, like a dystopian Harry Potter movie). UC Irvine is another possibility in the LA area, with better odds. I think my daughter might even choose UCI over UCB despite it being a lower ranked school.

If she can’t get into the USC or a top UC, then then we try midwestern schools — best acceptance rates for the quality of schools, plus I’ve got lots of family, friends and work connections. UM Ann Arbor is a great school, but even UIUC and UW Madison are excellent (just haven't been able to convince my daughter or wife of that).

The above was my conclusion a while ago, doesn't matter being educated here, there, or anywhere else. I still think there is add'l differentiation being done that filters things down a bit (and some stuff moves the needle more than others), but really there's no guaranteed ticket anymore for most kids (too many people, too many objectives the schools are trying to meet, and the list goes on). Anyways, just try, you may be surprised, or elated, whatever the right word is.

U Michigan is very good, especially Ross (if still planning to go business), although I think this one is still not easy to get in (at least noticeably more difficult than the others)? For business, the other options are IU (Kelley) or UT Austin. UT Austin is probably on par (overall) with UW Madison and UIUC (one of their big specialties is Computer Science). Perhaps both of these are lower down the list for other reasons.

If going business, one thing to consider is the school's placement to the coasts (if interested in certain industries or cities) vs. the overall university ranking (I know this may be a stumbling block for some).

Anyways, it's been a controversial discussion at times, but I wish you guys luck.

I really like UT Austin, but my wife and daughter both believe Texas is the Wild West and Austin is a cowboy town with nothing to do but watch tumbleweed roll by. They don’t like the midwest, mainly because of the cold and gloomy weather.

My wife wants to be in California. One is for family reasons — up to a dozen of her nephews and nieces will be coming to study in the US over the next 10 years; one is already there at UCSD. Two is proximity to Asia (faster, direct flights) and better time zone for doing business with contacts in Singapore from there. Three is the more cosmopolitan, more shopping and more Asian people/food, etc. Four is the weather, which I have to admit, is a real plus in California - not too hot or cold. Problem is, the homeless feel the same way.

Considering the East Coast at all? New York has a great Asian community and plenty of good food.

[Lisafuller]

I really like UT Austin, but my wife and daughter both believe Texas is the Wild West and Austin is a cowboy town with nothing to do but watch tumbleweed roll by. They don’t like the midwest, mainly because of the cold and gloomy weather.

My wife wants to be in California. One is for family reasons — up to a dozen of her nephews and nieces will be coming to study in the US over the next 10 years; one is already there at UCSD. Two is proximity to Asia (faster, direct flights) and better time zone for doing business with contacts in Singapore from there. Three is the more cosmopolitan, more shopping and more Asian people/food, etc. Four is the weather, which I have to admit, is a real plus in California - not too hot or cold. Problem is, the homeless feel the same way.

Three is not an uncommon reason, even for the students. There are many Asian kids that will likely return home after a decade or so (of course not guaranteed). Some of them (and the parents) can't imagine going to some of these college towns. These applicants are a small fraction of the total pool, but they keep pushing up the popularity of certain schools, which is one input into the rankings (which then attract more people, and round and round we go).

is UCSD still in the running? Or UCI preferred among the two.

My daughter was not keen on the Midwest at all, she's a city girl through and through, and though I try to explain to her that it's not all farms there, she wasn't having it. At the end of the day, it's really about personal opinion. She may love it, or she might not. Only one way to find out.

[malcontent]

Praying hard is probably more accurate. UCLA and USC have both dropped to single digit acceptance rates. Even students with the best grades, impressive activities, fabulous extracurriculars and amazing essays can’t bet on getting in. Berkeley is similarly difficult, and my daughter doesn’t even want to go there after we visited the campus last Dec (only my son liked it — he said it was cool, like a dystopian Harry Potter movie). UC Irvine is another possibility in the LA area, with better odds. I think my daughter might even choose UCI over UCB despite it being a lower ranked school.

If she can’t get into the USC or a top UC, then then we try midwestern schools — best acceptance rates for the quality of schools, plus I’ve got lots of family, friends and work connections. UM Ann Arbor is a great school, but even UIUC and UW Madison are excellent (just haven't been able to convince my daughter or wife of that).

The above was my conclusion a while ago, doesn't matter being educated here, there, or anywhere else. I still think there is add'l differentiation being done that filters things down a bit (and some stuff moves the needle more than others), but really there's no guaranteed ticket anymore for most kids (too many people, too many objectives the schools are trying to meet, and the list goes on). Anyways, just try, you may be surprised, or elated, whatever the right word is.

U Michigan is very good, especially Ross (if still planning to go business), although I think this one is still not easy to get in (at least noticeably more difficult than the others)? For business, the other options are IU (Kelley) or UT Austin. UT Austin is probably on par (overall) with UW Madison and UIUC (one of their big specialties is Computer Science). Perhaps both of these are lower down the list for other reasons.

If going business, one thing to consider is the school's placement to the coasts (if interested in certain industries or cities) vs. the overall university ranking (I know this may be a stumbling block for some).

Anyways, it's been a controversial discussion at times, but I wish you guys luck.

U Mich in particular is a school that EVERYONE and their dog is applying to this year. Can't exactly explain the popularity but it's one school that seems to only get better and better. Get in now and by the time of graduation it may very well be in the single digits.

U Mich has a very dim view of Singaporean applicants because of the low yield rate. Because of this, we have to play up our/her Michigan connections and treat it like her first choice school… and hope they don’t hold Singapore against us! Sadly, my daughter will probably disappoint them anyway.

[malcontent]

The above was my conclusion a while ago, doesn't matter being educated here, there, or anywhere else. I still think there is add'l differentiation being done that filters things down a bit (and some stuff moves the needle more than others), but really there's no guaranteed ticket anymore for most kids (too many people, too many objectives the schools are trying to meet, and the list goes on). Anyways, just try, you may be surprised, or elated, whatever the right word is.

U Michigan is very good, especially Ross (if still planning to go business), although I think this one is still not easy to get in (at least noticeably more difficult than the others)? For business, the other options are IU (Kelley) or UT Austin. UT Austin is probably on par (overall) with UW Madison and UIUC (one of their big specialties is Computer Science). Perhaps both of these are lower down the list for other reasons.

If going business, one thing to consider is the school's placement to the coasts (if interested in certain industries or cities) vs. the overall university ranking (I know this may be a stumbling block for some).

Anyways, it's been a controversial discussion at times, but I wish you guys luck.

I really like UT Austin, but my wife and daughter both believe Texas is the Wild West and Austin is a cowboy town with nothing to do but watch tumbleweed roll by. They don’t like the midwest, mainly because of the cold and gloomy weather.

My wife wants to be in California. One is for family reasons — up to a dozen of her nephews and nieces will be coming to study in the US over the next 10 years; one is already there at UCSD. Two is proximity to Asia (faster, direct flights) and better time zone for doing business with contacts in Singapore from there. Three is the more cosmopolitan, more shopping and more Asian people/food, etc. Four is the weather, which I have to admit, is a real plus in California - not too hot or cold. Problem is, the homeless feel the same way.

Considering the East Coast at all? New York has a great Asian community and plenty of good food.

My wife and I lived in the Midwest for many years before moving to Singapore, so despite the downsides, it is more comfortable there compared to other, gloomy, cold weather options… and being close to my family is a definite plus.

We have travelled to the East Coast… not a big fan of the place. When we made a trip there, once outside the cosmopolitan areas, we sensed a lot more racial prejudice - far more than we ever experienced in the Midwest. NYC is a great place to visit (at least once in a lifetime) but living there? Even my wife (who is a city girl) refuses to consider it. But agree on the food, we had some of the best Korean food of our lives in Manhattan.

[Lisafuller]

The above was my conclusion a while ago, doesn't matter being educated here, there, or anywhere else. I still think there is add'l differentiation being done that filters things down a bit (and some stuff moves the needle more than others), but really there's no guaranteed ticket anymore for most kids (too many people, too many objectives the schools are trying to meet, and the list goes on). Anyways, just try, you may be surprised, or elated, whatever the right word is.

U Michigan is very good, especially Ross (if still planning to go business), although I think this one is still not easy to get in (at least noticeably more difficult than the others)? For business, the other options are IU (Kelley) or UT Austin. UT Austin is probably on par (overall) with UW Madison and UIUC (one of their big specialties is Computer Science). Perhaps both of these are lower down the list for other reasons.

If going business, one thing to consider is the school's placement to the coasts (if interested in certain industries or cities) vs. the overall university ranking (I know this may be a stumbling block for some).

Anyways, it's been a controversial discussion at times, but I wish you guys luck.

U Mich in particular is a school that EVERYONE and their dog is applying to this year. Can't exactly explain the popularity but it's one school that seems to only get better and better. Get in now and by the time of graduation it may very well be in the single digits.

U Mich has a very dim view of Singaporean applicants because of the low yield rate. Because of this, we have to play up our/her Michigan connections and treat it like her first choice school… and hope they don’t hold Singapore against us! Sadly, my daughter will probably disappoint them anyway.

Really didn't know about this. I just assumed the school has gotten more popular than ever because of football, after Covid people really love their football more than ever.

[Lisafuller]

I really like UT Austin, but my wife and daughter both believe Texas is the Wild West and Austin is a cowboy town with nothing to do but watch tumbleweed roll by. They don’t like the midwest, mainly because of the cold and gloomy weather.

My wife wants to be in California. One is for family reasons — up to a dozen of her nephews and nieces will be coming to study in the US over the next 10 years; one is already there at UCSD. Two is proximity to Asia (faster, direct flights) and better time zone for doing business with contacts in Singapore from there. Three is the more cosmopolitan, more shopping and more Asian people/food, etc. Four is the weather, which I have to admit, is a real plus in California - not too hot or cold. Problem is, the homeless feel the same way.

Considering the East Coast at all? New York has a great Asian community and plenty of good food.

My wife and I lived in the Midwest for many years before moving to Singapore, so despite the downsides, it is more comfortable there compared to other, gloomy, cold weather options… and being close to my family is a definite plus.

We have travelled to the East Coast… not a big fan of the place. When we made a trip there, once outside the cosmopolitan areas, we sensed a lot more racial prejudice - far more than we ever experienced in the Midwest. NYC is a great place to visit (at least once in a lifetime) but living there? Even my wife (who is a city girl) refuses to consider it. But agree on the food, we had some of the best Korean food of our lives in Manhattan.

My girl has been living in New York for about a month now, and absolutely loves it. The city access, sense of community, and New York charm are irresistible for her.

[NYY1]

My daughter was not keen on the Midwest at all, she's a city girl through and through, and though I try to explain to her that it's not all farms there, she wasn't having it. At the end of the day, it's really about personal opinion. She may love it, or she might not. Only one way to find out.

My girl has been living in New York for about a month now, and absolutely loves it. The city access, sense of community, and New York charm are irresistible for her.

I hope to take my kids to some of these different settings ahead of time. It's still different than actually being a student but hopefully they can get some vibe of what they like/don't like. At least make it so they don't have to make a decision blind. Or, don't close anything off due to preconceived notions (alternatively, don't waste time applying somewhere you know you don't want to go).

Is your kid in NYC or just outside of it? All else the same, I recommend the population centres for the young, but that is just personal preference. And you can only go where you get accepted, so it's hard to get too hung up on any one or two places.

Anyways, glad she enjoys it.

[NYY1]

U Mich in particular is a school that EVERYONE and their dog is applying to this year. Can't exactly explain the popularity but it's one school that seems to only get better and better. Get in now and by the time of graduation it may very well be in the single digits.

Really didn't know about this. I just assumed the school has gotten more popular than ever because of football, after Covid people really love their football more than ever.

U Mich has also been a very good school but I have wondered what's boosted it too? Tangible changes (faculty, facilities, research output, etc) or just got more popular on the intake side of things and the virtuous cycle starts (seems to be the case in general). Sports are something that gets the schools in the news and adds to campus life/school spirit.

For a long time, I thought UVA and Berkeley were the top two public schools. Then, in no particular order it was something like UNC, UCLA, UT Austin, and Michigan. I think I get why UCLA got really hot, but the other movements I'm not as sure.

[NYY1]

U Mich has a very dim view of Singaporean applicants because of the low yield rate. Because of this, we have to play up our/her Michigan connections and treat it like her first choice school… and hope they don’t hold Singapore against us! Sadly, my daughter will probably disappoint them anyway.

Hang in there, you are probably feeling the extreme swings from optimism to despair (or anxiety while waiting). The criteria hasn't changed in the last 12 months.

I won't say everything is the same, but there are many things that are closer together than what's depicted by some of the arbitrary lines associated with rankings (I know this doesn't help with meeting expectations/aspirations).

Anyways, just roll the dice and see what happens. Sometimes you hit it big. Alternatively, sometimes you learn more about yourself when you lose than when you win. Good luck.

[malcontent]

I hope to take my kids to some of these different settings ahead of time. It's still different than actually being a student but hopefully they can get some vibe of what they like/don't like. At least make it so they don't have to make a decision blind. Or, don't close anything off due to preconceived notions (alternatively, don't waste time applying somewhere you know you don't want to go).

I would highly recommend boots on the ground. I thought I knew what to expect in California, but it was quite a shock for us. Definitely nothing like the videos on YouTube. We stopped our vehicle right in the middle of Berkeley campus because we needed a bathroom break - we got out and managed to find one nearby, in one of the many buildings on campus that is just super creepy and old — felt like walking into a horror movie.

[malcontent]

U Mich has a very dim view of Singaporean applicants because of the low yield rate. Because of this, we have to play up our/her Michigan connections and treat it like her first choice school… and hope they don’t hold Singapore against us! Sadly, my daughter will probably disappoint them anyway.

Hang in there, you are probably feeling the extreme swings from optimism to despair (or anxiety while waiting). The criteria hasn't changed in the last 12 months.

I won't say everything is the same, but there are many things that are closer together than what's depicted by some of the arbitrary lines associated with rankings (I know this doesn't help with meeting expectations/aspirations).

Anyways, just roll the dice and see what happens. Sometimes you hit it big. Alternatively, sometimes you learn more about yourself when you lose than when you win. Good luck.

Neither my wife nor my daughter want to even talk about safety schools, so I quietly added UIUC to the bottom of her list. We need at least one, so it might as well be one that works best for me. I’ve toyed with the idea of UW Madison and UW Seattle, but they aren’t any better than UIUC, so why bother. I’ll be happy if she ends up at UIUC, but I’ll be the only one who is happy about it.

[NYY1]

I hope to take my kids to some of these different settings ahead of time. It's still different than actually being a student but hopefully they can get some vibe of what they like/don't like. At least make it so they don't have to make a decision blind. Or, don't close anything off due to preconceived notions (alternatively, don't waste time applying somewhere you know you don't want to go).

I would highly recommend boots on the ground. I thought I knew what to expect in California, but it was quite a shock for us. Definitely nothing like the videos on YouTube. We stopped our vehicle right in the middle of Berkeley campus because we needed a bathroom break - we got out and managed to find one nearby, in one of the many buildings on campus that is just super creepy and old — felt like walking into a horror movie.

Agree. I've been to a lot of these cities and campuses (although not all of them in relatively recent times), but they haven't been to as many (or they were probably too young to make heads or tails out of it). At the end of the day, there are a lot of considerations, generalisations aside. Depending on what one wants to do, you may put more weight on the school or department, even if the physical location is not your first choice. Anyways, the college town is something they are not that familiar with, so they should probably see what that is like (even if they don't apply to any US schools in the end).