U-S-A!

Posted by HELiX

This is one of the very, very few times that I actually appreciate the fact that I’ve to serve National Service.

As some of you may know, I’m looking at the US for higher education. My reasons?

1. Not Gonna Be Another One

My three siblings are in NUS. Already. How more boring can it get?

You can imagine when all four of us were studying at Bukit Panjang Primary School.

Me: Hey classmate/schoolmate! You see, that guy over there, he’s my brother!

Me: Oh-oh-oooh and over there! My sister!

Me: Annnd-and-and no, wait, you see that guy there? My brother! Again.

2. America. I’ve been there, loved it.

I’ve been to the United States thrice. Once in 1994 (which I didn’t even remember until I flipped through the family’s photo albums), once in 1995 and once more in 2001.

While your impression of the States is probably crafted by the media to be Guns, Hollywood and Terrorists, my experiences were far better.

Other than the fact that they assume that all asians are Chinese nationals.

3. eBay / Amazon / Newegg / Most Online Shopping Sites / The Whole Internet

Have you ever got the experience that you come across something on the internet that you reeeeally want, but can never get it because you don’t have a credit card?

Hah. Too bad for you then, sucker. I’ve got access to my Dad’s.

Have you ever got the experience that you come across something on the internet that you reeeeally want, but can never get it because THEY ONLY SHIP WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.

I have. Too many times.

Of course, you can try to get an American friend to receive it and send it to you, or simply use vPost USA, but then you’ll realise that the site only accepts AMERICAN CREDIT CARDS.

The Internet is incredibly American-centred, far more so than you can ever imagine. Lately, there’s a new online streaming video site called Hulu. Operated by two of the largest American media broadcasters, they pose a serious big threat to YouTube because they actually have videos which are copyrighted — belonging to them. The only issue? US viewers only plz.

The solution to all these? Go to the US.

4. Depreciating Currency & A Generally Screwed Economy

With the Dow Jones plunging deeper right now than Guo Jingjing at the Olympics, poor people like me can afford to travel there, enjoy a good education and come return home without going bankrupt.

Of course, you may argue that they’re going to pick up after Obama gets elected into office, but the nature of the US dollar is weak. With a massive US$10 TRILLION debt, Barack has a whole load of mess to clean up.

The exchange rate is also where I immediately crossed out UK.

5. Living a Different Life & Running Away From Inconvenient Reservice

I don’t know, I thought it’d be cool to try experiencing a foreign lifestyle. Singapore is so mundane.

And I can’t take it if they’re gonna me back to reservice when I’m not in the mood to.

~

That pretty much sums up all my main reasons. Of course, the downside is that a US education comes in at almost 10 times of what I would have to pay if I were to go to NUS.

Unless you’re NUS Medicine, it’s about S$6000-S$7000 a year.

For the states, it’s S$50,000-S$60,000 a year.

And then a sane people would consider taking up a scholarship, but I won’t. Being bonded to an organisation, mostly governmental ones by the way, for six years is something I cannot fathom. Also, I can’t stand being referred to as a CIVIL SERVANT if you happen to be on a government scholarship.

Hah, yeah that’s right. You Singaporean scholar. CIVIL SERVANT!

I intend to start or perhaps join a private business right after my Degree/Masters, so six years is a ridiculous delay.

I’m not too sure how I’m going to finance my education, but I’ve already told my Dad about my plans. He’ll figure out a way.

~

Sooo… back to the very first line. Why serve NS?

Next year, meaning this year’s applicants, will be the most competitive college admission in the history of the United States. This is due to a demographic bulge in the population of the United States.  One to two years from now, there should be slightly fewer applicants. Serving NS actually allows that!

Adapted from http://www.newsweek.com/id/83159

College Admission Gets Tougher

The children of the baby boomers are flooding colleges with applications, making the process more competitive than ever.

“It turns out the odds of getting into a selective college have never been worse. Why? It’s simple demographics. A little less than two decades ago the biggest population bulge in the history of America, the baby boomers, were busy having kids. Now those kids are in junior high school and high school and creating a demographic boomlet all their own. This spring the largest number of high-school graduates in the history of the country—some 3.32 million—will don a cap and gown, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Next year, at the peak of the peak, the number of high-school graduates is expected to top 3.33 million.”

Ahh well.

Comments(0) 5:10 PM 10 October 2008

Sanity Check

Posted by HELiX

It’s five weeks left to the big As, and many of us are engaged in mindless mugging.

So today, Helixated.com presents to you a sanity check!

If you don’t laugh, wince or simply experienced a mental ‘WTF’, you’re in trouble my dear friend.

Now, who expected that?

…

I know I’m guilty of not updating my Education.Helix site for sometime already. It’s not that easy to stick to the plan of updating everyday.

Well, I’ll try to get back to it. Recently I’ve lots of random strangers from places like NYJC to RVH signing up.

Mm, two new notes uploaded! Math - Integration & Economics - Microeconomics: Firms

Comments(0) 4:15 PM 9 September 2008

Measure of an ACSian

Posted by HELiX

From the ACS’ Old Boys Association, the powerful alumni club of SIX schools and apparently consisting of many females as well…

This made me wince.

Comments(0) 9:54 PM 9 September 2008

Honours Night

Posted by HELiX

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Comments(0) 12:47 AM 9 September 2008

Lab@Home: Montblanc G2 Pen

Posted by HELiX

Don’t ask me how I’m able to find the time to do this; I simply took it away from my studying time.

I know this project doesn’t really qualify as a ‘lab project’, but it’s a pretty cool hack nonetheless.

So today I present to you, the Mont Blanc G2 Pen.

The Pilot G2 is probably the most popular ink pen in the world. They are quite possibly the best invention in the writing industry ever since electric tatoo machine. Oh wait-

I myself am a avid user of it. I own the blue, black, red and black variants in different tip sizes… at least before I lost half of them.

Even though we all had the almighty G2s, I still admired the uber-extravagant Montblanc people.

Their pens were so smooth, they nearly wrote by themselves. But at $200 (basic Montblanc pen) to $300,000 (Montblanc Boheme Royal) for a pen, that miraculous ink was not for the common man.

Montblanc pens are the finest pens in the world. They make specialised refills, so that you must use one of their Gold-plated, Diamond-crusted pens to use their ink.

This simple hack will adapt a Montblanc refill ink to an ordinary G2 (Note: the cost of the G2 pen is a fraction of the cost of the refill) so that you can have the finest writing experience without getting robbed in school.

Link here!

Comments(0) 5:22 PM 9 September 2008

We Succeed at Failing

Posted by HELiX

With the Prelims over for just about all the J2s in Singapore, and the Promos just around the corner for the J1s, and O-Levels less than a month or so away for the Sec 4s, and all the unimportant random EOY examinations for the rest… the mood in this country is at the year’s lowest.

This is a standard country’s mood curve, plotted with Positivity against Time:

This is where the US, which is now facing the sub-prime mortgage crisis, is at:

This is Singapore’s mood curve, though:

But don’t be afraid, my dear friends!

While you can, be a complete tool and mug. That’s right. That’s what you are.

Meanwhile, for the rest of us who actually prayed that the LHC would destroy the entire Earth a week ago after getting back our results, take comfort in knowing that you didn’t do too badly.

B grades are pretty okay, actually. C’s are so-so. D’s are manageable. E’s advises you to stay off tall buildings. So guys…

Comments(0) 10:43 PM 9 September 2008

IHTFP

Posted by HELiX

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Comments(0) 11:03 PM 9 September 2008