Help: Follow my dream or take the Star scholarship?

[wannie]

Btw if i were you, i might've resigned to this star scholarship if it wasnt for the prestigious offers overseas that tells you "there's hope"

i bet your offers are the ones that have incited you to try again right? try for need-blind schools this time round (not an easy feat). i admire those with tenacity, even those who were unsuccessful. if you want it, try it. only give up when there's no hope left. then try again next time (post grad).

on the other hand, both ways aren't wrong. taking the star scholarship is a good option too.. ones success comes from a trail of failures. good luck with your future endeavours and whatever decision you make! ^^

[gureilla]

Originally Posted by wannie

I think it is understandable on why they're not supportive. They're afraid of him/her taking chances because of the high risk involved. This is especially so since she/he has a scholarship, an opportunity to lose. However, ask yourself this "what if" question i learnt from the movie "three idiots" (bloody good movie)

You have a prestigious offer, you have a whole life ahead of you. One year doesn't kill you and will change you more as a human (I'm taking two gap years by the way). If you're not taking your chances in such a once in a lifetime opportunity, you will suffer for the rest of your life thinking what if you didnt take the scholarship? What if you got the chance to go overseas? Though you shouldn't dwell in the past and make full use of the present. Im just curious of your backup plan. If you still can get a degree-- why not? at least you tried and know, rather than to wonder when all the chances are there

Go for the Gap year. You'll learn so much from it. a year is really not comparable to a degree from ucb or anywhere. even if you fail, you gained valuable experience and if used wisely, will put you at an advantage in so many aspects. you can enrich yourself in so many things you never thought possible. im glad that you're liberal enough to think of having one. word of advice though, don't raise your expectations; it would only hurt you more.. think of all the other good things about it aside from the "reapplying" part kay?

btw if you really are taking another gap year, it would be nice if you help me out a bit in some club activities

As i said, they really want me to take the scholarship as it's not that easy to secure one. Honestly, part of me also don't want to lose this scholarship. That's why i plan to reapply to the US and take the scholarship at the same time. That way, should i fail, I will still have a local scholarship to support my degree. So technically, i won't be having a gap year at all.

I've made up my mind, I will reapply. And if I am fortunate enough to get a sponsorship to the US, I will have no choice but to break the star's contract. And the paying back the contract part, well, I'll just think it up later. Maybe I will take a loan to pay them back or request for payment in installments. So this way, I won't have the "what if" feeling to linger in me the rest of my life. At least i tried applying for 2 years in a row, even if i still fail to get funding next year, I will not regret that i have tried and can continue my studies locally with pride and satisfaction.

And btw, wannie. What club do u have for me to join? o.0? I know u're involve in mensa. Is that it? lol

[wannie]

Originally Posted by gureilla

And btw, wannie. What club do u have for me to join? o.0? I know u're involve in mensa. Is that it? lol

Okay. Seems like a good choice. YOU KNOW ME?!

[quest_5692]

Originally Posted by gureilla

As i said, they really want me to take the scholarship as it's not that easy to secure one. Honestly, part of me also don't want to lose this scholarship. That's why i plan to reapply to the US and take the scholarship at the same time. That way, should i fail, I will still have a local scholarship to support my degree. So technically, i won't be having a gap year at all.

I've made up my mind, I will reapply. And if I am fortunate enough to get a sponsorship to the US, I will have no choice but to break the star's contract. And the paying back the contract part, well, I'll just think it up later. Maybe I will take a loan to pay them back or request for payment in installments. So this way, I won't have the "what if" feeling to linger in me the rest of my life. At least i tried applying for 2 years in a row, even if i still fail to get funding next year, I will not regret that i have tried and can continue my studies locally with pride and satisfaction.

And btw, wannie. What club do u have for me to join? o.0? I know u're involve in mensa. Is that it? lol

good choice, and i have already see that coming from your tone since first page. anyway, don't worry about breaking bond yet. when the time comes, only think about it, after all, its at most few ten thousands. not some 6-7 digit sum. right now, focus in getting into better uni and better scholarships. also as others had suggested, swiftly email UCB and hopkins that you have financial constrain, shall they don't give you tuition fee waiver, kindly ask for a year defer so that you can work part time/find sponsor to cover up. (a classmate of mine emailed purdue Uni to delay 1 year because he is not mentally ready to leave the family, succeeded)

when the time had finally come and you need to break the bond, tell them your parents are not going to help you pay back (better if your parents did not sign to be guarantor). If your mom is having a significantly lower pay than your dad, ask her to be your guarantor instead of your dad, then your dad can legitimately deny to help you. then, you can also show Stars your parents pay slip and say they still need to repay loan for house, car, and pay for your younger sibling's living, they cannot afford to pay back. Then, Stars will have no choice but offer an installment payback system. I have friends who did this to break the bond from JPA. the bond was 600k, the government gave him like 5-10 years time i think, just by stating his dad is not going to help him pay back, and his mom earn very minimal as a government servant. (tho they are rich as hell and can pay back 1 off, but no interest rate, why not?)

[gureilla]

Originally Posted by plawks

Heheh, I know whatcha mean


You should totally do that because if you reapply next year and get unlucky worst case scenario you might be unable to secure the same offers again for the second time.

If your parents don't support you it is a sign that they are really lacking the money for you to play the chance game. Try to ask them and open up and disclose to you how much money do they really have. Maybe your parents are really in a tight situation and simply can't afford to repay Star Scholarship should you break the bond next year? Then you have to rethink you decision. Maybe your parents still have some "gold mine" (lol at my word choice) but they just need more of your convincing?

Good luck to you! I really hope this works out for you.

I come from a middle income family and while I am blessed with food and shelter, education these days are becoming really expensive. I think maybe my elder sister already took a huge chunk of money to go to Monash. When i told them i got the star's scholarship, they were very happy and immediately asked me to accept it. If my parents had a "gold mine", i don't think it would be a problem for them to support me then. lol. Anyway i've talked to them and they said if u want to break the contract, u're on your own. Never the less, I believe that IF i were ever so fortunate to get an oversea scholarship, they too will see that it is worthy and I'll work things out from there.

Originally Posted by wannie

Btw if i were you, i might've resigned to this star scholarship if it wasnt for the prestigious offers overseas that tells you "there's hope"

i bet your offers are the ones that have incited you to try again right? try for need-blind schools this time round (not an easy feat). i admire those with tenacity, even those who were unsuccessful. if you want it, try it. only give up when there's no hope left. then try again next time (post grad).

on the other hand, both ways aren't wrong. taking the star scholarship is a good option too.. ones success comes from a trail of failures. good luck with your future endeavours and whatever decision you make! ^^

"i bet your offers are the ones that have incited you to try again right?" this is so very true lol. It hits me like "what if i can get into HYPM next year? And then u think about all the blunders u make in ur previous application and u realised that things can only get better from here. Then u start fantasizing about entering your dream uni lol. And then the desire in you kicks in so strongly that u feel that nothing in this world can stop u. haha

Originally Posted by quest_5692

good choice, and i have already see that coming from your tone since first page. anyway, don't worry about breaking bond yet. when the time comes, only think about it, after all, its at most few ten thousands. not some 6-7 digit sum. right now, focus in getting into better uni and better scholarships. also as others had suggested, swiftly email UCB and hopkins that you have financial constrain, shall they don't give you tuition fee waiver, kindly ask for a year defer so that you can work part time/find sponsor to cover up. (a classmate of mine emailed purdue Uni to delay 1 year because he is not mentally ready to leave the family, succeeded)

when the time had finally come and you need to break the bond, tell them your parents are not going to help you pay back (better if your parents did not sign to be guarantor). If your mom is having a significantly lower pay than your dad, ask her to be your guarantor instead of your dad, then your dad can legitimately deny to help you. then, you can also show Stars your parents pay slip and say they still need to repay loan for house, car, and pay for your younger sibling's living, they cannot afford to pay back. Then, Stars will have no choice but offer an installment payback system. I have friends who did this to break the bond from JPA. the bond was 600k, the government gave him like 5-10 years time i think, just by stating his dad is not going to help him pay back, and his mom earn very minimal as a government servant. (tho they are rich as hell and can pay back 1 off, but no interest rate, why not?)

LOL this plan sounds so cunning.

Originally Posted by wannie

Okay. Seems like a good choice. YOU KNOW ME?!

Of course i know u, u're the famous Wannie . I know TLW is lurking here too.

[wannie]

Originally Posted by gureilla

Of course i know u, u're the famous Wannie . I know TLW is lurking here too.

I am?! anyway do i know you? LOL congratulations on the end of your dilemma

[plawks]

Originally Posted by gureilla

Of course i know u, u're the famous Wannie . I know TLW is lurking here too.

You are a really good stalker you know? I don't know you but you sound like you know me already!

Let's just hope that you'll get into any of the need-blind schools next year.

[nickvl]

Originally Posted by quest_5692

when the time had finally come and you need to break the bond, tell them your parents are not going to help you pay back (better if your parents did not sign to be guarantor). If your mom is having a significantly lower pay than your dad, ask her to be your guarantor instead of your dad, then your dad can legitimately deny to help you. then, you can also show Stars your parents pay slip and say they still need to repay loan for house, car, and pay for your younger sibling's living, they cannot afford to pay back. Then, Stars will have no choice but offer an installment payback system. I have friends who did this to break the bond from JPA. the bond was 600k, the government gave him like 5-10 years time i think, just by stating his dad is not going to help him pay back, and his mom earn very minimal as a government servant. (tho they are rich as hell and can pay back 1 off, but no interest rate, why not?)

Why not? Because it goes against every fibre of moral integrity, that's why. And I don't believe in exploiting loopholes in the systems just because everyone else does it and gets away with it. A contract is a contract and must be honoured.

[gureilla]

Originally Posted by plawks

You are a really good stalker you know? I don't know you but you sound like you know me already!

Let's just hope that you'll get into any of the need-blind schools next year.

Well, let's just say that my network is very wide. After applying for tons and tons of interview/assessment/work shop/conference and whatnot, i'd expect myself to know some people on recom. =) And good luck for the MyBrainSc scholarship.

[frostbyte13]

Originally Posted by nickvl

Why not? Because it goes against every fibre of moral integrity, that's why. And I don't believe in exploiting loopholes in the systems just because everyone else does it and gets away with it. A contract is a contract and must be honoured.

Rich as hell, gets JPA scholarship. Something definitely wrong with that picture