In Ateneo I’ve gained and maintained friendships – the bonds of which I delight in knowing will last the test of time. In Singapore I’ve had my mind opened to different realities and had my doors opened to opportunities I’d otherwise never have been faced with. I’ve learned to balance both worlds, to stand up on my own feet (a feat I admittedly found much easier said than done), to capitalize on my strengths and work on my weaknesses – for all these I have to thank my parents, for without their undying support I wouldn’t have been able to experience all that I’ve had. I am now excited yet anxious as I step into a new world and am liberated from the halls of wisdom. But before I do so, I want to encourage young students – no different from myself a few years back, to reach for the stars and not be afraid to go for their dreams. Thus, if studying abroad is a stepping stone for such, then go for it. And hopefully, as Patricia Evangelista herself mentioned in her winning speech, be like "The Hobbits of the Shire who traveled all over Middle-Earth, but chose to come home, richer in every sense of the word."
Luckily, Singapore – named by some as the premier education hub in Asia – recognizes the enormous amount of talent that can be found in the Philippines. This month, from July 26 to August 1, the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Office of Admissions will be coming to visit various schools in the Philippines and participate in The First Young Filipino College Fair 2004. Tan Wee Teck, the NUS Admission Officer in charge of this visit to the Philippines, shares some information regarding this trip and the NUS application process.
What is the purpose of the NUS trip to the Philippines?
We have always had a strong interest in attracting talented Filipino students to continue their tertiary education at NUS. The purpose of this trip is to increase the awareness of NUS among the students in schools in the Philippines.
Who are involved in the NUS trip to the Philippines?
Two admissions officers from the Office of Admissions (OAM) and several Filipino student ambassadors who are currently studying in NUS.
What other countries will you be visiting?
While we make several trips to different countries in the region and beyond, for this trip we will only visit the Philippines.
What made you [Office of Admissions] decide to come to the Philippines?
We believe that there is a lot of talent in the Philippines that has yet to be discovered. We hope that by increasing the awareness of NUS in the Philippines, we would be able to attract these talented Filipinos to study here.
Is this the first time you have come to the Philippines to provide information about studying in NUS?
Yes, this is the first time.
Which high schools in the Philippines will you be visiting?
We are trying to arrange visits to schools like the Philippine Science High School, Xavier High School, Immaculate Conception Academy, Uno High School, Ateneo de Manila, etc.
How many Filipino students are currently studying at NUS?
We have about 90 Filipino students, out of which about 40 percent are undergraduates.
What are the requirements for a high school senior to study at NUS?
Admission requirements for various high school qualifications can be found at http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/apply/catd/. For students producing the Filipino high school certificate, they must also produce SAT I and II scores.
The minimum acceptable SAT I scores are 550 for the Verbal section and 650 for the Math section.
Compulsory subjects for the SAT II include Writing, Math IIC, a third subject of your choice (excluding Math IC).
No minimum SAT II score has been stipulated. The third SAT II subject should be chosen in view of the subject prerequisites of the courses you are applying for at NUS. For example, if you are applying for the course of Science, you must choose a relevant Science subject such as Biology, Chemistry or Physics.
All three SAT II subjects must be taken at the same sitting. Scores from separate sittings will not be considered.
What scholarships for university students are currently being offered?
There are several scholarships that are available for NUS undergraduates. These include the NUS Undergraduate Scholarship and ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship, among others. I would like to highlight the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to deserving students of ASEAN origin. The scholarship covers tuition fees and provides an annual living allowance of S$4,300. The scholarship is tenable for the minimum period of candidature for the respective undergraduate course at NUS on condition that scholars maintain a minimum CAP (Cumulative Average Point) of 3.5. Academic performance is monitored on a semestral basis. For more information on scholarships, you may refer to http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/scholarship/.
While the scholarship covers the tuition fees and provides an annual living allowance, students should note that they will also require some additional funds of their own during the course of their study here. The estimated monthly expenses for international undergraduates can be found at http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/assist/monthly.htm.
What criteria do you look for in a student applying to the university?
We will be looking mainly at a student’s academic merit for admission purposes. When we are considering him/her for scholarships, we will also look at his/her extra-curricular activities in addition to his/her academic merit.
What role do you foresee young Filipinos can have in contributing to NUS’ growth in becoming a leading global university?
Filipinos will provide talent, their unique perspective on life, and culture, as well as opportunities for our undergraduates to network and better understand how Filipinos view themselves and contribute in a global marketplace.
Do you think Filipino students can be as competitive as students from neighboring countries?
Definitely. Filipino students can definitely be as competitive as students from neighboring countries. There is no reason to think that they are not as talented as students from other countries.