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| ashu |
Posted
on 02-Nov-02 10:57 AM
Hi all,
I had had a talk with Mahendra Man Sakya (aka Honda) this afternoon, and, given the level of interest and demand, we agreed to host a program at GAA, Thamel later this month called:
"How to write your college/grad school application essays"
Date: Sunday afternoon, November 24.
Venue: GAA Hall, Thamel
Time: 2 pm - 4 pm
Price: Rs. 500 (with porceeds split between GAA and a charity of my choice.)
Open: To anyone who wants to participate
Presenter: Ashutosh Tiwari
Over the years, I have had a great pleasure informally and voluntarily assisting at least 30 Nepali students gain admissions to American colleges and grad schools, including three at MIT.
What I'll be doing in this GAA event is a powerpoint presentation, and entertain questions from the audience, while addressing their concerns in an open, frank and honest manner so that they can do a good job tackling the essay part of their college and grad school applications. As you know, top Nepali students usually have good grades and god ETS scores; it's the essays where they need to shine a bt. And so,
all I'll be doing is basically sharing knowledge with other fellow-Nepalis without guaranteeing anything to anyone.
Honda seems all excited,and wants to run ads in newspapers after Tihar, and this is
the least one can do on one Sunday afternoon in Kathmandu on behalf of many in Nepal who are dreaming of good colleges and grad schools.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| login |
Posted
on 02-Nov-02 01:22 PM
Good Thought!!
But isn't the price a way too much for the Nepalese students?
Just a thought.Goodluck
-LoGiN
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| ashu |
Posted
on 02-Nov-02 01:59 PM
Thanks, Login, for your good wishes.
I am going to work hard to make the presentation worth Rs. 500.
oohi
ashu
tm,nepal
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| SMR |
Posted
on 02-Nov-02 02:31 PM
Nothing more than sharing my experience:
I have advised students to get into colleges, and to grad schools, and helped some go on to establish their research careers after PhD. Whenever I visited Nepal, I gave volunteer advices to many enthusiastic kids about the American education system and gave tips to stand out for a successful admission and so on. I still get e-mails asking for advice. Speaking from my experience, I think that there is a great need to have a good counseling system in Nepal. That said, what Ashu is trying to do is very commendable. Many parents and students will appreciate it, and many would not mind spending 500 Rs.
But, it would also be really nice to have a few free sessions for students who cannot afford Rs. 500.00. People are hungry for such information in Nepal.
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| yatri |
Posted
on 02-Nov-02 03:59 PM
Very nice idea, but the registration fee (500 rupiya) may be little too much for some students. Can you waive fees to those "starving" students who would like to come to the presentation but lack money? I am sure you will get a bigger turnout if it would have been free. How about asking students to give DONATIONS to GAA after the presentation if they feel like they have learnt anything useful? Think, it could be possible? This idea comes directly from how one gives DANA to the Vipassana Center after they finish the ten-day course ( read more at www.dhamma.org to know more about Vipassana) . Good luck!
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| Junkie |
Posted
on 02-Nov-02 04:52 PM
I agree ..... 500 Rs. seems to be limiting your audience to Nepali standard ko middle and high class family ( of Nepali Speaking High Caste Society as Paramendra dai would have protested :-) .......
Just thinking that a turnout of 100 for Rs. 50 ...... or a turnout of 10 for Rs. 500.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 02-Nov-02 07:48 PM
Thank you SMR, Yatri and Junkie for your postings.
Encouraged by your suggestions, I will see what I can do.
Meantime, if you know of such students in Kathmandu/Nepal -- students who might benefit from such a session, please do encourage them to visit GAA that afternoon.
If money is a problem, they can email me, and I will work something out on a case-by-case basis.
I am NOT however intereested in running this session for free. That is because in Nepal people tend NOT to appreciate things given to them for free.
oohi
"happy to be assisting Nepali students"
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| Junkie |
Posted
on 03-Nov-02 04:20 AM
Hmmmm ....... True True Ashu jee. Tara fee lower chaye gare hunchha for the needy hai.
Some stuff you might bring up, that is if you didn't already know. These are not my concoction, so you can bet that it's trustworthy.
Top 10 DOs:
1) Do focus on depth than breadth i.e. one or two ideas or experiences.
2) Do tell the reader what no other applicant will honestly be able to do.
3) Do provide insight into what drives you - i.e. what makes you "tick".
4) Do be yourself rather than pretend to be the "ideal" candidate.
5) Do be creative and imaginative, particularly in opening remarks.
6) Do address the particular school's unique features that attracts you.
7) Do focus on affirmatives, consider an addendum to address blemishes.
8) Do evaluate your experiences rather than merely recounting them.
9) Do let others proofread for grammer, syntax, punctuations.
10) Do use a highly-readable typeface with conventional margins and spacings.
Top 10 DON'T:
1) Don't submit an expository resume (tara mailay tah yo sanka lagyo bhai).
2) Don't complain or whine. Constructive criticism is fine is it relates to your career goal.
3) Don't preach. Avoid coming across as a fanatic or extremist.
4) Don't talk about money as a motivation in your life/future.
5) Don't remind the school of its ranking among various programs.
6) Don't waste the essay with a hackneyed intro and conclusion.
7) Don't use a gimmicky style or format.
8) Don't submit supplemental materials unless requested.
9) Don't get the NAME of school wrong ;)
10) Don't discuss your minority status/disadvantaged background unless it's compelling and unique.
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| Junkie |
Posted
on 03-Nov-02 04:34 AM
Some examples (shortened and changed a lil from original version, again not my words incase I am sued or not trusted ;) ):
Examples of hackneyed intro:
"Allow me to introduce myself ......"
"This questions asks me to discuss ...... "
Examples of hackneyed conclusions:
"I would like to thank the adm. comm. for considering ....."
"It is my sincere hope that you will grant me the opportunity ....."
"In sum, there are three reasons why you should admit me ..... "
Example of finding an "angle" and compelling intro (for a law school applicant with excellent credentials but poor grades). It provides an offbeat and memorable intro ray (mark the "ray" :-), manchhe nah ho, perspectives differ):
1)
As a former college tennis star, now playing in etc etc, I am in a position coveted by many athletes. If I want, I can earn a living in pro sports. For most, it'd be a dream come true. In my own case, however, I ahve decided - after working as a paralegal in a law firm - that I can make a more significant mark as an attorney, winning my battles not on tennis courts but in a court of law.
2)
Just how does the shortest guy in class go on to become the school's (or college's) leading athlete (scorer)? I was the .......
............... now back to stupidity .......
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| ashu |
Posted
on 03-Nov-02 06:38 AM
Junkie,
Excellent suggestions.
I will incorporate them into my presentation, hai?
That said, my favorite trite line: "And that is why I want to come to [your college/grad school] so that I can learn the skills to come back and help develop my poor country Nepal."
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| Junkie |
Posted
on 03-Nov-02 07:08 AM
haha Ashu dai ..... seems like you read my essay ho ..... I had said the same ..... and it was indeed so many words ..... satya yaar ..... fond reminisce :-) ..... tai pani timee baki chha to fulfil the second half of the story
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| ashu |
Posted
on 20-Nov-02 11:21 AM
Hi all,
This program has been RE-scheduled for Sunday, 1st of December, 2002, 2-4 pm at GAA Hall Thamel.
Ads wil run in Nepali newspapers next week.
A couple of Sajha friends -- depending on their schedules -- may help me out to run this program.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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