UMass Amherst

I just realized I did not announce this on my blog.
So, yeah! Hello readers :)
On the 21st of March, I received two university admission decisions.
In the morning, I got a rejection letter from a uni which I thought I could get into. But I guess this came as a blessing in disguise as the fees is beyond my dad's allocated budget for university. Guess some things are just not meant to be! :)
I think I went to the gym that morning.... Can't remember.
But when I returned, there was a huge ass parcel on my bench delivered by UPS.

Jeng jeng jeng!!!
A huge parcel of details/enrollment form/orientation broschure from UMass Amherst! :)

* Yes, I'm gonna upload the actual letters here for keepsake. Hehe ♥  ♥ ♥

So yah!!! :)
Incoming Freshmen at Isenberg School of Management at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Class of 2017. :D
(Omg what a mouthful!)

Before this, I've already gotten two acceptance from two Cali universities, but what really re-enforced the decision was the scholarship, the HUGE SIZE(!!!) and the uni's closeness to WallStreet (heh...Perhaps?.. :)

To get an idea of how huge it is:
Campus Map

And you know what, they even ranked  
3rd Nationally for Best Food (Princeton Review).

Their menu looks SO GOOD I just have to share!
They even have themes for some weeks like "Mexican Fiesta", "Seafood Season" etc...

Look at their entrees weih.
Seafood in fancy sauces!
Fancy soups! Sophisticated main courses!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today's Menu - Apr 01

Lunch Menu

Soup:

Turkey Chili (Berkshire, Worcester)

Mexican Style Chicken Tortilla Soup

Cream of Potato Soup (Franklin)

Entrée:

Alaskan Pollock with Wild Mushrooms

Herb Chicken with French Tomato Sauce^SPE

Vegetarian options:

Fried Eggplant Wrap

Garden Vegetable Lasagna (Franklin)

Falafel Pocket Sandwich (Franklin)

Tofu with Java Curry (Franklin, Worcester)

Display:  Vegetable Tender Fajita (Franklin)

Grilled Cheese Bar (Berkshire)

Macaroni & Cheese (Berkshire)

Ratatouille (Berkshire)

Vegan Sloppy Joe (Action Station) (Worcester)

BBQ Riblet Sandwich (Worcester)

Stations:

International Station

Asian Station (Worcester):

    Thai Chicken Soup

    Beef with Peppers & Onions

    Kung Pao Shrimp

    Seasonal Stir Fry Vegetables

Pizza Station 

Pasta Station 

Grill Station

Salad Station

Dessert Station:

M&M Brownie

Peanut Butter Cookies

Dinner Menu

Soup:
Turkey Chili (Berkshire, Worcester)
Mexican Style Chicken Tortilla Soup
Cream of Potato Soup (Franklin)
Entrée:
Grilled Flank SteakSPE with Mushroom Sauce (Carving Station)
Alaskan Cod with Peppery Orange Salsa
Rotisserie Chicken
Vegetarian options:
Vegan Chick’n Tender Scampi
Spicy Tofu (Franklin)
Garden Veggie Burger (Franklin)
Orzo Casserole (Franklin)
Display: Vegetable Panini (Franklin)
Fried Rice Bowl (Berkshire)
General Tso’s Tofu (Berkshire)
Indonesian Tofu (Worcester)
Sun Dried Tomato Pasta (Worcester)
Vegan BLT (Action Station) (Worcester)
Stations:
International Station
Asian Station (Worcester):
Thai Chicken Soup
Sweet & Sour Chicken
Shrimp with Lobster Sauce
Seasonal Stir Fry Vegetables
Pizza Station
Pasta Station
Grill Station
Salad Station
Dessert Station:
Stone Fruit Cobbler
Banana Oatmeal Bar (V)
LATE NIGHT MENU at BERKSHIRE
Chicken Caesar Wrap
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese
Margarita Eggplant w/Pignoli Nuts
LATE NIGHT MENU at WORCESTER
Pork Shoulder
Chicken Stew
Fried Plantains
Mango Bread Pudding

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To be honest, I've never thought I'll head to a non-Californian uni since pretty much all relatives I know in USA are in Cali. Yiyi, uncle James, cousin Kevin and Alan... all Cali. Even my best friend Afiq is in Cali. :(
It's so exciting yet nerve-wrecking! To be in a completely new environment with no one familiar.
Nevertheless, I look super forward to it. Counting down the days till 29 August 2013 (International Students Orientation)!

It's quite cool how the uni has this "RAP" - Residential Academic Program - for all first-years. But sadly most of the topics I'm interested in has no more spaces :(
And I really wanted to join the Isenberg RAP but missed the deadline (which was same as decision deadline!). Oh well... At least I've met a potential room mate online - who's a local - and she seems really awesome :D In fact, most of them are pretty friendly!

To tell the truth la, I was browsing the Isenberg School facebook page and saw their award lunches/ceremonies etc and like, all I see are guailous in the photos LOL. So intimidating! :P

~

I just got my US Student Visa (F-1) approved this morning, and it was such a tedious process!

The steps is pretty much like this for a Malaysian student who wants to study in the USA:

1. Get I-20 Form from university
2. Pay VISA Fees (F-1 Student Visa) via Standard Chartered
3. Pay SEVIS Fee 
4. Get SEVIS Receipt
5. Get ready US VISA Photo (White background)
   p.s: My family got it done at this Kodak photo shop in TTDI opposite Old Timer kopitiam there. All the shots are very professional and good! Better than the others around. :)
6. Schedule an appointment
7. Make sure all documents are in check: Passport, High school transcripts, Bank Statements, all those payment receipts, visa photo
8. Go for the interview

It is pretty tedious and expensive >_<
The whole Tan family went and apply because our visas already expired.

My parents got the 10-year tourist visa whereas my brother only got 1-year. :(
( Maybe it's because of the age? But Aiiiyoh so expensive have to apply again. )

Our appointment was the 8.50am slot, but we head to KL much more earlier than that.
The American Embassy was packed!!! Thank goodness it was a relatively cool morning.
We had to keep queuing. To get the visitor passes. To get our fingerprints scanned. To be interviewed.
Very time consuming la. By the time we actually got our interview it was prolly 11am-ish? I WAS STARVING :(

Oh! And I bumped into an old primary school mate who's transferring to PennState.
I also met a girl from Taylor's Subang Jaya who's heading to MIT! The only one in Malaysia who got in this year too. Haha.

Okay. End rant here. :)
Updates soonest! Been so busy... LTCL Piano Diploma exam is at the end of this month.
My program notes is not done yet T___T so many pending blog posts also. *faints*

Cheers!