PinHsi's Blog

Congratulation! 

It's around the season when all the UC applicants start to find out the admission decisions of the schools that they apply to.

I myself am accepted to UC Berkeley, UCLA and UCSD.

This is a great news not only to me but also to my family and friends.

So let me tell you what exactly happen during the time that I've applied to the moment that I found out where am I going. 

1. Start writing your personal statement early (essay)
   • 
2. Keep revising your personal statement over and over again with writing center (I re-wrote mine for at least 
3. You apply by filling up the information correctly on UC website Application: https://admissions.universityofcalifornia.edu/applicant/login.htm
4. attend transfer workshop during this time is highly recommended
   • I did attend and found it helpful
5. double check with your counselor before you submit it before the deadline

UCB 

UCLA 

After you are admitted:

• Decide which school you want to go?
  • Do more research and pick out the school that can benefit you the most!
• Pay for the Statement of Intent to Register 
  • Berkeley charges $100
  • It varies between schools

• Follow the "check list" on your account page
  • usually when you log-in to your college account there will be a check-list that's in point for that you need to follow
  • be carefull with all the deadlines and types of documents that you need to file
• Visit the international office and find out how to transfer the I-20 and fill out the online form for international students
  • fill up a student special request form in order to let the international office at MiraCosta College to release your I-20 information to the school that you are transferring to.
  • send the needed document to the univeristy's international office 
• Apply for Housing if you want to live on campus
  • Generally there will be a one year on campus guaranteed
  • many students will move out after the first year they transfer
  • look for apartment around the campus that's cheaper than on campus dorm
  • 

• Get connected with other transfer students
  • I received an email inviting me to join Berkeley's facebook application
  • This application page allows the admitted studetns to get connected based on their interest and questions
  • Many of them found their roommates online

 International Day is held every year at MiraCosta College ! 

 

International students from different countries set up their tables around the Clock Tower on Oceanside campus and introduce their local culture every semester during the College Hour.

Clubs from different interest groups also set up their tables to share their experiences and what have been done and focus on this day. 

Let me show you some exciting pictures of our international day! 

 Chinese Club 

 Ballet Folklorico Xochiquetzal

  India

We'll see you around ! 

學生可以從這個立體地圖的網站上找到：MiraCosta 的教室，學生服務中心，圖書館，餐廳，書店 以及其他大樓的地點．

您可以將游標點到任何大樓上就能閱讀相應的大樓或功能簡介． 

您也可以從左上角的 “LOCATIONS” 按鍵上選擇大樓名稱，即可瀏覽大樓地點，照片，學生自製的影片和相應的簡介．

當點擊左上角的 “LAYERS” 按鍵，您可以選擇在地圖上標出校園內同類別的設施地點.

MiraCosta College 的三個學區都可以在這個實體網站上一覽無遺也可以讓學生清楚了解校園概況．

這個網站可以讓你在世界各個城市都能把校園的每一個角落都逛一變的方式

如果你還沒有親自來我們校園看看，我們真誠的邀請你來ＭｉｒａＣｏｓｔａ走走！

Got a facebook?

click like on our page to share your own experience or find out more information about other international students studying in MiraCosta College!

Why this visit? 

• This is a great platform for you to ask us questions or tell us what you think!
• Catch up with the most updated NEWS for international students on campus!
• Communication and information are more accesible and easy
• While checking your own facebook, why not say "Hi" to us!

HAVE A GREAT DAY! 

WELCOME TO THE TRANSFER WORKSHOP!

Making the most of your education at MiraCosta College means informing yourself on the University Transfer process.  The Transfer Center at MiraCosta offers a workshop that will be very helpful!  Here are some of the things I learned:   

Why start at MiraCosta when you want to attend a great university?

• Lower cost to complete your undergraduate education
• IGETC certify for General Education for both CSU and UC
• UniversityLink with UCSD offer for first year students, including international students, to transfer to UCSD easier.
• Transfer Admission Guarantee Program for 6 UC campuses
• Transfer Alliance Program with UCLA for MiraCosta Honors students
  
• CSU San Marcos and San Diego State Priority

What's the main differences between UC and CSU?

• UC - more theory-focused and research-focused
• CSU - more hands-on and practical skills focused  

How do you start your university education at MiraCosta?

• Visit the testing center and complete the English and Math placement tests
• If you have AP exams for English and Math before, the placement test can be waived
• Explore your major on assist.org
  
• Make an appointment with one of our counselors with your test results
  

If you walk into the International Office today you will find: 

I never thought Valentine's day is celebrated as a real holiday in America. It's interesting cause back home people are really clear about the fact that this is just a commercialized day. The business and fortune behind the loving scene you seen on television are just $$$$$$$$

Just joking, this is a day for eating chocolate, watching romance movie, hang out with your friends or that special someone, have a great dinner, and so forth. Don't be afraid to show your love to people!

Ballet Folklorico Xochiquetzal is selling candies, flowers, and balloons on Oceanside Campus!

A video presented by GOOGLE:

 One last thing I want to share with you guys today is a story that I read last night and here's the link if you are interested: http://lesterrible.blogspot.com/2012/02/story-suited-for-valentines-day.html

 It's a sunny day today :) Wish you all enjoy this special Tuesday with your really great friends!   

Spring semester has started and it is always nice to meet your friends again.

I know we all just came back from a very relaxing holiday but keep up with the course work is always important once the school starts.

Not to mention that this is my last semester in MiraCosta College, I have learned something new to share with you guys.

Petition for Graduation.

Meet with a couselor at the beginning of Spring semester if you are transferring in Fall. The couselor will walk you through the steps by filling some forms and double check your units to qualify for graduating. Make sure you always have: applied to the universities, 60 transferrable units, and completed the IGETC pattern. Most of the students will receive an Associate Degree in Liberal Art by completing the IGETC. However, most of the students will have some degree that's relating to their major, so it really depends on how you took your classes before this.

Maintain You GPA. 

This is very important. Once you updated your last semester's grade and sent out your transcript to the universities, they can still reject you techniquly. One of my friends was in a guaranteed program. However, she failed a math class in her last semester and once she updated her grade, the college rejected her since her GPA is now lower than the requirement. Just keep in mind, you have worked hard till this point, might as well end it perfectly.

 ASG Group Photo

Get Involved. 

Associated Student Government, Inter-Club Council, and many other clubs on campus are the varieties of choices that you can get involved. Getting involve on campus is a great way to: meet more people, learn new skills, and gain new experience and information. I'm personally in the student government, Inter-club Council, and Phi Theta Kappa. These experiences made my life in MiraCosta College much more colorful. I wouldn't be able to meet so many different types of people if I didn't get involve in all these clubcs and organizations, which is why I'm recommending everyone to get involve and you will find the beauty of it.

City view in Taipei. This is probably my favorite picture that I have of Taipei.

People walking, chatting, eating and just simply enjoy their evening in this city.

 
This is a video of the metro system in Taipei. The commercial on it made me want to video tape this to share with you guys.

It's an advertisement by 7-11 that encourage people to travel in Japen.

 Here are some food items that I recommend to you if you have a chance to visit Taiwan!

  Beef stew noodles




Some Dim Sum

grass jelly milk tea

  hot pot that you can cook one side spicy and the other side non-spicy

braised pork rice

  pick something that looks interesting to you in the night market!

The list of food can go on forever but those are the must try that I would always recommend.

  Taipei 101 with a X'mas tree

LongShan Temple with the family

I booked the flight ticket early enough so it was $1100 with tax.

Local weather in Taipei during winter is usually humid and rainy, so prepare for lots of sprinkles.

Hope you enjoy these pictures and video  

What is General Education(GE)?

It is a list of general courses that students need to take to transfer to a university or earn a degree.  

UC and CSU have different General Education requirements so some classes may transfer to UC but not CSU, and vice versa. This is also explained in the schedule booklet, so you can dig in for more details online.

Sometimes you can find classes that are required for your major (through assist.org) and are also listed as a GE course, which is great since you can kill two birds with one stone.

I would suggest students to book their flight ticket as soon as they received their I-20 and visit the international office as soon as possible. The counselor can answer your questions and help you select the right classes for the semester. Trust me, everything will seem much easier when you arrive!

Visit http://catalog.miracosta.edu/transferinfo/uc/   for more information. 

What should I do when I can’t get into the classes that I need?

All students have many classes to complete based on their general education. You want to complete your English and Math section first to ensure your transfer process. Make a list of classes that you need to take each semester. Write down a second list of classes that you need to take when your “first choice” class is full. What happened if the second choice is unavailable either? Have your third choice!  Put yourself on the waitlist is always a good way to complete the classes you need. Well, if you see the waitlist number is already over 10 then don’t even bother.

It’s not easy for the first couple semesters but if you keep up with enough units, your priority will be higher and you can usually get into the classes you need in your third and fourth semester. There are three semesters each year, spring, summer, and fall. Summer session is much shorter and more intense but it is a good way for you to catch up with your units to transfer. Classes in summer varies every year.  MiraCosta will list classes for summer 2012 in April.