Sing Sing's Student Blog

Well, for this spring, I was pretty off about school stuff because I was really worried about my admission.

Finally, I found out the result, and I decided to go UC Berkeley !! Which is my dream school. Also, finally, I can study what I do really want at UC Berkeley.

If you apply to UCB, UCLA and UCSD, you will see this site to figure out the admission. 

When you type on your infomation to the blank, you will feel very nervous.....that's what I felt.

After applied the admission, you must check out your email account from those school because these schools require you to make an account for admission.  Except UCLA.   

You will get some email from UC Berkeley after applying, and you must submit summary of GPA, requirement course etc. on Berkeley site.

I almost missed my admission because I didn't know about the procedure after applying..... I found out I had to submit the additional infomation to Berkeley only two days before the due date.....while I was on winter vacation... I was freaking out at the time, but to submit the information was not a really big deal. You just need to type your information on Berkeley homepage. 

If I missed the due, I couldn't get the admission from UC Berkeley... Isn't that scary !!! So, you must check out your email after applying...if you don't want do any silly mistake.

UCLA is little bit diffrent compared with UC Berkeley. You don't need to submit anything after the applying, so you can be relaxed after applying to UCLA. You will fill up your name, date of birth and city of Birth on UC application.  However, I found out I put on Kuwait's city instead of Seoul...on the blank for city of birth....... though I'm Korean.. yes... I did some silly mistake.... Still, I don't know why I checked such a unfamiliar city which I've never heard !!  After finding out the mistake, I fixed it. I was freaking out, too.  

UCSD also requires to make own your account to their homepage... I did worse silly mistake, too...

I didn't know that I had to make the account ..... before releasing admission. So, I made the account on the same day the school announced admission. I was freaking out, too........

Did you get the lesson from my silly issues ?   You must check out your e-mail after applying ! And also, Check out your application. You can access your application anytime , and you can upload new information on UC application site, too.   

MiraCosta has three vacations which are summer (the longest one), winter (about a month), and sping (about a week). Normally, during the vacation, many international students visit their country, and I visited Korea for last winter vacation. However, to international students, during spring vacation, visiting their countries is not enough to spend time out there. A week ? It is super short time to back and forth between both countries. So, spring vacation is a perfacet chance to go some travelling or to do some special things for having fun !

Spring vacation is on middle of spring semester for a week which means it is definitely to have some break time. Last spring vacation, I went to go skiing to big bear where is pretty closed to LA.  In this spring break, I wanted do some speacial thing for my last spring vacation with my friends, so we discussed what we are going to make some great memories.

When I was young, I was used to watching American movie and animation. At the movie, American children always were being adventurous at the camping. I'm pretty an adventurous person, too. So, I always curious about the camping because the camping is not really popular in Korea. Korea is smaller than California state which means we don't have enough space to have a camping. Even we do have some camping place, the place would be always crowed. Also, in Korea,  We can get every convienent stuffs super easily from the camping place by walking which means that is not real camping. In Korea, no shower, no wash, no electronicity ?  No way. I want to go real camping like I want to being a wild person at the camping.  Finally, we decided to go camping !

 I went to camping for last spring vacation in Pyramid Lake where is far away from north of Los Angeles about 100 miles. The area of lake was pretty beautiful. It was really windy. Oh, I didn't take shower and wash either, too. No electricity ! That's one of camping things. In San Deigo area, there are lots of camping area. If you do like to go camping, we can go to camping around here anytime. However, we do prefer to go some new palce where is like Pyramid Lake !

  At the time, I was smiling because it was beginning of the nightmare. The tent was for summer season which means there was no roof... At the night, the temperature was pretty low.... I remember it was really windy and cold like winter. After a hour, I was almost crying becaue it was really freezing. I missed my room, bad, and pillow..... I couldn't sleep at all at the night, but this is camping. I couldn't complain it....  

Smore time with bonfire !! Are you familiar with smore and bonfire ? When I came to U.S first year, I didn't know what they were. Smore? Bonfire? What are they ? They were new words. These days? i'm pretty much familiar with them.  Smore is kind of camping snack.  What do we need to make smore ?   

Easy. Go to any market ! 1) marshmellow 2)  chocolate 3) graham cracker.  then get any 4) long stick.  Go any place have 5) bonfire ! then, maybe beach ?   Well, I thinki making smore is very American style. Talking all together while making smore around sitting on bonfire. I remember I was really frustrated when I had a first bonfire....it was almost two years ago. Everyone was talking and understanding topic.. They were laughing ...   and I was wondering all the times what's going on ?

However, in this bonfire, I also was laughing, talking and fully understanding what's going on with my friends. From bonfire, I could check how my english has improved ! haha. Great Bonfire Ever!

The camping for my spring vaction was pretty successful !!  Well, I'm planning to go the other camping for summer.  

안녕하세요. 미라코스타에 재학중인 한국 학생입니다.

한국분들에게 학교 캠퍼스를 소개하고자, 이렇게 오늘 처음으로 한글로 블로거를 쓰는군요 !!!   

혹시 학교 캠퍼스가 어떻게 생겼는지 관심이 있다면, http://www.miracosta.edu/virtualtour/ 이 페이지를 참조하세요 !

홈페이지를 통해서 보는 캠퍼스는 작아보이는데,, 왠만한 한국대학보다 크답니다. 캠퍼스 건물있는곳은 그렇게 크진않지만, 캠퍼스 주변을 한바퀴 돌면.. 참 크구나 하고 느낄꺼에요. 처음에 미라코스타에 왔을때, 길을 잃었던것이 기억나네요.. 그 주변을 걸으면서, 대체 어떻게 해야 집에 갈수있는지.. 끊임없이 걸었던 기억.. 하필 그때 구두를 신었던지라. 발이아파 거의 울뻔했던 신선한 기억이... ^^ㅋ

캠퍼스 주변엔 주차장이 있어서, 차에 접근하기 용이하합니다. 사진과는 달리, 주차장 정말 크고, 주차장이랑, 학교간 거리 생각보다 넓어, 수업시간 늦을까봐 가끔씩 뛰기도 합니다. 사실 학교 수업이나, 전체적인 규모는 좀 작은편이라 그렇게 학생들이 항상 많지는 않아요. 북적거리는 한국 캠퍼스랑은 많이 다른 분위기에요. 홈페이지를 통해 보시는거와 같이, 캠퍼스내에 잔디밭이 많고, 나무도 많고 정말 말 그대로 그린캠퍼스에요. 다들 여유로워 보이고, 서두루는 사람이 별로없죠.  한적하고, 정말 여유가 느껴지는 캠퍼스 분위기, 그리고 팜트리들 정말 켈리포니아에서 학교다니는 구나 하는 느낌입니다.

뭐 제가 가장 자주가는 빌딩은 당연히, 도서관? 그리고 학생회관인데요. 도서관에 정말 컴퓨터가 많아서, 꼭 굳이 노트북을 안가지고 다녀도되요. 그리고 도서관안에 라이팅센터가 있어서, 페이퍼 그래머 체크도 받기 쉽고, 타 과목 개인과외 (튜터)도 예약만하면 무료로 받을수 있습니다. 학생회관은, 카페테리아랑, 각종 학생클럽, 그리고 인터네셔널오피스 떄문에 자주갑니다. 특히 인터네셔널오피스분들 다들 친절하세요. 예전에 차사고를 한번 난적이 있었는데, 여기서 도움도 받았고.. 그냥 유학생활중 무슨일있으면 자유롭게 편하게 상담도 할수있고,, 한국 대학개념과는 조금은 다르죠? 많은 인터네셔널 학생들은 오피스에 많이 왔다갔다해요. 그래서 누가 누구인지 잘알고, 친구같고 편한 분위기랄까요? 비자문제, 수업문제, 등등 어떤 문제든 !! 유학생활중 어려움이 있으면, 인터네셔널 오피스에서 상담할 수 있답니다 !

흠 가장 궁금한 부분은, 교실이겠죠? 교실 분위기는.. 개인 책상들이 많고, 멀티미디어 시스템 완벽하게 되있습니다. 한국수업과는 다르게 그룹활동도 많고요, 프리젠테이션 할 기회도 많아요. 여기 미국학생들 인터네셔널 학생들이랑 익숙해서 그런지, 그룹활동할때 편하게 잘 동참 할 수 있답니다. 제 개인적인 경험으론 차별이나 무시같은건 없었습니다. 항상 느끼는 것이지만,, 커뮤니티컬리지 선택을 잘했다는..ㅎㅎ 생각을 합니다. 이제 곧 저도 이곳을 떠날날이 얼마 않남았네요... !! 그때까지, 미라코스타에서 좋은기억만 많이 만들고 가야 겠습니다.

혹시 궁금한것이 있으시다면, 코멘트나, 메일 주세요 !

MiraCosta College has two campuses in Oceanside and Cardiff by the Sea. To get the Cardiff campus takes only about 20 minutes from Oceanside campus by car. I took the pictures in Del Mar, which is next to Cardiff.  Del Mar has really beautiful viewing area. Especially, Torrey Pines! I love to go there for hiking or exercising because the place has a really beautiful scene so that I can be relaxed. Sometimes, I wish I went to Cardiff campus because of Torrey Pines Park. Well, I guess if someone like these beutiful area, you can take classes at San Elijo campus. There area lots of classes at the campus, too.        

 I took picture with my best friend Eri! Beautiful huh!? I mean the background in the picture. It was end of february, and it was not that cold. Can you see the shoreline? I had some interesting experience.The beach has some secret..  I will tell you with next picture.

I posed making heart shape to show my feeling toward this area. Yeap. I love California. Can you see the shoreline in the picture ? Beautiful, huh ? Actually, that area is nude beach!! Many people are naked at the area, but most of them are old guys... Last summer, I've been there, but that place was little creepy to me. One of naked guy started talking to us.. and then.. his.... part of body.........I'm not going to say no more...  However, It was great experience and memory because it is NAKED BEACH ! Everything is experience. If my country has nude beach, the crime rate will be going up ! I think the nude beach in Del Mar is pretty safe area to chill out and be relaxed if you are not freaking out the naked guys.

We could see the naked people on the hill though it is February, and I didn't want to go down the beach area because of last summer memory. Honestly, I don't mind to visit there one more if my friends ask me out to go there.

This is My friend Eri. This is also Torrey Pines area for hiking, but it is little bit diffrent area. I love to go hiking to there because there are lots of interesting viewing like the picture. It looks like little cage. If you have never been there, I highly recommend to visit Torry Pines area !

Here is San Diego county which is south of California. There are lots of beautiful places I can get to within an easy drive. Fortunately, I have a great economic car which I can save the gas !

Well, studying abroad in California is really good chance to travel for me. So, I would like to go somewhere new and beautiful as much as I can while I stay in Southern California. Even in California, everyplace has different feeling and views to me. You know California state is so big. Last weekend, I went to Santa Babara, and Solvang. The places are pretty different compared to San Diego county.  Here is some slide pictures that I have been while I attend at MiraCosta College.

Many international students like traveling to somewhere such as Las Vegas, LA, Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Yosemite and so on when they have some holidays or little vacation.

All of those place can access from Oceanside by driving a car! I made up some slide shows where I have been !

Morever, whenever I have some extra time, I like to go new place where I can make a day's trip.

Last Spring semester, I heard about MiraCosta Scholarship. My friend asked me "why don't you apply for a scholarship?"

I answered to him, " I don't think I can get a scholarship because I am a international student, and my visa is F-1. The opportunity is only opend to American not like us."

At the time, I thought the scholarship is only open to Americans because definitely international students are a minority group in this country. Moreover, they gave me the visa after checking a bank account and the documents to check whether I can afford the tuition in America.  

So, I was not supposed to applying the scholarship, but I just fill up the application because of my friend's recommendation.

The result? I've got a scholarship ! My guess was totally wrong because they give me the scholarship though I am a international student.

The procedure ? Super easy ! If the procedure was complex, I would not apply them because I didn't expect I could get a scholarship.

This is what I've done for the scholarships.

1. There is a Financial Aid/ Scholarships building in Oceanside campus (Building 3000). Visit the place!  There are lots of scholarships options which you can apply.   

Or visit MiraCosta Scholarship webpage:  http://www.miracosta.edu/studentservices/scholarships/index.html  The webpage also offers the information and the application, too !

2. Fill up the documents! It is super easy, your name on a paper + personal essay (maybe 1-2 pages, it also easy eassy but you should write the essay to impress )

3. Wait the result

4. When I received a letter that I received a scholarship I was invited to a Scholarship event to get the check (Money)

5. spend the money for you !

This is the picture that I took at MiraCosta Scholarship event!

Well, I got a $500, and I used the money for a tuition to take a class in MiraCosta College.  I'll apply the application again in this semester, too

It is time to apply to transferring school !

Well, I'm planning to transfer UC school for 2012 fall, so I have to apply this time. The application has been opened early October. I can turn in my application through Nov 30 on online. UC and CSU school has a site to apply the application. Yeap, thanks to high technology, we can apply the schools easily via internet.

The MiraCosta College Transfer Center helps students complete university transfer applications

This is UC application site. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/apply-online/index.html YES, IT SEEMS TO SUPER EASY.

However, the contents that I have to fill up are kind of little complex to me. I don't know how to do it exactly and what do I need to fill it up in application. The application must be correct and perfect. I do really need somebody's helping to understand the procedure. Fortunately, MiraCosta College offers lots of workshops for the application. I've been there one time, and it was really helpful because they explain the procedure and I can ask my question feel free to counselor. Maybe, filling up the application is not that hard because the workshops offers the information to students who are planning to transfer. Anyway, I have filled up the application in the workshop, and still I'm working on it. 

BUT, the most important thing in application is personal statements. As a international student, it is hard to write the statement perfectly withouth any awkward sentences and wrong grammar, and I haven't started it. So, I feel little bit nervous. Again, Fortunately, MiraCosta offers writing center for the statements, too. My counselor recommend me a particular tutor who is really good at the statement. So, I don't need to being nervous about the application.

My college offers everything for the application, I just need to get them myself. Be Realx, Let's prepare it step by step !  

Before I start telling my story, I want to depict myself as a pictures how I have been changed for a week.

This picture was exactly like me before a week ago

BUT after a week... ? 

This is exactly like current me.

 What happend on my life ?

I was really stressed out about my schooling stuff.  What makes me super stressed out ?

Well, I'm very high motivated and challenging person, so I made up this semester schedual myself without counselling because I had a confidence about the classes. I thought I could conquer all of the classes, but it was big mistake. I felt that I couldn't afford all my classes. I'm still struggling on language boundary. Lots of homwork, reading stuffs, writing paper and tests. Everything seemed to look monster to me. BUT, I do really need good grade for my education aim. I can't give up my goal. I do not want to feel as a looser.

I realized I do really need a somebody's helping. How to get the helping ? 

yes, maybe my family and my friends can give me some advice, but I needed a practical solution. I found out the solution in counselling. Without conselling, planning  the semester schedual myself was big mistake. If I had a counselling before starting this semester, it didn't happened in this semester. I realized how counselling system is important. I was being stupid.

So. when you have any problem, please get a counselling ! When you make education planning, please get a counselling !

1) Go to IIP center.

2) Make a appointment.

3) Tell your story.

They are happy to help us ! Also, I'm pretty sure they are going to offer some practical solutions.

Right now? I'm happy with my classes :) ,and I've got a lesson  !

If you are Asian, you may feel skinny in the United States. If you say ," I'm on diet" to American, they will hate you because that's what I'm doing. Last night, I visited my friend's house, and she asked me, "do you want some honey for your hot tea ? " I said, " No, thanks I'm on diet."And then she said, "what? Are you kidding me ? You are super skinny ! I want to spank you ! " because she tries to lose weight. She was teasing me forever with her sister. They said, "we have to feed her so she will gain weight." 

However, when I visited my country which is KOREA last winter, everyone was shocked. My parents were upset because I added lots of weight in U.S. When they picked up me at airport, they couldn't figure me out. Especially, my father said, "you must lose your weight before you visit here again.." My brother said, "look at your butt ! I can't believe how did you get that size butt" My friends said, "what's going on with your body! OH MY GOD.... please don't lose yourself in US." 

OK. The perspective of weight is totally different between US and Korea. I guess many countries in Asia has similar perspective with Korean one. Anyway, I'm on diet to lose weight. The food is totally different from my country. That's obvious, and that's why I added lots of weight. Since I've been on diet, I've lost some weight. I made up some strategy to lose my weight in a healthy way. Suddenly, I'm curious how the other international student keep balance their weight and how are they managing on their diet in U.S. SO, I asked my friends. It is kind of funny survey to get some knowhow for my diet :)

1) Many students go to the gym to work out or to take some programs such as yoga, dance and so on. There are lots of gyms around school, and I think the cost is cheap. Also, I think American gym is kind of big maybe because they have big land. (oh, their food is also always big, too) Some of gym opens for 24 hours, and they have basketball court, sauna, and swimming pool. To me, exercising indoors is boring. I prefer outdoor activity and sports with the others. So, I go to the beach to run, and I sometimes participate school's intramural events such as tennis, basketball, ping pong, dodge ball, volleyball, and Frisbee. Every student can participate this event if you are MiraCosta student. Also, I play volleyball in my club, and I play tennis with my friends, too.