Currently: In IBLC finishing off my fibre chocolate bar from the Sauder Advising Session and purposefully coming to school early on a Friday to type a long awaited blog (waited for by myself)
I came from a high school (well particularly a group within my school known as the International Baccalaureate Program) where high school just didn’t seem like it was a place to relax and take it easy doing the things you wanted to do.
It was competitive.
Everyone was fighting to get involved to (as I would like to put it) “buff” their resumes up for university applications. Its in our human nature to be competitive and do activities/things that we believe are necessary to make us feel competitive and ensure others know we are taking things “seriously”.
I came to University hoping I would find a different environment; where everyone is doing their own thing because they’re interested in it, not that they just want to dominate to get to the top. And I did, to a certain extent (because you’re not obliged to get involve even though its encouraged; it’s not like you need to “buff” your resume persay to get your bachelors degree at least not to my knowledge).
But after my Sauder Advising Session yesterday, it just reminded me how competitive university, and especially this university, is. Here’s some stats for everyone (it’s a self reminder for the future and just an eye-opener). And sorry these stats are mostly related to students at the Sauder School of Business (but i’m sure other faculties are competitive in their own prospects as well).
In my year for admission the Sauder School of Business for the Winter Term of 2008.
1. Aproximately 6200 applications. 450 admitted. Mathematically speaking, that’s about 7% of students who applied making it into the program.
2. Not everyone gets the double specialization they want (eg. Finance and Marketing), let alone even your preference in which SINGLE specialization you might want in the future. For example, they said that specializations such as Finance and Accounting were completely full this year. If your overall GPA isn’t competitive, you don’t even get the courses you might want for your specialization, thus not getting the specialization you want. The specialization might even be a lot of the reason why you chose to go into business. Imagine if you didn’t get it; it might even feel like that you wasted two years (even though in reality you didn’t but you might just be that disappointed).
3. Co-Op is competitive to get into. Many opportunities, but still difficult nonetheless.
All in all, university is competitive. Everyone wants to do everything but there’s only so much time in the world. Life is competitive. Humans are competitive. We were designed to have a competitive nature (sort of). University is a good example of the “survival of the fittest” concept. The non-fit drop out and have to try to get back in and the fit live a good life, at least from what i’m percieving as of now.
But on a lighter note (speaking of competition), last weekend I did something on my list of “Must Do’s at UBC”.
I competed on not just one, but two longboat teams at UBC Rec’s Day of the Longboat!
I have to say it was really inspiring. For most of my life i’ve done sports at a fairly competitive level but to see so many teams come out who just wanted to bond and experience another aspect of university life was so inspiring. It’s great spirit and events like these that make me feel that UBC was really a good choice. And it’s even better when people are trying things new and giving it their all to just have a good time (GOOD JOB BLOG SQUAD STEERS!).
School calls so be back later!