Hi,
Today I received another THIN envelope from USA - the third since day-before-yesterday. I didn't care about the contents - for I had made many many emotional sommersaults --while opening the other two.
Today's letter said that I didn't make it to University of California, Berkeley's list of admitted students - for the PhD program in Policy, Management and research (POME). I must admit I had a very difficult time deciding which progarm to apply for - in this Univ since none really fitted my interests - of comparing Indian and US school systems to identify crucial drivers for Indian schools' reform -esp govt ones.
But as yet I do not have the luxury - of saying that all my past actions - leading upto applying for the various Univs programs have been foolproof -since I haven't received any concrete evidence of my getting selected in any one US Univ so far.
I made a comic error - which I realised too late -at 9 pm - I gave an ad (smallest size - 4 cm by 4 cm) in the local Rajasthan Patrika - requesting help --that I had received an admission offer from the Harvard Univ for MEd program. I did give a hint - mentioning the huge $100,000 or Rupees 5 million (50 lakhs cost) .
Last night while I was checking the Univ's reply - I realised that the MED admissions have NOT been made so far - only on 1st April - they will finalise. Frantically I phoned the Ad agency - but they had closed shop and gone home.
But strangely I felt a sudden peace - that even in these stratospheric level of US admission decisions (atleast so they seem to local Indians - incl my Ad agency owner -who asked me to meet the governor for help and advice) -- since only royals or super rich manage or dream of studying in "Vilaalayat" or America -- fools like me make such stupid errors - and herald them in local papers.
I could only draw solace in the Univ letter's extremely positive tone - while suggesting that I consider the MEd program . But maybe this is an official line to all DEd applicants - since DEd seats are only about 60 -- with much more funding -- MEd has 250 and deadline 15 days later.
After my ad blunder -- I forgot all fear --and opened the dreaded THIN Columbia Univ letter ("thin" - is BAD news I'm told - by Princeton Review - thick means info on scholarship received etc)
I burst out laughing - a tension release - when I found that it only confirmed that my Admission application was complete in all respects.
Now after reading an article that atleast 1000 crore ruppes ($200 million)
would be spent in Indian parliamentary elections in April - I'm now thinking that all rich folks must be prepared to loosen their pockets - in favour of the politicians. Perhaps I could campaign for getting notes for my US study.
I did get one phone in response to my ad -- he wanted to know what I expected to acheive from my Ad. Was surprised that I just wanted scholarhip funds - he wanted to use the "great" idea - to promote his business proposition - I gave my blessings.
Though I'm still hoping to get some favourable news about my USadmissions and funding - I'm formulating a plan to seek help elsewhere also. Aga Khan foundation where I was planning to apply for full schol - closes by March 30th - well before I'll receive news from Harvard 's MEd program.
I can only pray and plan - can I do more???
Umesh
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