Logicless Logic

the mad rush for papers.

This period happens to be in the rush hour. The middle of a rush for university applications by students who have recently gotten their A Level results, be they dazzling or mediocre, Polytechnic students with their diploma and a mish-mash of other students. In todays dog-eat-dog world of business, politics, McShaker Fries and George Bush(okay so the last two were rather irrelevant but some know where I got the idea from), a piece of paper known as a degree is the minimum to survive. In fact, it is the minimum to even have a chance of survival, meaning having it does not guarantee survival. Therefore this mad rush, which I'm sure has come to be a part of every students life whether he likes it or not, ensues.

In the rush for the papers, which cannot be purchased for a mere 65cents like The Straits Times or Lian He Zao Bao, applicants rush to do all sorts of community service to polish up their application forms. This factoid was obtained from the papers which CAN be purchased for a mere 65cents, proving how much more useful it is to an everyday man. But I digress. The thing about discretionary admissions based on non-academic achievements is that it's meant for people who really care and do their part for the community, sports and whatever not. The other thing about it is that it also creates this group of actors who PRETEND they do their part for whatever and then stop doing it when they get admitted into their faculty of choice(or not). (This factoid was once again obtained from the same article in the same purchasable paper people are not rushing for.)

My point is that if one doesn't have any non-academic achievements, surely by doing some last minute thing, it wouldn't help much. Besides, if one gets admitted, it was not by their own abilities(in acting yes, but other than that no). And if that's the case probably the Arts Faculty would like to invite them over for a degree in Theatre Studies. But once again I digress. Besides, even though doing this CIP thing is not morally right, students don't give a shit once they get what they want. Tragic but true.

I myself have done the university applications, without the added lustre of the non-academic achievements glossed over, despite having gone for some CIP myself. Firstly, contacting the organisation in Thailand will result in a lot of inconveniences. Besides, I do not believe CIP should be what gets one into university. If my application gets me nowhere, then I know it's got to do with my mediocre results and probably my lack of ability to gloss over what little achievement I've rushed out during this period. At least I don't lie to myself. (And I hope an unpolished application stands out from loads of polished ones =D)

justin.

posted by justin @ 9:42 PM