Sunday, February 21, 2010

University (supplementary) Applications

Hey,

For all those students who are applying or have already applied to university good luck because it's expensive!

I (probably not the last person) thought I had completed my applications (and drained my bank accounts doing so) only to remember one last thing supplementary applications especially for competitive Business programs.

Not only did I just find out that they are mandatory, OUAC fees (Ontario University Application Centre) doesn’t include these costs!

Yeah, I’m a little bit upset (pissed off is more accurate) but it is a cost that is essential to my education, and therefore, can not be averted (believe me, I tried).

So my question(yes I always have one) is why are they there?

Am I to believe that someone is actually reading my extracurricular activities, two reference letters, and essay about changing the world?

I no longer know what to believe. All I know is this: stats (StatCan) come out every year saying that students have the lowest budgets but everyone (retailers, book publishers – another blog topic!) are trying to squeeze every last dollar from our pockets.

I know that Universities need to make money in order to provide services, I just think that they shouldn’t be getting it off potential students (please remember that you DO NOT have an admissions offer before you spend your money on applications).

Maybe they should give partial refunds for students they reject, or at least make University applications tax deductible!

Maybe I’m right, maybe I’m wrong. Let me know what your're thinking!

Just another thought,

Unltd Love,

SM

PS: Thank You to my first follower – Letesha!


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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Reading Week 2010

Heyy,


Its reading week…aka “March break” for most college students. This is the time where we get a break from school to catch up on homework, or read. Or play beer pong with our cousins who are in town (kidding).

Personally I think one week isn’t enough. I think it needs to be extended, I’m so far behind that I need at least two weeks, and a couple shots of espresso to keep me going.
(Maybe that’s why I can’t sleep in!)

Anyways, my question is why is it so early (February 15-19)! (I’m used to March break in March!) and why did they schedule it that same week as family day (Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan only). They practically cheated us out of a day of relaxation and I don’t even know who to blame.

Whatever though, I get it, we’re lucky there even giving us a break! There trying to prepare us for the real world – you barely get breaks out there!

I, Myself, am finally going to complete all the supplementary applications for university (congrats all the people who made early admissions – JRose).

On top of that I plan to actually exercise (I’m lying), catch up on True Blood, oh, and finish my advertisement assignments (going well so far).

Therefore, I guess I will be using my reading week to actually read (ewww). I’ll fit in sometime for a spa treatment (compliments of my mom).Hey, I might be so relaxed that I never return to school. Who knows, See you then.

*Update, NO STRIKE (yeah I’m a little disappointed)*

Enjoy the rest of your reading week!!!

Just another thought

Unltd Love,

SM


Still looking for something to do this reading week? Check this out!



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Monday, February 8, 2010

Ontario College Strike 2010

Hey,

If you’re one of the 200,000 students enrolled in an Ontario college you know that there’s a possibility of a strike.

Hey, I myself can use a break! I’m still trying to catch up on assignments from the first week of school. I hoping for a maximum of two weeks, anything after that can do serious harm (especially since I graduate this spring (yeah me!!!)) after that I want answers (or some sort of compensation).

Here is what I know for sure:
1, That the deadline has been pushed back to Feb. 17 (on our reading week)

2, The union has rejected the arbitrary binding (if they had accepted these terms there would have been no strike)

3, 57% of teachers voted for a strike (weak)

4, Some schools (*ahem Humber, Fanshaw business teachers) really don’t care (they’re already paid well) (so I hear…)

The weirdest part about this is how quiet the school is being about it. Even the student council (people voted to power by us) seems to have little information for us. Maybe they know less than we do? Maybe not. I’m just saying that in a time like this, it would be nice to see them earn their paychecks…Let us know what’s up!

The last thing we need is another York U disaster!!!
For more info. (google it)

Just another thought,

Unltd love,

SM




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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Questions about Haiti

My first blog…

There is not a person in the world who hasn’t heard about the tragedy that hit Haiti January 12th 2010 (The earthquake for those of you under a rock).Whenever something like this happens, people respond; everyone ( Banks, Retailers, Offices, Individuals) were all setting up collections in order to help Haiti. I myself, wanted to help anyway I could, and as usual that means money (it’s the American way).


I’m a student, on a student budget but I knew I wanted to give something. I soon received one of the many text msgs. instructing me on how to donate money ($5) to the Salvation Army. Right after I got the confirmation txt, I received another text warning me to be careful of a scam collection circulating.


(My first reaction was duh, Rogers will probably charge me $5 just for sending the text). But I really began to question where my money was, and how it would be used.
Helping others in need by collecting money in itself is a beautiful thing; but who, and how, are they going to keep track of it all? I mean, it’s impossible (for me) to keep track of all my spending. How does a small country like Haiti, who is already unstable (physically and politically), do it? Especially with the 100’s of millions of dollars going into it?


With all that money and so many hands in the pile, it seems a little too easy for someone to skim a little off the top of the money pile.


I mean, think about it, millions of people are collecting donations in the name of Haiti. But again where and to whom is it really going to? If its going towards food, how are the people going to get it? Roads are destroyed. Would they drop it from the sky? Will everyone get enough? Most importantly, who is in charge. Who is responsible for what, and how much exactly do they need?


I heard (in the US) that one organization raised $9 million just over text donations. $9 million USD, which is 40x the amount in the Haiti gourde (Haiti dollars). And this was just the beginning.


I understand that this is a country that literally need to be rebuilt. But I don’t believe in just giving money than saying goodbye.

From what I heard Haiti is still a poor, politically unstable economy. To pump hundreds of millions dollars into a country who has proven themselves unable to sustain their themselves, seems a little stupid.

So who should be in charge of operation Haiti. The US would seem like a likely choice but given their track record of handling money (recession – yes I am pointing fingers) I don’t think they have the time to be building another country when the obviously should be focusing on their own. Canada, same thing!


I guess the plan it to get things started, do the best we can, then allow them to continue. But when we do succeed in rebuilding Haiti, we cannot prevent another earthquake from coming. What happens then?

I know I’m asking a lot of question, but I want to know (I think that I’m allowed that much); Am I wrong for wanting to know?

These are my 21 questions about Haiti (I know it's less).Either way I have a feeling that none of these organizations would be able to answer them anyway.

Just another thought,

Unltd love,

SM

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