Emerson pursuit
I first came across Emerson’s name through the princetonreview.com while researching for alternative school from INSEAD. Emerson has an outstanding communication school and the master degree in Organizational and corporate communication seems right for my keen interest at the time. So INSEAD and Emerson become the only 2 schools I applied for. I didn’t make it through INSEAD, which was not a surprise. I was more surprised that they called me in for interview round. Emerson accepted me but noticed me in the 2nd half of November’04 for the Spring class starting January’05 – there simply was no way I could process visa and prepare everything within one month, plus I just had agreement at work to move to a new team and didn’t feel nice to cancel the deal after what we had gone through. Therefore I requested for a deferral to the next semester, which is Fall starting September’05. Thinking that there is plenty of time then for preparation. I planned to quit the job in May and move out of Singapore.
The new team I joined in late November’04 was very demanding and everyday-work really exhausted me out, that the working hours starting from 3:30am only made things worse. I honestly had not much brainpower left for anything outside work.
In early April, I managed to allocate a small time to contact Emerson admission office to check when my I-20 would be ready for me to start applying for student visa- the guy responding to my query assured me that all my submitted documents looked alright and the office would start processing I-20 in May. During this month there were also matters at office that I ended up push back my resignation to June.
2nd week of May, I received a request from another person from Emerson admission office to resubmit a fresh bank statement. I was very much disappointed in their processing! Why couldn’t the first person I contact alert me about this resubmission? Almost one-month time was wasted. And to get this bank statement – I need to get my sister in Bangkok to take leave from her work to contact the bank and collect the document and post it to me. I did not contact my sister until a week past because I was overwhelmed with office work and I was doubtful in the school’s efficiency. By the time I took action and received the document it was already end of May.
After I posted the document to the school I was on trip and busy for 2 weeks. I noticed that I still didn’t receive anything from the school so I contacted the person to check if my document had reached the school, her reply was yes- she did receive it a few days after my postage date. Then she proceeded to ask me whether I wanted the I-20 to be sent to my Thailand address or Singapore's – that only reflected they had not sent it out until this point!
The new team I joined in late November’04 was very demanding and everyday-work really exhausted me out, that the working hours starting from 3:30am only made things worse. I honestly had not much brainpower left for anything outside work.
In early April, I managed to allocate a small time to contact Emerson admission office to check when my I-20 would be ready for me to start applying for student visa- the guy responding to my query assured me that all my submitted documents looked alright and the office would start processing I-20 in May. During this month there were also matters at office that I ended up push back my resignation to June.
2nd week of May, I received a request from another person from Emerson admission office to resubmit a fresh bank statement. I was very much disappointed in their processing! Why couldn’t the first person I contact alert me about this resubmission? Almost one-month time was wasted. And to get this bank statement – I need to get my sister in Bangkok to take leave from her work to contact the bank and collect the document and post it to me. I did not contact my sister until a week past because I was overwhelmed with office work and I was doubtful in the school’s efficiency. By the time I took action and received the document it was already end of May.
After I posted the document to the school I was on trip and busy for 2 weeks. I noticed that I still didn’t receive anything from the school so I contacted the person to check if my document had reached the school, her reply was yes- she did receive it a few days after my postage date. Then she proceeded to ask me whether I wanted the I-20 to be sent to my Thailand address or Singapore's – that only reflected they had not sent it out until this point!
I finally received the I-20 package in late June (DHL-ed to my office address? I still couldn’t figure out why this happened when all other documents were sent to my home address previously)
After that I struggled through the preparation for student visa application and spent most time worried so much that I couldn’t provide all required documents listed in the consular website, i.e. all old passports used in the past 10 years. It also required a bank statement and when I e-mailed the consular web-contact to confirm if I have to submit the bank statement again since I already submitted one to the school, the reply was sternly put ‘require all documents as listed in the website'. For this, I had to request yet another set of bank statement from my bank in Bangkok-only to find out later that the school did return the copy I submitted to them with the I-20 package, There are also some gray areas I didn’t know which set of information they looked for, so that I prepare multiple sets of my application before I finally went to the US embassy.
After that I struggled through the preparation for student visa application and spent most time worried so much that I couldn’t provide all required documents listed in the consular website, i.e. all old passports used in the past 10 years. It also required a bank statement and when I e-mailed the consular web-contact to confirm if I have to submit the bank statement again since I already submitted one to the school, the reply was sternly put ‘require all documents as listed in the website'. For this, I had to request yet another set of bank statement from my bank in Bangkok-only to find out later that the school did return the copy I submitted to them with the I-20 package, There are also some gray areas I didn’t know which set of information they looked for, so that I prepare multiple sets of my application before I finally went to the US embassy.
It was a surprise, although a pleasant one, that the visa application was not as troublesome as people said (one of my msn-pal told me her sister took one whole month waiting for visa approval). The lady at the counter said it doesn’t matter what set of info I put in the application, they would figure out. They didn’t even check for any of my old passports! And the interview portion is swift and smooth - with total of 3 questions (1. can u pronounce your full name to me? 2.yours is a walkin-application? 3.tell me why do u want to go study in USA?) ..how lovely! I got the visa approved and could collect it in 2 workdays.
One problem down, I was relaxed and thought that the last concern now is to find an apartment in Boston. Only to discover that I was totally wrong, I stumbled upon a one-page information sheet enclosed with I-20 package to remind accepted international student on immunization and vaccination before any student could enroll in Emerson. There, there was yet another hurdle and it’s immunization requirement.
One problem down, I was relaxed and thought that the last concern now is to find an apartment in Boston. Only to discover that I was totally wrong, I stumbled upon a one-page information sheet enclosed with I-20 package to remind accepted international student on immunization and vaccination before any student could enroll in Emerson. There, there was yet another hurdle and it’s immunization requirement.
MY belief is that we took the vaccine jabs to ensure our health. I made sure I took the compulsory jabs. What I didn't know is I ought to keep all the official record of what vaccination I had had complete..how come Emerson website didn't provide the checklist for international student!? True that it has a hyperlink on the immunization requirement.. but.. come on.. have some mercy on those poor souls who slogged their way daily at work. It was already into the month of July and I was still doing my office time as my last day had been postponed a couple of times.
When I finally got to the recommended clinic (by the first clinic in my office area I walked in) the doctor questioned whether I really need to fulfill this requirement as the wording in the document I printed out and showed her led her to think that it was for only health science student – I decided to hold other jab (the clinic ran out of the MMR vaccination anyway) and went ahead with blood test for Hepatitis B antibody. It took a day to get the confirmation from Emerson that ALL STUDENT must comply that requirement (for heaven sake, then why such a school famous for its communication degree made such a lousy and misleading and confusing document while it would be much easier and clearer if they just said ALL international students???) But the lab result was not out until 3 days later that I did not have the antibody and hence required the vaccination for Hepatitis.
I was on my way to the same clinic in the CBD area when I came across a neighborhood clinic so I went in to get second opinion on some testing (I’m certain that I already took the MMR jab since primary school, but I didn’t keep the record/certificate. The first clinic said they couldn’t run a blood test for MMR immunization, but there was another clinic I browsed in earlier who said it could be done- I didn’t consult the doctor there because it was a lunch time and I needed to wait 2 hours to see the doctor, and the place also looked very expensive) The neighborhood clinic I dropped in was very friendly and the doctor was very gentle and explained the detail very clearly that the test is possible only for measles but not for mumps and rubella so I decided to proceed taking the jabs here, it’s much nearer to my place after all. The doctor advised to split the vaccination into 2 visits as the live measles might confuse the body and it’s better to wait for a week before taking Hepatitis and another booster. (NOTE that MMR needs 2 doses – one month apart. And Hepatitis needs 3 doses – the last to be taken 6 months from the first)
All this while I’ve been preparing for those requirements, I hadn’t found a place to stay when I arrive in Boston. And it’s very stressful- at least to me. The moving out of Singapore is also another big headache as I have excess luggage and need to find some kind souls to help me carry them over.
Though I had booked the airticket to NYC and registered for 3 courses in Fall and I asked my friend in NYC to get ready to show me to Boston. . .
... ,
I was on my way to the same clinic in the CBD area when I came across a neighborhood clinic so I went in to get second opinion on some testing (I’m certain that I already took the MMR jab since primary school, but I didn’t keep the record/certificate. The first clinic said they couldn’t run a blood test for MMR immunization, but there was another clinic I browsed in earlier who said it could be done- I didn’t consult the doctor there because it was a lunch time and I needed to wait 2 hours to see the doctor, and the place also looked very expensive) The neighborhood clinic I dropped in was very friendly and the doctor was very gentle and explained the detail very clearly that the test is possible only for measles but not for mumps and rubella so I decided to proceed taking the jabs here, it’s much nearer to my place after all. The doctor advised to split the vaccination into 2 visits as the live measles might confuse the body and it’s better to wait for a week before taking Hepatitis and another booster. (NOTE that MMR needs 2 doses – one month apart. And Hepatitis needs 3 doses – the last to be taken 6 months from the first)
All this while I’ve been preparing for those requirements, I hadn’t found a place to stay when I arrive in Boston. And it’s very stressful- at least to me. The moving out of Singapore is also another big headache as I have excess luggage and need to find some kind souls to help me carry them over.
Though I had booked the airticket to NYC and registered for 3 courses in Fall and I asked my friend in NYC to get ready to show me to Boston. . .
... ,
I am no longer sure about Emerson being an ideal school. I decided to take more time to explore alternatives. I don't have the answer now but I hope to find one very soon.
posted by linktwice @ 7:55 PM
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