Credulous Hope

Cynicism up ahead.

Shortly after my accept, I got added to one of the WhatsApp groups consisting of 100+ potential applicants in just biology related courses in the States. A new member is added everyday. I cannot imagine the total number of students in all groups spanning all courses.

It surprises me seeing how many students apply each year with less than satisfactory profiles. In a rush to leave things here, largely due to frustration and possible envy at seeing others get accepts, students are willing to spend thousand of bucks and precious time writing essays, trying to prove themselves to be unique in a bid to make up for a poor profile just to get quickly to the American Dream. Except that the dream has turned a nightmare now, with the whole political scene that has made it so uncertain for everyone. It is ever so necessary now to be in the creme de la creme in your field.

I silently read the conversations that take place; rants about accepts being delayed, shallow reassurances that a TOEFL score in the 80s will assure you a place, worries about loans and funding and ultimately, securing the dream job in the USA plus, advice on all these matters. Who gave these fellows the right to so confidently dish out pathetic advice? Not everyone is skeptical; the gullible ones who would follow the crowd will lap up any kind of advice that comes their way. Ugh.

I strongly feel it is NOT going to workout this way. Just about anybody CANNOT get accepted. Yes, there are stories of students with poor profiles getting into good universities, but that's equivalent to saying "Bill Gates dropped out of college and became a billionaire, so if I do the same, it will work out." Does not work that way, nope. Logic 101. Yet, the applicants are in the thousands.

I do not get why taking a gap year to work on yourself is seen as a taboo. At least by doing this you can add to your experiences and have something to polish your essays and CV up, improving your chances at getting accepted. Who knows, it might open better doors for you too.

I feel sorry for those extremely hopeful aspirants who would apply to just about any university because "US jaana hai yaar, bas, funding ke saath" without much motivation or drive, without taking the efforts of curating yourself to be the best somewhere. Free money for the universities though who have a ball of a time sending out rejects to maintain their acceptance rates.

TL;DR If you are applying abroad for higher studies, please evaluate yourself, do not be hasty, hone your skills and then score.