Hi Everybody,
I want to congratulate everyone who got acceptance this year. Its a great achievement and its now time to celebrate. To all those who are waiting to hear from colleges or starting with either the examinations process or application process, Good Luck.
Someone recently said to me Perseverance is a virtue in Gods eye. I think I am a good example of this. I came to USA 6 years ago after getting married. I had cleared my Part I that time and got 86. It was in the old pattern. I didnt have too much knowledge of the system here and how it worked, neither did I have any friends, seniors or juniors who came to US and went through the same process. I also at that time had no knowledge of Sdn. Anyway, I applied and interviewed at BU and USC. BU kept me on wait list. In that time period I came in contact with other students sailing in the same boat and also sdn. After months of waiting to hear from BU, some of the students as well as faculty members suggested that I should retake my part I, in new pattern. I once again studied for it and gave the exam. To my horror my score came down to 83(in new pattern). In all this time period I was doing observer ships at different offices. So hopefully I was adding something to my CV. Its tough to go through the process of giving exam once, let alone twice but I had no choice but to give it the third time. I applied each year hoping that maybe I will get an interview call from somewhere, but to my dismay I didnt. After preparing for months I gave my part I third time and got a score of 84. That time I decided that I had to go ahead and give my part II as well. I gave that and scored 75. But at least I passed the second exam without failing. No body was passing the second exam so I was happy with my achievement. In that time period I started working as a dental assistant and that gave a boost to my CV and my confidence of knowing my subject well. I also got my mark sheet from college re-evaluated, which came back with a higher score from before. I had to re give my TOEFL as it had expired. So all in all the boat started moving ahead. And working as an assistant gave me an insight to the work pattern of this country as well as how to talk and other finer nuances of the system.
I interviewed in two colleges in this years application cycle and got accepted recently in NYUCD. I think the only thing that mattered in the end was that I kept fighting for what I really wanted in life. I know that I am good at my work and I enjoy only this profession and this is what I have always wanted to do, and I went after it. A lot of people told me to do different courses and change profession but I always believed that I will get in. I just needed a break through. I did attend a course in UCLA and other continuing education courses in different college but I never lost sight of my ultimate goal.
I would also like to add that there is always room for improvement, in your application, in your study pattern, in your LORs, in your presentation at the time of the interview.
In the end I would say that there should always be hope against hope. Self doubt will not make you gain anything and if you really want something, go face it with a brave heart and smiling face. I think positive attitude and optimism will take you places. When the going get tough, the tough gets going.
This is my story and I hope it helps.
Good Luck and Warm Regards !!!
Ud80