MY UPCAT STORY
I grew up with grand stories about U.P. My father went to UP, Law ’60. My grandfather went to U.P., Law ’35. Two of my cousins went to U.P. also. I grew up knowing in my heart of hearts that
I am going to U.P. also.
I admit that my preparation to go to U.P. started when I was
still in elementary. I studied hard
because I was told that grades from first year high school to third year high
school forms part of the criteria for admission to the prestigious state
university.
Studying high school in Miriam College was quite
tough. I was not an honors class student
but I did my best to be able to have really good grades. And in a school where everyone was making good
grades it was a tad difficult. But I was
lucky.
It was in the first month of my senior year that everyone in
my class started to prepare for U.P. My
own preparations was to attend an UPCAT preparation class at the BRAINS review
school in T. Morato. I felt that my
entire future depended on it so I had to make good at this chance.
Taking exams is not foreign to me. I grew up practically taking every exam my
Mom could get me to take. Pisay. AUL
Science Oriented. And a host of other
schools and scholarship exams. So, I
prepared as I always do.
When I got my UPCAT permit, I immediately did an ocular of
the place where I will take the exam. I
think it was at the Malcolm Hall. I
planned the things that I would bring with me.
A pencil, an eraser, a fan, a jacket, two sandwiches, candies, and a
water bottle.
I came early on that day in August. I forgot the exact date but it was in the
first weekend. Our driver took me to U.P. I did not want to contend with the stresses of commuting.
Then, after getting comfortable in the examination room, I
calmed myself, said a prayer, submitted everything to the will of God and
started the test.
It was difficult, but not as I expected. I think what made it really difficult was the
time pressure. But if there is one thing
that I always do during exams that I still did even during the Bar, is to use
the entire time allotted to the test. If
I ended early, I review my answers and did not submit the answer sheet until I
was told to do so.
I went home quite pleased with myself. I believe that I was able to give it a good
shot. I might not have aced it but I
knew I gave enough correct answers to pass the test.
Now, the wait.
I was not inclined to take any other college entrance exam
tests. But, our guidance counsellor
encouraged us to take the test of other schools. I took the Ateneo College Entrance Test
(ACET), but I knew I did not do very well.
I also took the DLSU entrance exam, which I literally slept
through. In La Salle, I got admitted to
their LiaCom Honors Class. I also took
the Mapua Institute of Technology entrance exam and got admitted to their
Computer Engineering program. I applied
in UST but was not able to take the exam because I received the U.P. results
even before the exam date.
U.P. might be the first to give their college entrance test,
but they were also the last to give their results. It came after the NCEE results where I got
99+. Not a big deal really when there
were 10 of us who were 99+ in class and the entire honors class in Miriam got a
99++. I did not even know there was a
99++ score in the NCEEs.
When I got admitted in U.P. I really felt that my future is
bright. Success was just there for the
taking. Now, it would just be up to me
to botch it. The ball is now in my
court.
Now, 23 years after that exam, life may not be as what I had
expected, but nevertheless my U.P. education opened doors for me that otherwise
would have been shut. Yes, I am proud to
be a U.P. Alumna and I will prepare my kids to be admitted too. I am lucky I got into the premier university,
but what is luck but preparation and opportunity meeting together. This post may be late for those who already
took the exam, but for those in their senior year in high school, I hope this
sharing somehow inspires you to prepare and do well. And don’t forget that everything is easy and
possible with prayers and God’s guidance.
