Battle of the Universities: UP with Achi Abbie Lim and Achi Sophie Chu

What is the best and worst thing about your university?

Achi Abbie: There are so many great things about UP, but I think the best part is the people! Every conversation I’ve had with teammates, classmates, teachers, and friends was such an eye-opener to different cultures, religions, family setups, etc. Things that I considered normal, I’ve found, weren’t so normal at all, and things I never imagined were what others considered normal! I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing, but UP does have the tendency to push people, sometimes to the point of breaking. But it’s in this breaking that people are also able to figure out what their priorities are -- to identify whether their identity is truly rooted in Christ.

Achi Sophie: I think that the best and worst thing about my university is the pursuit of honor and excellence. As Achi Abbie said in her interview, UP does have the tendency to push people, to really test and stretch them to their fullest potential. UP is undoubtedly difficult and will really challenge you to do your best, to be the best for your country and its people.

Achi Sophie: However, sometimes, the toxic UP culture and the expectations to always measure up to a certain unspoken standard may discourage students. Given the opportunity to have your tuition covered by the government, much is also expected of the students. But I think it’s in the moments of hardship and failure that we can truly pick ourselves up, see how far we can go, and grow to be the best versions of ourselves.

How would you describe your university’s culture?

Achi Sophie: I study at the University of the Philippines - Manila, so my experience in UPM may differ from that of students on other UP campuses. But generally, I think that studying at UP is a very eye-opening experience, making you more socially aware of your community and the larger country that you serve. Coming from a smaller school community, you can meet the most amazing people from all over the Philippines who were raised in different backgrounds, who came from science high schools, and who may share different beliefs and opinions. However, UPM also gave me the opportunity to meet many peers who share the same passions and interests as I do, who also intend to take up medicine or pursue a career in the health sciences. Given the shared life goals and interests, you can connect at a deeper level, bonding through shared classes, crazy exams, or even failures and setbacks.

Achi Abbie: The UP culture is analogous to sports. I’m having flashbacks to high school varsity practices when our coach would have us do intense warmups from caterpillar or 5-2-2 to long court drills followed by a lot of skills trainings and culminating with conditioning. It was difficult and tiring at the time, and I definitely didn’t love my coaches for it at first. Then we get to our games where we see all the training pay off from skills developed to mental toughness and everything in between! Of course it also doesn’t hurt to be in the 5th set of crucial matches and see your opponents tired while your whole team isn’t, thanks to the difficult conditioning your coaches had you do. UP is the same way! Your professors aren’t gonna let you off easy. But they aren’t doing it to give you a difficult time. More often than not, I’ve found UP professors to be compassionate people who challenge students to prepare them for what they will face outside university. What’s great is that they don’t just train you academically. They help you develop your mental stamina, determination, and other skills as well.

Achi Sophie: Surrounded by so many talented individuals in a new environment, it’s really easy to feel inferior and like you don’t belong in the university. Classes are challenging, both academically and emotionally, testing your mental strength in the face of inevitable failure, setbacks, and emotionally-trying situations. But, it’s also important to see it as an opportunity to learn from those around you, push yourself beyond what you thought you could do, and make friends who will journey with you as you grow.

Achi Abbie: In high school, the difficult trainings that we had was one of the things that really bonded our team. We learned that we could trust each other through thick and thin. Similarly, in UP, you’ll find a great group of friends whether in organizations, your course, or random classes. And while they may not become your closest friends, you know that you can reach out to them anytime. UP is tough, but it’s tough with a heart. You’ll learn invaluable lessons that will help you throughout life and you’ll meet great people who, even while you’re in UP, you can turn to if you’re having a hard time.

What is the most important thing a student in your university must possess?

Achi Abbie Lim: It’s such a cliché, but I genuinely think the answer is grit. If you don’t have this entering the university, you’ll definitely leave with it. There will be times when you fail, as in fall-flat-on-your-face fail (and not necessarily academically either); there will be times when you feel like you aren’t good enough to be in UP, whether it’s because everyone seems to be doing more or doing better than you or anything else.

Achi Sophie: I think that the most important thing UP students should possess is grit. They say that getting into UP is difficult, but the real challenge starts as you try to stay in the university. One way or another, students are met with academic challenges, and often failure. It’s a tough adjustment from a comfortable and safe Senior High School environment to the jarring realities of college, where one needs to study over 70 hours a week just to barely pass an exam.

Achi Abbie Lim: There will be times when you’re frustrated because you weren’t as naturally gifted at your course as you thought you would be or because no matter how hard you work, you can’t seem to get good grades. Bottom line, the going will get tough at some point. When that point arrives, when your passion for what you do starts to flicker, will you be able to double down, grind it out, and continue to work towards your goal? That’s grit! And that’s something UP will develop in students.

Achi Sophie: Professors don’t baby their students and definitely don’t take it easy on them because they want to push their students to the standards they know they can reach. They do their best to equip students with the skills they need both inside and outside the classroom, encouraging independence, interpersonal skills, and critical thinking. The first year of college was a big adjustment for me, especially when it came to tests. Never before in my life have I studied so hard only to feel so clueless while taking exams, already accepting the failing mark I knew I would be getting. But that year taught me how to study independently, to pick myself up after setbacks, to ask for help from my professors and classmates when I need it, and most importantly to learn from my (many) mistakes. It’s this quality of taking failure in stride, but never settling for it, allowing yourself to learn from your mistakes and do better next time. It’s rejecting mediocrity in pursuit of the greater goal, persevering through any and every challenge along the way. More than sheer talent or natural genius, I think that grit is the most important thing a UP student can possess, because grit can turn unmet potential into tangible success both in the classroom and in the real world. The knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses, the ability to healthily cope with failure, and the familiarity with working harder than everyone else are lessons that can easily translate into real-world settings and set you up for success.

What are some of the expectations your university has for applying students?

Achi Sophie: I was a part of the last batch that took the UPCAT before the lockdown happened, so my application process may be very different from yours. Do consult the official UP website or your guidance counselor for the forms and documents you need for your application. The application process may be a little overwhelming, so go through it with friends so that you can ask each other questions and help each other along the way! Make sure to account for the time it takes to apply for your Form 2A (filled out by the high school) to meet the deadline. Last year, they extended the deadline to accommodate some students, but I am not sure if they’ll do so again this year.

Achi Abbie Lim: Applicants get their UP results based on their UPG (UPCAT Grade). The higher your UPG, the higher you’re ranked, and the better your chances of getting accepted! I’m not completely sure how the UPG is computed now since students don’t take the UPCAT, but when we took the UPCAT in 2016, the biggest expectation the university had was probably excellence in your craft. For most courses, this implied academic excellence. There were courses, though (like music and theater), where you can enter through a talent test.

Achi Sophie: UP asks for your Grades 8-11 credentials to calculate a university predicted grade (UPG) that will be used to determine your admission to your chosen course and campus. This UPG is also very important when applying for reconsideration of admission. Because so many students apply every year, admission is quite competitive, so do not apply to UP campuses or courses that you do not have any intention of studying in, even as alternate choices. Slots are limited, and once you have been admitted to a specific course or campus, it might be very difficult to shift and transfer. So do pray hard about what courses and campuses to apply to.

Achi Abbie: The application form we filled out didn’t ask for extracurricular activities, academic competitions won, or anything like that. The understanding was that if you were good at academic competitions, it should translate into a high UPCAT score. Your high school grades are also factored in because of the importance put on sustained excellence. Having said that, it’s not impossible to get into UP if your high school grades are low. I know people who didn’t do too well in high school, but did great in UP! It’ll be more challenging for sure, but not impossible. Usually they spent a good chunk of their time every day preparing for the UPCAT. That’s grit at work even before entering UP!

What are some words of advice you would give to MGCNL students planning to apply to your university?

Achi Sophie: UP loves talking about its rankings in world charts, but I think that the best university is the university that God picks for you. Based on your course, location, interests, and many other factors, one university might appeal to you more than the others. Still, don’t be scared to apply just because admissions are competitive. Applications are free anyways, so don’t miss the opportunity because you never know what amazing things God can do through you!

Achi Abbie Lim:

• Pray about it

The decision of what course to choose and what college to pick is a very nerve wracking one. There are so many different options and it can be pretty hard to determine which is the best fit for you. Given this, my first piece of advice to anyone would be to pray about this transition in your life -- and start praying about it early. Ask God to show you what He wants you to take. It’s really tough to have complete peace about your final decision otherwise.

I would also advise any graduating student to start looking for a small group. College isn’t going to be easy, regardless of where you study, so having a group you can journey with, a group to keep you in check, and a group to keep you sane will make a huge difference.

• It’s intimidating, but don’t be scared

UP is intimidating, but there’s no need to be scared. People will help you along the way, you just need to ask for it. You’ll learn so much, both inside and outside the classroom. You’ll have so many great experiences. And, you’ll meet some really great people. It’ll be really hard for you to regret the decision of choosing UP -- I know I don’t. So, especially when you’re applying, don’t count yourself out before the results are released. Rooting for all of you!

• Reach out to people

College courses can be a little tricky. Universities advertise them to high school students, you read about them online, but you don’t really get a good grasp of what the work is like unless you talk to people. So, before you finalize what courses you’re writing down, do your due diligence. Ask someone who has taken that course (preferable recently) what it’s all about. What kind of training should you expect to get? Is there anything you should start doing as early as now? Is there a better course to take for the career you hope to have?

Beyond that, it would also be good to talk to someone who has your dream career (preferably someone with at least 2 years of experience). Get their opinion on what course will prepare you best. Ask them what you should set out to learn outside of just the course.

• Embrace being the small fish in a big pond

Even in high school, I’ve always learned as much from the questions my classmates asked as from what my teachers taught. So I learned pretty early on that having brilliant classmates was just as important as having brilliant teachers. In fact, this was a large consideration for me when I was choosing my university -- making sure that I would be surrounded by people with intelligent questions.

Having brilliant classmates, being the small fish in the big pond that is UP, that takes some getting used to especially for people who come from small schools. But embrace that opportunity to learn from some of the nation’s best. The UP screening process is a very rigorous one, so approach everyone like they have something to teach you.

One of the smartest people I know said this, “Remember that you don’t have anything to prove. Have a beginner's mindset, don’t be afraid to make mistakes and look stupid, and get used to being the dumbest in the room. It takes the pressure off of yourself and you can focus 100% on learning instead of trying to look like the smartest all the time”

Take it from her, embrace being the small fish in a big pond.

Achi Sophie: UP might seem scary with its admission rates, intense reputation, and crazy student testimonies. But the university might be the best place for you to explore your capabilities, draw closer to God for strength, and see just how far He can take you. Much like any other university, academic success requires a lot of diligence, effort, and grit. Don’t be afraid to be challenged and pushed to your limits. True growth is never comfortable. UP will not be easy, but that is exactly what makes it the most rewarding and life-changing experience, encouraging you to become the best version of yourself for His glory, as iskolar ng bayan para sa bayan.

Tips from Other MGCNL Alumni!

Kim Hao Lin, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: Ask yourself: Am I sure...? HAHA kidding! Definitely pray about it, as Abbie and Amber said, and always seek God’s wisdom and instruction. But also, if you’re not gonna lose too much if you apply, then just go for it! Doing something, failing, but most importantly, learning from it is always better than not taking that first step because you were paralyzed with fear. And this applies not only to applying for college but to life in general :) If you are considering UP, be prepared to be challenged because you will have a hard time. Get used to failure because one way or another, you will fail. Know that UP will try to break you, and maybe it will succeed in doing that, but don’t stay broken. Your experiences should push you to rebuild yourself as a stronger, wiser, and humbler person. Surviving UP, for sure, will take you one step closer to becoming the best version of yourself, ready to face all of life’s challenges. Again, rehashing the advice already given, but at the same time, remember that you can always reach out (like you’re doing now with this project!) and ask for help when you’re having a hard time. Know that you are not alone! Outside of acads, I suggest joining a mentorship group or a discipleship group to provide support and to ground you in your faith while also helping you grow.

Amber Yaokasin, BS Business Administration: Cherish every part of the journey, from the start to the end! Being an iskolar ng bayan is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so make sure to take in every bit of it. Enjoy the good days, feel the bad days, learn from failures, rejoice in successes, marvel in new learnings, treasure friendships, and remember to thank God for each unique day! Have fun! For those planning to apply pa lang, just echoing what Abbie said na pray about it 🙏🏻 hehe the best university is the one that God leads you to!

Achi Abbie Lim: If you do get the honor of becoming a UP Student, make sure to give back to the country that has given us so much. Let’s make a difference and be mga Iskolar ng Bayan, Para sa Bayan!