The yellow brick road.

Some useful links I want to keep tabs on, but my web browser is exploding in the past 72 hours of research:
1. 5 steps to grad school in USA
2. Grad schools for PR in USA
3. Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange
4. Forums (Lowyat.com, Recom.org)
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - US News, GRE testing
6. Applying to Grad School (US News)
7. GradSchools.com. PHDs.org
8. 10 steps for thinking about graduate school
9. Interesting article to note about teaching in academia later
10. Stanford tips on grad school prep
11. Top universities in USA: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/spp+50
12. Times Higher Education ranking 
13. Sample Master's degree thesis from MIT: download PDF files here 
14. How to study in the States

Undertaking this chapter in my education, I think it will be interesting to document the process on this blog so I can look back on it later.

Currently, I'm feeling terrified. The more information I unearth, the more unprepared I feel. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for graduate studies in USA, statement of purpose, essays or videos I may have to prepare for application, letters of reference, possibly TOEFL or IELTS exam, eventual possible admission interviews, campus tours, figuring out what I really want to do a Master's degree (and thesis) in - and even finding good universities that offer a Master's degree in mass comm/communication/journalism/public relations/advertising - it's all so daunting. The thought of relocating to a completely different country - whether it's USA or Australia - also makes me feel all the more unprepared. I've also missed the deadline for Fall 2012 intake, which means I either have to rush applications - but I can't rush myself for standardized testing or I'll be so unprepared - and am starting to get the feeling that this "grad school process" takes at least a year just preparing to apply!

With this I realise that I wasted the last 6 months of my life just chilling after finishing my final exams, thinking I had all the time in the world to "go do Master's in USA next year" - procrastinating what was difficult and daunting and not wanting to face the biggest challenge in my life so far. But there's no use in regretting what mistakes I've made in the past, I can only look forward and try not to make the same mistake again.

I take comfort in my parents supporting me despite totally screwing up the last half a year accomplishing nothing - haha trust me, I got the scolding I deserved - and knowing that if I really can only start my postgrad studies in August 2013, I can make the most of the next 18 months I have in Malaysia to gain some invaluable working experience and become more independent.

It's hard to stay positive when I'm feeling stressed out but I know it's of the utmost importance to learn to handle this pressure and take it one step at a time.