Please give us a brief introduction of yourself, the school you currently go to, and your major (area of study) in college.
My name is Tiffany Tsou and I’m currently studying at UC Berkeley. I’ve been in DIS since Grade 5 and graduated in 2016. My major is intended business or economics.
How does college life compare with your initial expectations of it?
At college, I experienced much more freedom than I originally expected. In fact, it’s so free I often have trouble[…] deciding […] what to do. Hearing from my families and friends, I expected college to be much more tiresome compared to high school [; h]owever, I think it all depends on the major and career path one is pursuing, as well as [one’s] management [of time].
What is the best part/worst part of college life?
The best part of college is the chance to explore all the different things around you. There are much more opportunities and resources out there than you can imagine. In such a big environment, you will meet people who have extremely different [,yet brilliant,] ideas from you. The bad part of college is that, at first, you [may] find it hard to find a place you feel belonged to. Being away from a place that I am used to [sometimes causes me to] panic and feel lost… I believe things [will] eventually get better as time [goes] by.
How has your high school education affect your life in college?
To be honest, my high school education has helped me a lot in college. I often hear that DIS has [a heavier] workload than other schools [and that] we also [have] to take more mandatory subjects; [this is a reason] I found it easier to get used to the workload in college. The coursework I took [in high school] also helped me. For instance, the math content for my current math course covers many things [I had learnt] from AP Calculus. For my English class, I have to write papers [that are] similar to [the ones I had to write in] Research Method and Senior Project. [With] such experiences, I have a [good] direction of what to do in my class.
What advice or word of encouragement would you like to give our current Dominican students regarding their preparation for college?
Enjoy high school as much as you can and cherish all the moments! Although [I] have always been eager to go to college[…], I miss high school very much now that I am in college. It [was] also easier to make close and long lasting friendship in high school [due to our] smaller class sizes. Even when we are far from Taiwan, those friends will be the ones who can support you and help you when you are overseas. Do not worry [if] you have not decided on your major or have not planned a career path. You will encounter […] new things in college that will reshape your perception and help you realize what you are […] interested in. Remember to join [as many] clubs and events as possible, because those are the places where you can meet new people! Also, consider the community and the environment of different colleges when deciding on which one to attend.
What’s a random fact about your school?
All the restaurants around UC Berkeley’s campus are amazing! There is boba and popcorn chicken everywhere. [Also], there’s a hill in campus that will help you achieve a 4.0 GPA if you roll down from it (I haven’t tried though, and I already had my midterms :P) [Finally], I really miss DIS very much and all the people I know there!
