Today, my daughter, along with her classmates, is submitting her application for the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT). I am sure thousands others out there from Non-Metro Manila schools are doing so too now, the deadline date for submission. Deadline for submission of Metro Manila schools was last June 21. Examination dates are set on August 3 and 4.

As I have mentioned in a previous post, the UPCAT has liberalized its policies as it has opened to all graduating high school students, provided they have never taken the test, and have not taken nor are taking college subjects. No minimum high school average requirement, no specified rank in class. For a P450.00 fee, plus all other requirements such as four 2×2 photos and first  year to third year grades certified by the school head - any graduating high school student can be admitted for the test.

To qualify for admission at UP is perhaps the toughest among all schools in the country. Sometimes too, in order to be admitted, an applicant has to make some wise and smart moves. One’s choices of campus and courses, for instance, can determine whether or not they can be admitted to the University. As naturally, every applicant wishes to enter the Diliman campus, cut off ratings have been set. And as there are also certain courses that are more in demand, same cut off regulation is observed. Hence, it is wise that applicants weigh their chances and consider their academic capabilities to guide them on what campus and course to write down for their choices because these are very important factors that can determine their admission to the State University.

Because of the rigid screening process at the UP, I have warned my daughter not to put all her eggs in one basket. I have advised her to consider other schools. After all, her success in life will not really depend on what school she attended. For in the end, it is not the school but the student’s personal performance that really counts.