blog.zgraggen.name  All-day insanity or I have a blog too!

Today I received the news of my acceptance to the MS (Master of Science) program in Computer Science at the New York University. Once more I feel happy and satisfied! Would it not be great to be a part of the “big apple” for some time of my life? I have heard a lot of NY and it would be a very interesting place to do my graduate study if I had not already made up my mind:
I will go for the Master of Software Engineering at the Carnegie Mellon University.

But after the refusal from Harvard University it is pleasant to receive another acceptance. With this second admission I know that it was not pure luck or misinterpretation that I got into the MSE Program.

These two words were written on the UPS envelop which I received last Friday. Hmm, it must be kind of important, because I have never seen this note on an envelop before. No wonder I got a little exited and nervous. What else could it be than a letter from a University I applied for? Then I discovered that the sender is the Carnegie Mellon University.

The letter says that I have been accepted for the Master of Software Engineering (MSE) program at Carnegie Mellon University.

Yes that is definitely an extremely urgent message!

Yiiihaaa, USA I am coming…

My first Post in 2008… and it is all about things from 2007 which I should have blogged long ago To be a bit more specific: The following five topics had all their on post but were never published. (By that I mean: I didn’t finish these posts)

Score and score reports

Score
When I received the Results from my tests I was surprised. I did
very well in the TOEFL but not so good in the GRE.
The overall score in the iBT TOEFL is 110 out of 120.
And in the GRE I have 320 in the Verbal section, 710 in the Math section and 3.0 in Analytical writing.

Report of the Score
To send a TOEFL score report to a University is very easy. You have to log in on a Website and select the University and can get charged by credit card. Sounds quite easy…
But even it is the same Company ETS the score reports for the GRE are different. There is no cool web interface. No you request reports by letter/fax or phone. The fastest way
is by phone. So I tried that one. I thought there would be a person taking my order but instead it was a computer program which asks for all the codes by entering the numbers
on the phone. After each number the number was read and I had to confirm it by pressing 1. So I put the speaker on and sat in front of my telephone listening and entering numbers for about 5min.
Thanks to the newest Technologies

Ärzte concert

In December I went to the Ärzte concert and went afterwards home with mixed feeling. First the positive side. The Band did a very good show and surprised me that they even can change the instruments. Bela played guitar and Farin played the drums. (For all real Ärzte fans: that was new for me… sorry ) Of course they did not miss one chance to make Swiss jokes! In the stadium there was e very good vibe and it was a lot of fun to be there.
On the other hand there is also a downside. The average age of the audience was very low. I even wondered why the parents allow a kid in this age to stay out at a Wednesday for so long!

But anyway I did like it and would go again!

Two more movies seen

It is longer ago but I still want to mention it
If seen Ratatouille which is a sweet and entertaining movie.

The other Movie was “Lissi und der wilde Kaiser”. I did not see any advertising for this movie but when I heard that this is the new movie from Bulli I definitely wanted to see it. In my opinion it is very easy to describe the Film or better said who will like this movie: Everybody who liked “Der Schuh des Manitu” and “(T)raumschiff Periode 1″. One little thing I have to mention. It is a comic movie but you can exactly recognize the mimic from bull in the face of the comic figure.

We Will Rock You

I took one of the last possibillities to see the musical “We Will Rock You”. And I think it is worth every penny. Of course I do not have to mention that I like the Queen’s I think it is a must for all Queen fans. The story is about the future where rock music is prohibited and there is a small group who fight against the system. Besides the music they told a lot of jokes referring to. The actor showed a solid performance and the whole evening was very entertaining.

SBB for fare dodger

First I was surprised when I saw the following screen on the SBB time table. But now I am sure this must be a train for “fare dodgers”

For a long time I did not post anything. After returning from the Ooplsa I was quite busy on studying for the TOEFL and the GRE. Here I will present the experience I made.

Two hours waiting time to take the TOEFL

(9.11.07)
I took the TOEFL at the Flying Teachers in Zurich. The first thing I had to do after arriving was to fill out a policy form of the ETS. By fill out I mean I had to write by hand the given text word by word. On this way they make you read the policy. After that they found out, that I was not on the list to take the test. Good for me that I brought the confirmation e-mail including the registration number. They immediately phoned to Holland (European ETS aid centre) to solve the problem. I arrived 1h in advance but even then I could start at one o’clock. After a while the professor came to me and told me that I should accept the possibility that I might not take the exam and that I should come again at the 5. Dez (one month later). I was upset about his statement and told him that this is not acceptable for my and I really want to do the exam today. He told me that he will see what is possible but he will not promise anything. After nearly two and a half hours of uncertainty if I was allowed to start the test. No wonder I had to calm down first and after four more hours I was really exhausted and relieved that it was over.

A Long way to go

(27.11.07)
When I registered for the GRE I found out that there are only two test location near my home. One in Geneva and another one in Munich. Surprise, surprise I choose Geneva. After three and a half hours train ride I arrived at Geneva airport. The test would take place at the National University of Geneva which is located aside the runway. As tip for prospective test takers this University is in the ICC Building in the Basement. But do not expect more then a corridor with several classrooms
I arrived again one hour in advance but the door of the Prometric centre was still closed. So I went to the reception to ask for further information. The Lady told me, that I was at the right place and I had to wait there. After 15 minutes of waiting I was accompanied by a German woman who wanted to take the PMP (some process management test). At least I was not the only test taker anymore. 20 Minutes before the test begin I walk to the reception again and asked the Lady if she could call the Prometric centre for information. Her answer: “Wait there I am sure somebody will come”. (Some times I wished I had this unconcern)
Ten minutes before the test another lady opened the door and let us in. She explained that 30 minutes only count if many people come and she was surprised that we did not mind to start earlier. Of course before I could start I had to fill out this silly policy form again.
But the best part came after that. I was asked to bring the University codes (ETS specific codes to identify the Universities and Departments) with me to enter where my test reports should be sent to. You will not believe it, but the test program did not accept codes instead I had to choose the state than the University and afterwards the department. As Swiss guy no wonder I did not have a clue in which states my Universities were. Or at least no for all. So I am hopping I sent the report to the right ones.

After another three and a half hours train ride I arrived at home. Happy that all these exams are over.