Advice for UPCAT takers, and what to do once admitted to UP

Published August 29, 2015 11:37am

Thousands of graduating high school students are expected to troop to campuses of the University of the Philippines nationwide on Sunday to take the competitive University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT).

Last year, more than 80,000 students took the five-hour UPCAT.

In 2013, less than 15 percent of the more than 82,000 applicants passed the UPCAT.

What does it take to pass the UPCAT? And, once admitted to the university, what should one expect?

GMA News Online tapped some newsmakers in different fields and compiled their anecdotes and tips below.

TAKING THE UPCAT

Senator Loren Legarda
BA Broadcast Communications, cum laude, 1981

It was my dream to study in UP. For that to happen, I knew I had to prepare well to pass the UPCAT. I had sleepless nights as I studied what I could. Even if I studied hard, I was nervous before and after the test. But when the results came out and saw my name on the list, I was ecstatic! I was one of the very few from my high school batch in Assumption Convent who made it to UP Diliman.

My advice to UPCAT takers: sleep early the night before exam day, eat well, arrive way before schedule, study what you can, bring a bottle of water and a banana.

Ivan Mayrina, GMA News anchor

BA Communication Research

I remember being very relaxed when I took the UPCAT back in the early 90s (never mind the exact year:-)) It felt like a field trip, since we had to make an early morning trip from Angeles City to UP Diliman. I didnt have big expectations then. I just trusted what I knew, trusted my preparations for the exam, but to keep me from being complacent, I also reminded myself that I'd be competing with limited UP slots with the best of the best.

So when I got the letter that I made the cut in my first choice of course, it was nothing short of winning a world championship. :-)

Mike Sandejas, film director, college lecturer

BA Organizational Communication, 1994

On the day of my UPCAT, I found myself in the same room as this pretty girl I had a big crush on. I remember being very distracted by her presence. I left that room thinking that I would not be accepted. Funny that I was the one went UP and she didn't.

Years later, I heard she got accepted into a quota course back then but wasn't allowed to enroll by her parents who feared she might become a rebel insurgent. I still have a crush on her until now.

Frances Rivera, NBC anchor

BA Journalism

My mom and many relatives are UP alums, so in her view, I HAD to go, no ifs ands or buts and that was that!

Since I was fresh off of US standardized test taking, like the SATs, I was still in “test mode” so I didn’t really do too much to prepare.

Since I was living in the US, I had to fly to the Philippines to fulfill portions of my UP application process. I remember being so overwhelmed with culture shock being in this “new” country, that I was oblivious to the whole admissions process.

After finding out I passed it, I was numb to the idea of actually going to UP for college. And that that point, I still was in denial about that as my reality. In my mind then, surely circumstances would change or my mom would change her mind. They and she did not. I graduated high school in Dallas, Texas in May, and just a week later, I was sitting in a UP classroom—a foreigner in more ways than one—new to the idea of college and University life and new to the culture of the Philippines.

Comelec Commissioner Luie Tito Guia

Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, 1986

Bachelor of Laws, 1991

Having to take the UPCAT already gave me an awesome feeling. Passing it surprised me.

(My most memorable memory as a UP student is) being tear gassed in Mendiola. I ran and accidentally hid in a small shop along the way and soaked my hanky in a puddle to ease the effect of the tear gas. Being an Isko was never complete without these types of experiences.

LIFE AS ISKO, ISKA

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr.

BA Political Science, UP Diliman 1993

Bachelor of Laws, 1998

This happened during the first day of school when I was a freshman. The classroom for my elective course in political science at the Palma Hall Annex Building was full but there was an empty seat beside me. A very beautiful girl entered the room late and she sat beside me. She asked questions but I pretended to ignore her.

At the end of the class, we were divided into groups and she was part of another group. I asked one of my group mates (who later became my best friend in college), to ask her to transfer to our group. To his surprise, she immediately said yes. I didn’t know she had a crush on me.

One month later, we became boyfriend and girlfriend. After 10 years, we got married.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat

BA Journalism, UP Diliman, 1988

I joined the mock Miss Mass Comm pageant and placed first runner-up to Ogie Alcasid. I [won] Miss Wit pero when he (Ogie) sang in the talent portion, talo na ako.

I also had the opportunity to watch the championship game between FEU and UP [in 1986], and even cheered and heckled from the bleachers. We won! After that, wala na, puro talo.

Marikina City Rep. Romero Federico “Miro” Quimbo

BA History, UP Diliman 1991

Bachelor of Laws, 1996

The best yet cheapest campus food is found in Diliman. After our PE classes, I remember trooping to Area 1 carinderias for [their viands] with unlimited rice. The cook literally had to serve us tutong (burnt rice) to make us leave eventually.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon

BA Development Studies, UP Manila 2006

Juris Doctor, 2011

I met my wife on the first day of school in UP Manila. We’ve been together since freshman year and got married on our 10th year. [Based on my experience], I guess I can say that in UP, #mayforever.

Jorenz Tañada, former deputy commissioner, Bureau of Customs

Bachelor of Laws, 1996

The TBA classroom on my class schedule. I was new in UP and I made the mistake of asking where this particular room was. Ayun. I was made fun of by some upperclassmen. They were girls and so, eventually, they told me what it really meant—the room assignment was "to be announced."

—With reports from Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez, Xianne Arcangel, Norman Bordadora, Rose-An Jessica Dioquino, Rie Takumi/KG/RSJ, GMA News

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