Posting here to share with others who were deferred in the Restrictive Early Action round what I wrote in the Optional Update Form. Deadline is March 1st guys, and it is not a postmark date!!! Hurry up!

Please list and elaborate upon any major awards or honors for academic or nonacademic achievement you have received since submitting your application.

I recently received the College Values Special Award in National Junior College and included it in the additional information within the Common Application form but did not get the opportunity to elaborate further. Hence I am attaching with this Optional Update Form a write-up detailing the story that led to this award. (Sorry I will not publish this essay here, not yet)

Please indicate any new areas of interest. What new activities (in or outside of school), jobs or hobbies have you been involved in, and what have you learned from your participation?

After returning from Singapore to Malaysia, I took up a sales job to sell a new wireless broadband based on ‘iBurst’ technology which was developed by ArrayComm of the Silicon Valley (iZZi Wireless Broadband). Selling it to customers was a grueling job given the fact that there is an existing established competitor (the national telecommunications company) providing wired broadband nationwide. Furthermore, there were limitations to iZZi’s wireless broadband coverage, as well as a rather burdensome upfront payment upon registration. There were also other mobile network providers offering HSDPA or 3.5G speeds for a much wider coverage, albeit at inferior speeds in many regions. From this job experience I’ve learnt that no matter how good a product or service is, it will have its flaws and drawbacks. No product can please everyone or make everybody happy, especially at the early stages of development. Sales is about highlighting the strengths of the product and maintaining a standard of integrity coupled with a steadfast belief in the product. I learnt to let go of customers whom I cannot please while pursuing other potential ones. I believe that such a mentality is essential in the establishment of a start-up, where version 1.0 may not and will not be perfect. My experience can be summed up in one sentence: Get it going while it is still coming in, and build momentum from there.

Are there unusual circumstances or is there other pertinent information that you think we should be aware of in evaluating your application for admission?

This is definitely not pertinent but I think the Admissions Officers should be aware of this: Stanford is my FIRST CHOICE and I want to spend my next four years there!!! (I just had to say this even if it is not supposed to help at all)

Stanford. The best place for nurturing entrepreneurial innovation.