There’s a lot of misconceptions Filipinos have about applying to BYU-Hawaii. As an alumni, I want to paint a better picture of the real process which will hopefully help those who are contemplating about going there.
- Only rich kids get to go to BYUH.
I don’t even know where that idea came from. Maybe because there are certain fees (return airfare, housing, visa, etc.) that need to be settled before students get their supporting documents from the school, but you don’t need to be rich for that. Most Filipino students are actually on IWORK. It’s a scholarship program which helps students finish their degrees by providing them with work and financial loan.
- You have to be a son/daughter of a Bishop, Stake President, or Mission President to be admitted.
Uhmmm… No. You’re the one applying for admission not your parents. It has nothing to do with connections because they look at your school credentials, not your family tree.
- Only smart kids are accepted.
Well, you should at least get good grades and pass your classes. The school requires a GPA of 2.75 or lower (Philippines grading system) to be considered for admission. That does not really require being a genius. Just remember, your IQ score is not asked during the application process.
- Graduating from BYUH means you will easily get a job because you graduated in the US.
Skills and experience are what employers look for. Being a BYUH graduate is not an assurance that you will land a job right away. In fact, most of the schools/companies I’ve applied for in the past have never heard of BYUH. Of course it gets their attention that you graduated in the US, but in the end it all comes down to how well-equipped you are for the job.
- Only returned missionaries can apply.
Hahaha! That’s got to be the funniest one because majority of the friends I met in BYUH have not served missions. A lot of them actually decided to submit their mission application when they were in BYUH, including myself. However, serving a mission does have an advantage when you apply but it does not mean you get accepted just because you served.
- Not all who gets accepted end up going to BYUH.
You need to listen and follow the will of the Lord. I know someone who got accepted to BYUH, but was denied a visa several times. She decided to pursue her degree in Cebu instead where she met her husband. The moral of this story is that going to BYUH does not determine your eternal destiny. Whether you go there or not, you will find happiness as long as you follow the will of the Lord.
Thanks Karen for this brilliant article. It is clear and precise.
I am a convert with non-member parents.
We live simply by means of growing vegetables and rice in
our small farm.
No church leaders at home. They are not members.
I am no genius.
I served an honorable mission.
I was admitted and would start this winter.
I will become part to the IWORK program, meaning I will work part time to sustain my study.
I am after the training and experiences in BYUh. I will treat this one seriously like what I did in the mission field.
I lose confidence once but I saw how God prepares the way till I come this far.
If someone desires to go to BYUh, just go on your knees and make a petition to the Lord and seek his cousel and work it out.
He will send someone for help as what He did to me.
I am happy that you got accepted into BYUH. It will be a great blessing to you and your family. Also, the training and experiences you gain there will help you serve and build the kingdom of our Heavenly Father when you come home. Good luck with everything.
*Only returned missionaries can apply.
– That is a partial fact. Men applying in BYUH who haven’t their served mission are discouraged from applying and that’s basically a nice way of saying you’re denied. They prefer men who have honourably served and is a priority over ones that are not. So basically only male returned missionaries can apply.