Male and Female Imponderables--The way of the wise
POSTED BY: Tristan
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 8, 2006 13:04
VIEWED: 19130
PAGE 8 of 13
grrrr... teachdaire, you're mean.
This whole thing is rediculous. I'm gonna spend around 20% of my life in school... urgh. Seems like only a little while ago that my list of reasons why I sucked was because I was leaving my summer homework too late, and becuase I hadnt done much writing this summer, and I should do something more constructive than a play. Now, it's great, it's like I'm behind on everything even though the school year hasnt started, and.... bleh. Stupid advisor people. They're like vultures, picking the flesh off the dead, rotting carcass that is the college admissions system.
"But, these strong women characters?"
"Why aren't you asking 100 other guys why they don't write strong women characters?" -Joss Whedon
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*hugs Whitefall* *hands Whitefall a mug of hot chocolate* *rubs back*
Okay Whitefall, breathe deep....and exhale slowly. 
As a teacher who works with high-schoolers, here are some thoughts/suggestions:
College application isn't the busiest time of life. It is a busy time, since you need to have a lot of things done if you plan/want to go to college/university next school year. *raises hand* Wait, stop, don't freak yet. First you need to decide if you are going to college/university or junior college/community college. (The requirements differ greatly.)
Now, if you are definitely going to college/university next year:
1) decide on a handful of schools you like based on your current idea of what you want to be when you're a "grown up"
2) find out what their requirements for entry are (what does your G.P.A. have to look like, what standardized test they prefer and what the minimum scores are, when they start accepting applications, etc.)
3) talk to your career counselor/school counselor to help you figure out what you do have and what you need to do
4) start recording deadlines on your calendar (you might want to pad the dates a bit earlier so you can make sure test applications get there early/on time, and collge applications and essays have some time for tweaking
5) if you need financial aid for college, you should start looking around for scholarships, grants, and loans
You're right, Whitefall, the educational advisor who you and your mom met with is trying to sell you something. Just know that things are not as bad as they seem.
Two websites that I know of that talks about college-prep stuff (and scholarship stuff) is makingitcount.com and fastwebmail.com -- I don't work for them, but I've looked at their stuff before and it might be a start for you.
*hugs Whitefall once more* I realize it's overwhelming, but it's not the end of your life, nor will it kill you if you make mistakes. At the very worst, you might have to spend a semester or a year at a junior/community college (where tuition tends to be much cheaper).
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to the dancing anime cat lady.
Thanks. Needed that. That, and talkin' long n hard about it with my sister (who chose her college on the strength of which one gave her an enormous scholarship, but still) that it isnt as nasty as it seems.
Grr. Stupid sales folk. With their plural 'we' being all inclusive. Eh, I might avail myself of their trade (never before has college advisory sounded so dirty) on the subject of SAT essays (25 minutes is a 
) but other than that, I'm gonna continue on as i've been doing, and if when school rolls around i'm as absurdly busy as I supposedly will be, then so be it. It's not being busy i have a problem with, it's business interfering with my break time, if that makes sense.
Eh, the guy told me some helpful things to know about SATs tho. Namely that my last one (I know i could have done better) could be vastly improved by just buying a book (ie the college board study book) and doing a bunch of their tests. Cause i really didnt study much the first time. So, i'm actually gonna do that. Sounds useful.
Thank you Neko, i do feel better, though i feel like i'm deliberately avoiding some work or something. (I hate this constant "I should be doing something but i'm not" thing. Does that ever go away?) Eh, my grades be... well they arent perfect, but 3.8, well, that's ok, and i got me some AP classes. i'll get in somewhere or rather, I should stop worrying. (That last statement... you guys need to agree with, or i'll flip out again )
"But, these strong women characters?"
"Why aren't you asking 100 other guys why they don't write strong women characters?" -Joss Whedon
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I'm trying to remember what my SAT scores were. I didn't study, either. I know English was very high, math was pretty good, science was good. I did good. I just never ended up using them (yet). I remember thinking the scoring was very odd and I can't remember what it's out of or what I ended up with.
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oh, catch up, meh!
Odsbodskins - you were a total honey, and you were right to act the way you did, and this come from someone who isn't puritanical about casual sex, (i would never do it, but it works for other people) but i get the impression that although it would have helped in the letting off of steam sense, ultimetly it would have made things worse, left you more wound up and confused and set you on a path you didn't want to be on. So... chin up and keep looking, you're a great guy.
Dammit, if only London and Liverpool were closer! 
Whitefall - i too know the way working relationships in theatre usually go, and i've just learned to enjoy whats there when and not need it when it isn't. Post party slumps i think are also chemical, all that adrenaline or happy hormones rushing around your system whilst your there, and then you stop partying and slump.
Try chocolate! that mimics endorphins or something. whatever, it works for me.
also when you get home do something you couldn't do if you had company, and throughly enjoy the alone time.
names - as a Helen, i've only really had one nickname, Hel, which i absolutely hate, mainly 'cause it just sounds crude. of all the possible nicknames i like Nell and Hen the best, but nobody has any imagination, so i've never been called that. bah!
Whitefall again. If it helps, i went through the ucas (brit admissions system) shenanigans, did the junkets, went to the open days, yadda yadda yadda yawn. then chose my actual college on the strength of two paragraphs in their prospcetus. went for the interview, got an unconditional on the strength of that and not my grades, and ended up going to the best college (most respected of its kind) in the uk. And having the time of my bloody life. despite all the emotional crap.
so i'm thinking now, maybe fate has a lot to do with it, and trust that you'll end up, after all the hard work, where you need to be.
on a more practical note, my brother decided, very late on, that he wanted to go into applied biology, so he went in to see the course director, told him that they had places left on their course and that he wouldn't mind one of them, and started the degree two weeks later.
they like to kid you that theres a set system, but the biggest lesson you can learn in life is that humans are inconsistant and anythings possible.
oh! look at all the teachers gasping!
http://www.myspace.com/seryndippyt
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Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
I know English was very high, math was pretty good, science was good. I did good.
Glad to hear you did good.
*I'm not usually a grammar nazi since I make my fair share of mistakes but I was amused at the irony of "I did good" coming right after "I scored well on an english exam"*
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hehe, i'd offer some words of moral support whitefall, but i managed to flunk my way out of pretty much all of that, excellent standard grades (or GCSE's) followed by very mediocre highers, once they started expecting something by way of actual application and hard work. Almost talked my way into an art-history course at st andrews, managed to get the e-mail address of the professor there and made a good impression, but couldn't quite work it with their actual administrative bodies. kinda glad i didn't now, don't think it would've been my scene at all.
but, this probably won't be the most popular of advice with all around you, but if you reach the point of just thinking it's all too much, just hang it, go our, work for a few years, travel some, take some time, then come back to it when it's on your terms and likely to be a whole lot easier to get a handle on ^^
and thanks seryn, s'nice to see so many people so happy to take time and throw some good vibes to someone they barely know, the browncoats, they be a good bunch ^^
(actually in edinburgh, just got a fondness for spending time in london when i can afford to, hope i don't seem as isolated and stand-offish as most londoners, tip to all, ever fancy a giggle at someone else's expense, watch londoners freak out when you smile at them on the tube, some absolutely priceless moments to be had there )
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Heh, I got stuck in "good" mode. Sometimes even I become lazy on the internet. I did, though, I scored 750 something, if I remember correctly. This was a few years ago...
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Hey Oddbodkins - I was lugging a large bag and struggling under the weight of my backpak after 6 months of accumulatin' stuff in the UK and when I got to Earls Court Station this girl who was smashed off her face and slurring her words offered to help and before I could say no she grabbed my bag and ducked through the crowd to the packed lift where I had no choice but to plunge in after her...
I'm pretty sure there are still people in that part of London who would turn and run if they saw me again... flattened quite a few - I did! But that's what you get for being friendly and finding out the the only people who are friendly back are most likely in an 'altered state'... 
Hello GPR!! Glad you're doin' good! I too dun good with English but then my Mum says I were brung up proper!
Damn - got to go to a meeting now... catch you all later... 
Mwaaah - Magda x x x"I love my Captain!"
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Morning, all!
I missed you all this weekend...even though I did drop in twice...ok, so I'm obsessed and get withdrawals if I stay away too long.
Coffee time, and then we get to find out what to do today. Be back shortly!
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