NationStates Jolt Archive

This is the time of year when high school seniors that have applied to colleges are either getting thier acceptance letters or rejection letters. (I'm still waiting on some of mine.)
I was wondering if some people could tell me stories of thier college admisions process. What they got into, what they didn't get into, how they chose.

Ah, college. I behaved very oddly there. :)

Ah, college. I behaved very oddly there. :)

Most likely you behaved like everyone else there?

Ah, college. I behaved very oddly there. :)

Oddly? Should I be getting nervous?

This is the time of year when high school seniors that have applied to colleges are either getting thier acceptance letters or rejection letters. (I'm still waiting on some of mine.)
I was wondering if some people could tell me stories of thier college admisions process. What they got into, what they didn't get into, how they chose.

What I did was:

1 - Annoy the principle of your high school and get suspended.
2 - Pass your final exams.
3 - Randomly choose a college.
4 - Apply.
5 - Get accepted.
6 - Start college.

That's pretty much what my last year in high school was like.

What I did was:

1 - Annoy the principle of your high school and get suspended.
2 - Pass your final exams.
3 - Randomly choose a college.
4 - Apply.
5 - Get accepted.
6 - Start college.

That's pretty much what my last year in high school was like.
Mine was very similar, except for number 1.:p

I would strongly suggest the stick-a-pin-somewhere-on-a-map-of-the-country approach. It gave me the best three years of my life!

Most likely you behaved like everyone else there?

That wouldn't be odd then, would it? :D

Mine was very similar, except for number 1.:p

I would strongly suggest the stick-a-pin-somewhere-on-a-map-of-the-country approach. It gave me the best three years of my life!

Is the admissions process different in Great Britain compared to the U.S. (I always wondered that.)

Oddly? Should I be getting nervous?

No. I'm no longer in college. It's safe. Well, safer.

That wouldn't be odd then, would it? :D

To you or me and everyone around us it wouldn't. But to the outside world it would.

No. I'm no longer in college. It's safe. Well, safer.
Its not you I'm worried about. It's me. What type of oddly are you talking about?

To you or me and everyone around us it wouldn't. But to the outside world it would.

A valid point. :)

As long as you don't follow my course of action -- I neglected my scholarship essays for most of the course-specific Arts schools I applied to, I only applied to one college close to home, I ended up in top third of my class but my GPA was still only a 3.2.....worst of all, though, was that though I got accepted to several out-of-state schools well known for their Fine Arts programs, my parents still insisted that three hours away was quite enough, thank you, and I could go to the state university.

Jerks.

Is the admissions process different in Great Britain compared to the U.S. (I always wondered that.)
No idea, to be honest - I don't know what it's like in the US.

Here we choose up to six institutions and apply through a central admissions board. When you get your offers back you can choose two to accept places from - one as a 'firm' choice, where you'll definately go if you get your grades, and one as an 'insurance' choice; this would be a uni that offered you a place but required lower grades as conditions of entry, and so you go there if you don't get the grades for your firm choice.

If you don't make the grade of either, you go through clearing, which is essentially a process of contacting the colleges for spare places and saying 'I've got these grades, will you take me for this course?'

That's how it was when I did it anyway; it might have all changed now.

A valid point. :)

I know. I'm experiencing it at this very moment.

I applied, got accepted then got drunk. I recommend this method.

Its not you I'm worried about. It's me. What type of oddly are you talking about?
Don't worry Goofballitis is a rare yet entertaining disease.

Its not you I'm worried about. It's me. What type of oddly are you talking about?

People left hogtied and naked at various places on campus.

Dorm rooms filled floor-to-ceiling with foam peanuts.

Underwear thievery.

Drunk livestock.

Manure bombs.

Frozen mattresses.

Strange dildos and other sex toys in rooms when parents come visiting.

Bedsheets sewn together.

Shrinkwrapped cars.

You know; Performance art. :)

I only applied to one school and got into that one school cuz it was the one i wanted. I thought i never would, thought. I had to answer six essays, all a paragraph long, a recorded audition (i was a trumpet major, not anymore, though); it took forever, but i finally got in!

OK, so I did the "small liberal arts school" circuit, and these schools are pretty similar at the top academic quality level--so basically, I would have been happy at any of them.
So I chose based on which one had the best food.
Seriously, if you have to eat the same stuff for four years, it damn well better be edible. And it worked out well--I love my college and it loves me and we're very happy together.

I never "applied" in the traditional sense.

The summer before my junior year in high school, I took a college calculus course and got an A. That fall, I took calculus II in the evening and received an A in that, too.

That year, I became increasingly disgusted with my high school. I also had a relationship that ended badly: not the "normal" bad end to a relationship, but rather a situation in which the girl stalked and then tried to kill me.

I had to get out.

So, I went down to the admissions office of the small liberal arts college (Moravian College: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) where I had taken classes, and asked if there was any way I could be taken as a full-time student for the Fall. Given my performance in college classes, and my high SAT scores (1550, back when the max was 1600), they agreed.

I dropped out of high school and started college. I never have gotten a high school diploma or GED.

Interestingly, I also never applied for my Master's degree.

After graduating college in 2 1/2 years with degrees in mathematics and philosophy, I messed around for about a year and a half in odd jobs... by December 2002, I had decided to apply for graduate school, but it was mostly too late.

Then on December 15 (I remember the day because it was also my birthday), a professor from nearby Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA) called my house and explained that he had read something I'd written over a year before: a letter sent to the campus email network at Moravian, in which I had referred to some little-known doctrine of Thomas Jefferson. Rick Matthews, being an expert on Jefferson, had gotten wind of it and thought "either you're really smart, or you've read my book" -- either one of which would be good (as it happened, I had not read his book).

So, a Teaching Assistant had suddenly left, and they had no one to fill the position for the following Spring. A free Masters degree? Hell yeah! A lot better than waiting tables, anyway.

So, I got a Masters degree in political science.

Now, the first time I've ever had to do a formal application process was in getting to my Ph.D. program in political science at Rutgers University. And I was pretty sure about this from the start...

See, Rick was good friends with the late Carey McWilliams, as well as Dennis Bathory, the Graduate Vice-Chair in Rutgers' department. Plus, another of my professors from Lehigh had just graduated from Rutgers... so between their recommendations, I was practically a shoe-in. (In fact, Dennis apparently told my other professor Brian that he was not confident Rutgers could "get me.")

I also applied to Princeton, Cornell, and Johns-Hopkins. I got in to Princeton with a great deal, but there was no one there I really wanted to work with... I also got into Cornell, but with a crappy financial aid package: what we call a "work but don't eat" fellowship that covered tuition, but not room and board. I did not get into Hopkins.

Rutgers had several people I wanted to work with... one of whom, the aforementioned Professor McWilliams, has unfortunately died since then. They also offered me a fellowship package that is rather good (although still less than Princeton's). I get free tuition, plus $15,000 per year stipend. If I teach, I get an additional $2,700 per course. So far I have taught two classes.

snip

Thats a good story.

Ah, college. I behaved very oddly there. :)
odd for you, or odd for "normal" people?
and how do you freeze a mattress?:confused:

anyway, I went with the "apply, get in, get drunk" method too. Seems to be the most common.

No. I'm no longer in college. It's safe. Well, safer.
Is that where you developed your love of mud?

That's how it was when I did it anyway; it might have all changed now.

No, that's still how it is (the exception being if you get an unconditional offer and take it as your firm choice, when you don't get an insurance choice)

I half-applied to each Rice and Randolph-Macon.

Rice got fed up with me, but RM was impressed...so I've got a pretty scholarship to RM, and it's close enough to home to visit on holidays, and far away enough to not have them come visit me randomly, and I can still get some very pretty scholarships from other sources.

But that's a task for this week and next weekend. This weekend...Geo(logy) midterm...it's stupid.

I've got a pretty scholarship to RM

Congratulations.

Randolph-Macon is my dad's alma mater.

No idea, to be honest - I don't know what it's like in the US.

Here we choose up to six institutions and apply through a central admissions board. When you get your offers back you can choose two to accept places from - one as a 'firm' choice, where you'll definately go if you get your grades, and one as an 'insurance' choice; this would be a uni that offered you a place but required lower grades as conditions of entry, and so you go there if you don't get the grades for your firm choice.

If you don't make the grade of either, you go through clearing, which is essentially a process of contacting the colleges for spare places and saying 'I've got these grades, will you take me for this course?'

That's how it was when I did it anyway; it might have all changed now.

Wow, that is diffrent. In the U.S. there is not an admissions board. There is a common application, but not all colleges use it. Also, you can apply to as many colleges as you want but, its cost about $50 to apply. Plus, their is not "firm or "insurance" choices.

Wow, that is diffrent. In the U.S. there is not an admissions board. There is a common application, but not all colleges use it. Also, you can apply to as many colleges as you want but, its cost about $50 to apply. Plus, their is not "firm or "insurance" choices.

So how does it work over there, then? What criteria do they use to decide if you get in or not?

Over here, most people don't have any actual exam results when they apply. Not A-Levels, anyway. The high school provides predicted grades in whatever A-level subjects you're taking, and a reference written by someone at the school. Then the applicant sends a personal statement, which basically lists extra-curricular activities and other stuff relevant to the application.

So how does it work over there, then? What criteria do they use to decide if you get in or not?

Over here, most people don't have any actual exam results when they apply. Not A-Levels, anyway. The high school provides predicted grades in whatever A-level subjects you're taking, and a reference written by someone at the school. Then the applicant sends a personal statement, which basically lists extra-curricular activities and other stuff relevant to the application.

For each college it's diffrent but most of them look at your transcrip, what classes your currently taking, letters of reccomendation (usually two), a list of extracurricular activities, SAT (a standardized test) scores, and an essay of some sort.

Also, I have no clue what an A-level class is. i can only guess it's like Ap, where you can get college credit.

Also, I have no clue what an A-level class is. i can only guess it's like Ap, where you can get college credit.

Nope. A-Levels constitute the last two years of high school (age 16 to 18). Technically, the first year is (normally) AS Level, but AS levels really aren't worth the paper they're written on.

Most people take three of four, but some do more, and most degree courses specify a few you have to have taken (like, to do Maths at Uni, you'd need a maths A Level) Once you're in a university, though, they don't count towards anything there.

Nope. A-Levels constitute the last two years of high school (age 16 to 18). Technically, the first year is (normally) AS Level, but AS levels really aren't worth the paper they're written on.

Most people take three of four, but some do more, and most degree courses specify a few you have to have taken (like, to do Maths at Uni, you'd need a maths A Level) Once you're in a university, though, they don't count towards anything there.

Ah, ok, we just call those classes. Most colleges don't require you to take specific classes in high school (except the standard 4yrs of math, 4yrs of english, 3yrs of science, 3yrs of history, yrs of langauge but, even those are flexible) unless your going to a special school, like an art school.

I was wondering if some people could tell me stories of thier college admisions process. What they got into, what they didn't get into, how they chose.

How Dissonant Cognition planned for college:


Spend high school reflecting on how stupid high school is.
Just barely avoid failing a class critical to graduation from high school
Spend a year at the local community college studying computer science
Spend another year at the local community college studying computer science
Spend a summer learning the art and science of human cadaveric specimen preparation. Contemplate switching major to biology.
Spend yet another year at the local community college studying computer science
Apply to two state University system campuses in political science
Spend one more year at local community college completing remaining general education/transfer requirements and taking fun classes to occupy time.
Try to keep up with the endless streams of paperwork
Get accepted to both University campuses
Choose campus closest to home
Begin attending proper University, studying political science, 4 years after leaving high school


Behold, the ultra-extended 8 year plan (4 in high school, 4 making up for high school). Seems to have worked OK for me, but it's still probably best avoided. :D

i got accepted into KU wihtout them even seeing my transcript. it was pretty bad ass. probably because of my SAT.

anyways, rock chalk jayhawk.

i got accepted into KU wihtout them even seeing my transcript. it was pretty bad ass. probably because of my SAT.

anyways, rock chalk jayhawk.
KU?

If you don't already know you're going to an ivy league while your in high school... you're probably goinig to either
A) an overpriced private
B) decent or crappy state school

I wasn't going to Havard so I picked something at random in a place I wanted to live in- Drexel in Philadelphia. What was the original topic about anyway? If you were a douche and an idiot in high school, you're not going anywhere any time soon; if you did fine, just apply to a handful and someone will take you.

:sniper:

sniper

Seriously, man, what is that doing there?

Seriously, man, what is that doing there?

If anyone says "sniping", I'll be so mad...

KU?
University of Kansas. The centre of the earth as recorded by Google Earth. If you watched college basketball most years, you'd have known that. Not this year, though, 'cause they played total shite....

odd for you, or odd for "normal" people?
and how do you freeze a mattress?:confused:

anyway, I went with the "apply, get in, get drunk" method too. Seems to be the most common.

Odd for me is normal for normal people. :p

The best way to freeze a mattress is to soak it with a gardenhose and/or buckets and leave it outside in wintertime for several days. This is more or less a weekend project. I have also successfully frozen a mattress with the aid of a walk-in freezer.

Simonist']University of Kansas. The centre of the earth as recorded by Google Earth. If you watched college basketball most years, you'd have known that. Not this year, though, 'cause they played total shite....
Then wouldn't the letters bu UK? Oh, wait... ok I get it now.

Is that where you developed your love of mud?

No. I pretty much always had that. I even had to be rescued by firefighters from a mudpit when I was sixteen. Made the local papers. My mother wasn't amused. :p

Then wouldn't the letters bu UK? Oh, wait... ok I get it now.
I'm going to the UK for college...



:]


Any recommendations for this year's crop of juniors?

Then wouldn't the letters bu UK? Oh, wait... ok I get it now.
I think UK was taken by University of Kentucky, I could be wrong....but nobody around here really calls it Kansas University. All the shirts and school seals and such say "University of Kansas" and we just don't question it.

'Course, around Lawrence (where the school is) I've never really paid attention, I'm only ever there to shop anyway. I couldn't really care much less about KU as a school, it's kinda like.....the western campus of my high school....EVERYBODY went there :rolleyes:

Simonist']I think UK was taken by University of Kentucky, I could be wrong....but nobody around here really calls it Kansas University. All the shirts and school seals and such say "University of Kansas" and we just don't question it.

'Course, around Lawrence (where the school is) I've never really paid attention, I'm only ever there to shop anyway. I couldn't really care much less about KU as a school, it's kinda like.....the western campus of my high school....EVERYBODY went there :rolleyes:

Thats one of the reasons I don't want to go to UMD or UMBC.

Let me see, mine was:

Look at private college in Washington, look at a state college in Alaska, find out that both are too damn expensive. Fight (literally) guidance office for application to local state university. Fight (literally) for recomendation letter from said guidance office who finally did so under protest, get acepted to the University of Nevada, Reno.

Spend 5 years as an undergraduate then get kidnapped into the graduate program with the school paying for all your classes. Emerge with an MS two years later, then leave for Japan.

It worked for me. Still wish that the guidance staff at my high school was still there so I could go and rub my MS in their faces after they told me that an AA from the local community college was the highest that I would probably achive.

I researched various schools in California, including the one I'd wanted to go to since I was ten or so (don't ask me why, because I don't really know). I only visited two of the schools I applied to. I applied early decision to my first choice, and sent in my apps at the same time to the other seven or eight schools I was applying to. Got word in December that I had been accepted ED to my first choice, so I withdrew my applications from the other schools.

Congratulations.

Randolph-Macon is my dad's alma mater.
Cool. Care to tell me what it's like?

Does anyone have any horror stories?

Cool. Care to tell me what it's like?
Well, considering that when he attended it was all male... It's probably changed quite a bit. Also, he tells me that it was very much "in the middle of nowhere" at the time, so they had to entertain themselves... and while I have only visited once, several years ago, I seem to recall that there is somewhat more development these days.

He did tell me some interesting stories... Look for a fountain in a central square sort of area. One of his friends got drunk and naked and jumped in that fountain... and had to run from security, only to discover that he was running in the wrong direction...

Ah, now that just reminds me of my own college days!

:D

Well, considering that when he attended it was all male... It's probably changed quite a bit. Also, he tells me that it was very much "in the middle of nowhere" at the time, so they had to entertain themselves... and while I have only visited once, several years ago, I seem to recall that there is somewhat more development these days.

He did tell me some interesting stories... Look for a fountain in a central square sort of area. One of his friends got drunk and naked and jumped in that fountain... and had to run from security, only to discover that he was running in the wrong direction...

Ah, now that just reminds me of my own college days!

:D
Okay. I'll look for that fountain.

Also in Britain we are not in debt for the rest of our lives afterwards, although its not completely free anymore either, mores the pity.

For each college it's diffrent but most of them look at your transcrip, what classes your currently taking, letters of reccomendation (usually two), a list of extracurricular activities, SAT (a standardized test) scores, and an essay of some sort.

Also, I have no clue what an A-level class is. i can only guess it's like Ap, where you can get college credit.
Thats something I've always wondered about. Whats the fuzz with the extracurricular activities about?

Also in Britain we are not in debt for the rest of our lives afterwards, although its not completely free anymore either, mores the pity.
I think the Brits still pay less then the Dutch do.

Thats something I've always wondered about. Whats the fuzz with the extracurricular activities about?
They're fun, and show the colleges what you can offer them besides academic excellence.

They're fun, and show the colleges what you can offer them besides academic excellence.
Fun? *sceptical look* What about them is fun?

Is the admissions process different in Great Britain compared to the U.S. (I always wondered that.)

We have exams at 16 called GCSE's. The average is about nine or ten, in different seperate subjects like Geography, Maths, English. As soon as you hit 16, education becomes optional. Usually, most people stay on to what we call college, or Sixth Form, and do exams called A-Levels. The average number of full A-Levels someone takes up is three. In the last year of this college, we apply to the Universities we want to get drunk at for the courses we want to piss about in, and hope that the Uni's get back in touch to say that they'll accept you, having looked at your record of qualifications. Mostly, offers are conditional, in the sense that "You can come to our University if you get two B's and a C," although nowadays the admissions process works on a points system, with 80 points for a C, and 120 points for an A, etc. Sometimes, if you're female and you wear a low cut top, or in extreme cases, if the University thinks you're an awesome person, you get an unconditional offer, which basically means "You can flunk and we'll still let you come." Then you pick a top choice, and a backup choice, and send it off to the Uni application boffins, which is a national service. After the exams, you read a bit of paper your next three years depend on and depending whether you're drinking to celebrate or to drown your sorrows that evening, pack.

I think the Brits still pay less then the Dutch do.

Most of us apply for a student loan for tuition fees, which is £3000. We only pay it back when we start earning £15,000+ a year, and it goes out as taxes, so it's not a "out of the savings account" thing.

Most of us apply for a student loan for tuition fees, which is £3000. We only pay it back when we start earning £15,000+ a year, and it goes out as taxes, so it's not a "out of the savings account" thing.
3000 pounds? Sorry. I was wrong. You pay more. I read somewhere it was like 1100 euros a year.

Fun? *sceptical look* What about them is fun?
You get to meet and hang out with people who share your same interests, share your ideas with them (like in a creative type club), prepare to compete (sports, competitive activities, like debate), or (OMG), do something constructive (an environmental club, or RARELY a student gov't organization).

I've done multiple activities over my H.S. tenure (dunno what that translates to in Britain, although I should), and I would have gone insane without them, even though my courseload's been killer at times.

You get to meet and hang out with people who share your same interests, share your ideas with them (like in a creative type club), prepare to compete (sports, competitive activities, like debate), or (OMG), do something constructive (an environmental club, or RARELY a student gov't organization).

I've done multiple activities over my H.S. tenure (dunno what that translates to in Britain, although I should), and I would have gone insane without them, even though my courseload's been killer at times.

Same here. Wrestling, Drama Club and Student COuncil helped to shape me into the man I am today. :D

3000 pounds? Sorry. I was wrong. You pay more. I read somewhere it was like 1100 euros a year.
Yeah, well US colleges cost upwards of 30,000$ USD a year.

Same here. Wrestling, Drama Club and Student COuncil helped to shape me into the man I am today. :D
I had Debate, Quiz Bowl/Brain Busters, Theater (Stage Crew -- Lights/Props), Writer's Group, a touch of Anime Club, one season of Marching Band, and now I'm trying Envirothon for kicks.

Yay! I got anouther acceptance letter today! Score so far: 4-0 Only one more school to go.

Anyways, in Great Britain, when do kids apply to College? Most people in the U.S. are getting acceptance letters around this time.

Yay! I got anouther acceptance letter today! Score so far: 4-0 Only one more school to go.

Hey, congrats! :) Is your first choice one of the ones you've been accepted to already?

Hey, congrats! :) Is your first choice one of the ones you've been accepted to already?
I really don't have a first choice. The colleges I applied to are divided in to groups, safeties and schools I want to go to. I've gotten into my safeties but I'm still waiting for GW.

Yeah, well US colleges cost upwards of 30,000$ USD a year.

Very few of them, though. The ones designed for rich preppy kids.

Very few of them, though. The ones designed for rich preppy kids.

It's baiscly any private college. It doesn't have to be rich or preppy.

I really don't have a first choice. The colleges I applied to are divided in to groups, safeties and schools I want to go to. I've gotten into my safeties but I'm still waiting for GW.

*nods* I know someone that goes to GW, she loves it. Hope you get an acceptance letter soon!

Very few of them, though. The ones designed for rich preppy kids.

There are actually quite a few that fall under that category. Mine did, and isn't designed for rich preppy kids.

*nods* I know someone that goes to GW, she loves it. Hope you get an acceptance letter soon!
It's so expensive though. The sad thing is, at one point in my life, I could of gone there for free. (My mother used to work there.)

It's baiscly any private college. It doesn't have to be rich or preppy.

Actually, most private schools are well below 30k.

No matter. Private school is expensive, and you could probably get an equivalent education for far less money at a public school.

There are actually quite a few that fall under that category. Mine did, and isn't designed for rich preppy kids.

According to Collegeboard.com, there are only 106 private schools in the United States that have out of state tuition and fee expenses that are over 30,000$.

According to Collegeboard.com, there are only 106 private schools in the United States that have out of state tuition and fee expenses that are over 30,000$.
Most of the good ones. Reed charges almost 40k a year. UVA 30k. Harvard 32k. Hell, the good schools that don't charge obscene amounts of money for out of staters are the doublehandful that have gigantic endowments *cough*olin*cough* and give free rides to their students. Good luck getting in.

Most of the good ones. Reed charges almost 40k a year. UVA 30k. Harvard 32k. Hell, the good schools that don't charge obscene amounts of money for out of staters are the doublehandful that have gigantic endowments *cough*olin*cough* and give free rides to their students. Good luck getting in.

You can get a quality education at any state college or university. It's not worth it to pay three times as much for "prestige" or any crap like that.

You can get a quality education at any state college or university. It's not worth it to pay three times as much for "prestige" or any crap like that.
Yes, but if everyone went to public schools, they'd be overcrowded.
Also, many people don't want to go to the same school that 25% of thier graduating class is going to.

Yes, but if everyone went to public schools, they'd be overcrowded.
Also, many people don't want to go to the same school that 25% of thier graduating class is going to.
Public schools would be able to expand if more people paid tuition there instead of (substanicailly more) to private schools.

You can get a quality education at any state college or university. It's not worth it to pay three times as much for "prestige" or any crap like that.

Of course you can. I applied to several states schools and probably would have been happy at any of them and received a good education. However, I also think that I was much happier at the private school I attended, even though it was much more expensive. I was more than willing to pay the extra money to get an intimate setting, small classes, faculty at the tops of their fields, state of the art facilities, etc. I know it's not worth it for everyone, but it was certainly worth it for me.

Of course you can. I applied to several states schools and probably would have been happy at any of them and received a good education. However, I also think that I was much happier at the private school I attended, even though it was much more expensive. I was more than willing to pay the extra money to get an intimate setting, small classes, faculty at the tops of their fields, state of the art facilities, etc. I know it's not worth it for everyone, but it was certainly worth it for me.

State schools have some pretty good playtoys too. My school has a cyclotron. Florida has a Nuclear Reactor.

State schools have some pretty good playtoys too. My school has a cyclotron. Florida has a Nuclear Reactor.

Sweet. :) You have to admit though, the average American state school probably doesn't have anything nearly as cool...

State schools have some pretty good playtoys too. My school has a cyclotron. Florida has a Nuclear Reactor.
Actually, most larger schools have the toys. However, toys don't matter much when you want to into the social sciences.

Actually, most larger schools have the toys. However, toys don't matter much when you want to into the social sciences.

If you want into the social sciences, you need a graduate degree.

If you want into the social sciences, you need a graduate degree.
But you need an undergraduate degree before you get a graduate degree. Doesn't have to be in the same excat subject though.