I think I've decided what classes I'm taking next semester.

[jedusor]

U.S. History Since 1865: MWF 10-10:50
Spectrum: MWF 12-12:50
Statistics: TuTh 11-12:15
Human Lifespan Development: TuTh 12:30-2:30
Honors seminar (topic: health care): Th 5:30-7:20pm
Karate II: MTh 8-8:50pm

I thought about taking Art Fundamentals instead of Spectrum, but Craig needs me and Sharai next semester, or this paper (which is already barely holding together at this point) will completely fall apart. I don't have a degree-related reason to take history, because I've already taken one history class, but I'm very cross with myself for not knowing more about the subject and this seems like a good way to rectify that. Statistics and Human Lifespan Development are both for my eventual psych degree- the latter sounds awesome, the former boring but necessary if I want to go into research. And I'm doing honors again, and of course karate.

So that's 15 units, which is one more than I'm taking now, but I think I can handle it, because this semester is (academically) going so well: I've gotten 24/25 and 47/50 on my speeches so far, and 100% on the midterm; we've only had one test in political science, but I got 103% on that, so I'm not worried; I entered my sex test scores last night, and got an average of 93% over the seven tests, so I should be okay in that class as long as I don't butcher the presentations; honors is going great; karate is going great; and Craig gave me an A even when I didn't turn in a single story for the second half of the semester this summer, so I think I'm good there no matter how I do.

I've decided to completely abandon the idea of finishing my AA degree. I could do it in the spring, but I'd have to take a math class I don't want to take, a practically useless CSIS class (from what I've heard, it's basically an exhaustive Microsoft Works tutorial), and a five-unit physical science class (and they're not offering physical geography, which is the only physical science course I really want to take besides chemistry, and I can't take chemistry and math simultaneously without exploding). It just sounds like an exhausting, difficult semester without any real reward, because none of the colleges I've asked care whether transfer applicants have an AA degree.

As far as colleges themselves go, the ones to which I'm currently planning to apply are, in rough order of preference: Bard, Amherst, Harvard, Reed, Sarah Lawrence, and Brandeis. I may be heading out to St. Louis at some point in the near future to look at Washington, because Bill's boss (a respected scientist) recommended its honors program. I don't think I'm going to apply to any schools in California, unfortunately; UCSC isn't worth the application requirements and Stanford, while obviously a great school, just didn't connect with me. Besides, I really think I want to go to school on the East Coast. I'm not even sure about Reed anymore, though I still like it enough to apply.

Question: is it ethical/legal/otherwise OK to designate every school I apply to as my "first choice"?

Comments

[saffroncisco.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'm going to apply to any schools in California

BOOOO! But, I understand.

Question: is it ethical/legal/otherwise OK to designate every school I apply to as my "first choice"?

I wouldn't, no, unless you have a strong justification that you are prepared to back up why doing so is appropriate. Colleges don't expect to be your first choice -- each one knows that it'll only be the first choice for a small number of applicants. But if the school that you designate as your first choice accepts you, they are expecting you to enroll.

Have you looked into early admission? (Is it too late for that this year?) I applied to Oberlin early admission, got accepted in December, and then didn't have to apply to any other schools -- it was lovely. Applying early admission carries a lot of weight with colleges. You can only apply early admission to one, and so by definition it's the one that's your first choice. Admissions committees feel that, if you like them that much, they are inclined to like you that much.

[jedusor.livejournal.com]

Well, I assume that they'll be more likely to admit people who list them as their first choice, and I'm already slightly pessimistic about my chances of being admitted anywhere I really want to go.

As a transfer applicant, early admission is sadly not available to me.

[kaberett.livejournal.com]

Aww - Chemistry and Maths is fun!

Not least 'coz the one supports the other...

... but then, I might be considered Odd :)

Best of luck, you. I don't really know how the system works so I can't offer much constructive opinion, but even to a layman it looks like you're doing pretty spectacularly.

I always knew you were wonderful. ;)

[kaberett.livejournal.com]

Oh - and as for marking all colleges as "first choices", I gather that just means that section of the form tends to get disregarded in the UK, at least when applying to sixth form colleges...

I'll be able to tell you more about university applications over here once we get into spring (*eep*!).

[jedusor.livejournal.com]

But how would they know that you marked it on the other applications? Is there one general application for all the colleges, or something?

[jedusor.livejournal.com]

You Brits are so weird, pluralizing "math" :P I'm not terribly good at mathematical stuff, and I don't think I'd be able to cope with the work necessary to succeed in two classes of that type at the same time (plus other classes, plus work, plus extracurriculars, plus family obligations). I admire those who are able to perform such a feat, though, i.e. you ^_^

I always knew you were wonderful. ;)

This from the chick who, from what I gather, smashed records in the British equivalent of the SATs?

[ennienyc.livejournal.com]

Don't tell them all they're your "first choice" but there's nothing wrong with saying what you especially like about each school.

My brother-in-law's nephew was wait-listed at Brown and Penn and wrote both schools an impassioned letter about why he really really wanted to go there. Unfortunately for him, admissions reps for both schools happened to be together on a shuttle bus going to a college fair and mentioned the letters they'd gotten from an exceptionally enthusiastic student. They compared notes and soon realized they were talking about the same student. Instant rejection. He went to U. of Virginia and was happy there.

Keep us posted on what's going on in your application process and results. Those are all great schools.

[jedusor.livejournal.com]

Well, there's a box you have to check. I think it's "first choice," "second choice," "third choice," and "other."

That story made me giggle out loud :)