Good Try

And similarly to choosing a college, I’ve somewhat put myself in a big fish little pond situation. And while it MAY aid in upper mobility, I think I may be limited in growth by the limitations of others. I’m not sure yet but I’m interested to find out.

There is one more week before finals. This will be the end of my first year at the Academy. It's been a wild year. I've made some great friends, and it'll suck to see them go for the summer. I've gotten so many opportunities I wouldn't have otherwise ever gotten. I'm considering schools most people only dream of. But, it hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows. I fucked up, I'm single for the first time in years, I'm constantly surrounding by significantly older guys, I've broken my 4.0 GPA, I've taken physics, I've gained weight and broken out. But despite all that, it's been worth it. The summer is going to be a nice break but it's also going to be lonely.

I went back to my hometown to pick up some documents from my previous teacher and I had to wait for him in his classroom. Students, my age, we're learning things I learned in seventh grade. Sometimes I forget calculus isn't the norm.

It's hard to imagine your life going to college so young. It's hard to imagine if you will identify more as a high school or more as a college student. I mean, it's like college. You wake up at a reasonable time and you go to class with other college students. You have a meal plan, a dorm room, and you are responsible for getting your on textbooks. On the other hand, you have a curfew and you spend most of your spare time in the same building, with the same people- like you would in high school. There are local high school kids who take college classes, too, but they are most definitely high schoolers. So, where do you fall in all this? I'm sixteen and I go to college, at the end of the day I go to a dorm with a bunch of other sixteen year olds. I feel the responsibility and the work load of a college student, but I think I still feel like a high schooler. When I can go to Kroger without fear of getting caught, maybe then I'll feel more like a college student. But for now, college at sixteen feels like a harder (but better) high school.

Disclaimer: I did get into both, but it's hard to guarantee anything. These are some tips I have that I believe helped me get accepted. First: Always keep in mind these are both STEM programs. Keep that in mind when scheduling your sophomore classes (if you're a freshman). Keep that in mind when filling out your application and writing your essays. And, especially keep that in mind during your interview, if you make it that far. Many people try to get in because prior smart students from their school went, not because they want to focus on STEM. Second: If you're a freshman or lower, take STEM classes. The more, the better. Of the 14 classes I took my freshmen and sophomore year, 9 were STEM related. If you're a sophomore with an average amount of STEM classes, join a STEM-related club: HOSA, SkillsUSA, Academic Team, etc. If your school lacks those, say that in your essays or during your interview; say you wish they had more STEM opportunities. Third: If you're from a school where no one has previously gone to either, then you have an advantage. You can't really control it, but it helps. Forth: Both academies are looking for serious students who want to pursue STEM careers. So, you want to stand out. Really show that you’re actually passionate (don’t use the word passion, explain instead) about STEM (whether you are or not) and you don’t just want to go because you think it’s cool and you're maybe-thinking about becoming a doctor. Ask someone else to proofread it and ask, “what do I like, based off this?”- if something STEM related isn’t the first thing they say, revise. Fifth: If you get an interview, great! For your interview, sit on the edge of your chair and upright- this shows interest. Prepare your answers, look up common college entrance questions and practice. The questions they both asked were very similar to the essay questions, so reread over your essays just before your interview. And wear something profressional and conservative to your interview, no one is ever offended by conservative dress so it's safe. At the interviews, I saw many girls in gorgeous dresses. While I thought they looked great, it conveyed a less serious about studying tone than it did serious about fashion (fashion is great, don't get me wrong). So, wearing that fabulous pink dress may make you look hella, it may not be a great idea. Think more Hillary Clinton when dressing; though, it's not so much what you wear as it is what you say that's important. These, of course, being general guidelines and you shouldn't wear something that makes you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious. Hope this helps! Good luck and ask questions if you're curious about anything concerning the application!