<p>H & I were leaving a work-related gathering very late one night last week. We passed a young woman on the corner wearing what may or may not have been a Halloween costume - tiny skirt, very high heels, tight jacket over, well, he’s not sure what. She had on rather a lot of makeup, and perhaps a touch more perfume than my grandmother would have judged appropriate.</p>
<p>We were wondering: Could this be a hook?</p>
<p>Er, I suppose it could have been, but if the adcoms thought they were being fed a line, it might just sink 'er. So, I’d have to say it sounds pretty fishy to me.</p>
<p>But doesn’t everything sound fishy to you, BassDad?</p>
<p>In response to Lafalum: I agree, if they get the binge-drinking out of the way in kindergarten, everything else falls into place. And as you say, they’re going to drink anyway. It’s the “drink your birthday” thing that causes trouble. Who DOESN’T get a horrible stomach ache after five cartons of chocolate milk?</p>
<p>Just getting up to speed here…are we on the Right Path or the Pirate Path?</p>
<p>(and thanks mods, for the resurrection)</p>
<p>Sigh, happy…</p>
<p>Remember the Pirate Code… he who falls behind, is left behind. I assume that he/she who choses the wrong Pathway will likewise be left behind. Or at least not get into Harvard and be forced to clean bathrooms at a fast food restaurant in order to earn a living.</p>
<p>If my sapling was a Pirate for Halloween once, is that a hook? Or only if he had an actual hook as part of the costume?</p>
<p>cottonwood my dear, see posts 41 - 44. (I believe marite had the last word on this question.)*</p>
<p>Meanwhile, does anybody know how to convert S2’s report card to the 4.0 scale? Some charts seem to indicate that “works and plays well with others” would be a 3.95, while others show it as only a 3.93. And does anyone think the comments about nose wiping will show up on his final transcript?</p>
<p>*Yes, this will be on the test. No, you can’t buy the prep book.</p>
<p>I don’t know Harriet, but I read in the paper that some high schools have online grade software that updates GPA and class rank after every single grade is entered. So if junior bombs his physics quiz by getting an 89 - oh the horror - I can immediately jump down his throat because his class rank has dropped from 3rd out of 695 to 4th, and how in the world is he ever going to be Valedictorian at that rate? I think I will call my superintendent and demand that we get this software immediately.</p>
<p>Lafalum, what, your district doesn’t do those updates by cell phone yet? Tsk, tsk.</p>
<p>I receive an immediate text message from my S’s high school if he receives a grade below A- on a quiz.</p>
<p>Same here, momof3sons. And the system simultaneously delivers an electrical shock to S1 via his phone. We find this to be very, very effective.</p>
<p>I mean, we WOULD, if he ever got such a terrible thing as a grade below A-!</p>
<p>oooh, Harriet, I see you are right. About Marite’s posts.</p>
<p>Realize there is a difference between a hook, a tip, a tipping hook, a hooking tip, a hookless tip and a tipless hook. Each is also weighed differently using undiscernable standards, which vary widely by institution.
Legacy and URM status will also factor into it. marite did not address this aspect.</p>
<p>D’s situation was a follows:</p>
<p>playing didgeridoo: not a hook, especially in Australia.
throwing didgeridoo: hook
professional performing: tipping hook
adopted: tip
half Inuit: hookless tip
half polynesian: negated Inuit status; but was then considered as “in hemisphere”, which was a hooking tip as she was became under consideration as being half in the international pool, and half in the Australia/Oceania* pool.
advanced (non culinary)knife skills: sharp tip
religious affiliation (Druid): tipless hook</p>
<p>It all makes sense if you understand the methodology.</p>
<p>*(mythmom, D said to relay that Poseidon says hello.)</p>
<p>Thanks violadad. It’s always great to hear from him. Hi to your D.</p>
<p>I know have a viola player, too. Violin put aside except for blue grass. For “serious” music, it’s going to be viola all the way from now on. Or so he says.</p>
<p>Hey, what’s the matter with my posts, Cottonwood? Which of the 11,000+?:(</p>
<p>Oh, okay. I checked. Violadad has a much better breakdown of the tips, hooks, wiggles, and other things that are sure to induce a breakdown in the applicants and their parents. </p>
<p>“international pool, and half in the Australia/Oceania* pool.”</p>
<p>How about applicants with a swimming pool? Is the brand important?</p>
<p>Marite, the swimming pool is of prime importance. Admission points are awarded based on size, enclosed versus outdoors, heated versus unheated, stock model versus custom designed “one of a kinds”. Attached whirlpools, hottubs, relaxation pools also are considered. Kiddy sized pools in close proximity are a negative. </p>
<p>Number, age and physical stature of pool boys and associated maintenance personnel also may factor in.</p>
<p>Some schools will accept supplemental materials: architectural drawings, commercial quality photographs, aerial views and satellite images. Shots involving suit optional pool parties are always a plus.</p>
<p>What about the secretarial pool? What if DS or DD has part-time employment as part of a secretarial pool? What if DS/DD is a waiter/waitress and gets tips?</p>
<p>I’m sure there are a number of posters that have examined the secretarial pool in great depth over extended time frames. Their observations on the “ins and outs” will be of great interest to many. Perhaps a description of their positions will be forthcoming. I know a number of people that would anxiously await such revelations.</p>
<p>As for waiter/waitress tips, excess above the max student earning protection would be detrimental to aid. While a tip, it is classified in the worthless category.</p>
<p>While I was cleaning off the keyboard after violadad’s last post, I remembered another situation I’d been pondering.</p>
<p>H and I are exploring the possibility of hiring several young actors to portray students at the schools where S1 will be doing overnights later this month. (We also pondered paying actual students to carry out our wishes, but felt this would be less than satisfactory.) </p>
<p>At schools where we want S1 to feel comfortable/interested in attending, they will provide or engineer positive experiences for him. At schools where we would prefer he not attend, they will of course provide negative experiences - on a sliding scale, from mildly offputting to dangerous and/or terrifying, depending on our personal feelings about these schools.</p>
<p>We feel this is entirely appropriate, given that we will pay the eventual tuition bills, and moreover that our opinions matter much more than his, anyway.</p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>Harriet, your plan has merit and it comes at a most opportune time.</p>
<p>Given the current financial crisis, I’m sure you and hubby want to get as much bang for your buck as possible. Of course your opinions/choices are paramount to the lowly student who but has to live with the consequences. </p>
<p>I’d suggest that you may have a good bargaining chip in hiring actor types. Arts programs are the first to get cut, and it’s a highly competitive field. So much talent is unemployed. You may well find a very high level of talent that would be willing to barter services for food; no need to outlay cash here.</p>
<p>I’d also recommend that you develop a thick layer of insulation between yourselves and this plan. It would pay to think like a high level corporate type or investment banker, and devise a scheme that would protect your and H from culpability should junior ever find out. Important insofar as he may make rash decisions about your fate later in life if you are forced to provide him power of attorney to handle your affairs down the road.</p>
<p>It pays to think long term here. Good luck.</p>