<p>@evanb1996: Wow, that is crazy. I was talking to people that applied at my school and they haven’t taken the test yet.</p>
<p>@evan I’m so glad you did so well! You’ve been working at this for so long 
best of luck!</p>
<p>I just have a story from my day at NCSSM and I have really thought about this.</p>
<p>After taking my test, I allegedly (political correctness needed) heard someone behind me say that they were a sure shot in to the school. But what I allegedly heard the kid said before this drove me crazy. He said that someone from his school who was supposed to be applying (guessing #1) got cancer and decided to not take the chance of leaving home and putting on more stress. AND THE KID WAS HAPPY THAT THIS PERSON HAD CANCER, SINCE IT OPENED UP A SPOT FOR HIM! A friend from my school just shook her head and I felt sick to my stomach.</p>
<p>If you were in this situation, how would you have reacted? I really didn’t want to start a commotion right then and there because it would have created chaos. But, if I were to have seen the kid or recognized his voice later (I didn’t see his face), I would’ve confronted him and told him how mean and disgraceful he sounded.</p>
<p>Sent from my Droid Incredible 2</p>
<p>That’s awful. I would have turned around and told him how terrible he sounded. It was after the test, right? But it’s understandable that you didn’t want to mess anything up.</p>
<p>@Studious: It was after the test when everybody was going back into the auditorium.</p>
<p>@evanb1996 & @studios: That is awful. I can’t believe that someone would be happy about that. Just so their chance of being admited to NCSSM would become higher.</p>
<p>@evan</p>
<p>Well I’m going to go ahead and get the dissenting opinion out of the way because without anonymity every ethical discussion more or less coalesces to everyone taking the path of least controversy. </p>
<p>I think this situation is dependent more on one’s own views than the view of the students. If you look at it on a moral level, it seems quite wrong to be happy about someone else’s misfortunes, especially one as debilitating as cancer. But if you look at it rationally, as opposed to emotionally, you can see the basis of his feelings. For one person to succeed, another person must fail. Would it be different if the student said that he was happy the other student flunked their SAT due to lack of studying? Of course. One situation is more or less in control of by the student, while the other they have no control over. If you look at it this way it seems like he is happy because he has a higher chance of succeeding due to divine intervention. If you look at it from a more end basis level, judging only the outcome and not the cause, it is more blurred. In both cases the unfortunate student lost their chance, while the other had an improved chance. It’s in this view that I can at least empathize with the student. If I heard of a top notch student in my district moving for instance, I’d be relieved I wasn’t competing with them. If, instead, I heard of the same student having died in a car accident, my feelings would be a bit different. Fortunately, I am speaking hypothetically, but I’d be lying if I said a small, rational, part of me wouldn’t feel relieved, while at the same time the rest of me is feeling sadness and shame for those thoughts. </p>
<p>Those are just my feelings, but based on your description, it seems like that kid is something else entirely if he’s flaunting it like some kind of personal achievement. I’m not sure how I’d respond in that situation. I can see where he’s coming from even if I don’t agree with him. I’m not going to pretend to be a white knight, saying I would stop him and reprimand him for his actions, but if I ever had to interact with him, that experience would cloud my perception. </p>
<p>This exchange also brings up a better point. You see this person trying to get into the same school which you have a good shot of getting into. Maybe this was just an isolated incident, but could you stand going to a school where people as ruthless as him make up a large percentage of the population? What if these kids populate the higher classes, doing everything they can to take the best opportunities? What if this kid ends up being your roommate, belittling you or the people around you for every fault or shortcoming? Based on my pseudo-research into the atmosphere of NCSSM, students will attest that this chillingly rational mindset makes up at least some of NCSSM’s atmosphere. You express anguish at this one incident, but what if similar things happen to you every day there? There are great things about NCSSM, but every opportunity in the world won’t make up for social and emotional torment. In some aspects, NCSSM isn’t the crown jewel it is made out to be. Don’t think I’m saying to not go to NCSSM, it is a great opportunity, and I have no doubt you’d make the most of it, but you also need to make sure you gain insight from your encounter and don’t necessarily brush it off as a one time thing. There are probably a great deal more many nice, smart, and interesting kids as there are unfeeling sociopaths, but don’t forget you’ll interact with both sides of the spectrum frequently.</p>
<p>Hey guys! I had a quick question for you… is it worth going on to Spanish IV ? If i take Spanish IV, I will have to give up Anatomy in 11th grade(I want to be a premed or something similar) and then AP Psychology senior year (To take AP Spanish) Just wondering on the Pros and Cons of taking Spanish and if it would be worth it… thanks!!</p>
<p>It’s probably best to take a language all four years.</p>
<p>@Quacoh: I actually thought about some of the points that you brought up in your last paragraph. I know that NCSSM is not the best thing since sliced bread or the discovery of fire. I am aware that there are always ‘bad apples in the basket’ who may not be looking for the same things out of a situation. </p>
<p>If I were to encounter a roommate that emotionally, physically, mentally, or verbally tormented me, I would immediately consult the appropriate adults to make a roommate change. I have been taught by my family that somebody should not abuse me in any form or fashion and that I should fight back and take the appropriate measures to get rid of the problem.</p>
<p>I just saw that the boy’s comment was utterly disgraceful and terrible. I have been taught not ‘to wish harm upon to others as you want done to you’ (from the words of my aunt). But, everyone knows that karma is a female dog and comes back and hits hard.</p>
<p>edit: I forgot to mention- I really dont like Spanish… like not-at-all… .and was looking forward to being done with it until I heard it was something that would look good on a college app- 5years of spanish - is this true? (That it looks good…lol)</p>
<p>It doesn’t necessarily ‘look good’. It’s more like expected by top colleges. It’s pretty important to become proficient in another language, and sticking with it shows dedication. Yes, only taking the language fresh and soph year does not ‘look good’. Especially if you haven’t exhausted the course offerings by that time. I know a bunch of people that will finish AP languages soph year, but thats a different story. And quite frankly, I find it a bit of a waste to grind through the first couple year language classes without reaching the top level.</p>
<p>Damn… I never knew taking four years of language was necessary. I was only planning on taking two, but I forced myself to sign up for Spanish 3. No way in hell I’ll be able to survive four years.</p>
<p>Spanish IV really isn’t bad. It’s basically all review before you go to AP. I mean, it’s probably different at all schools, but in my class, I barely have to pay attention at all. I skipped 3, but I’ve heard it’s way harder than 4. Just because you have about 10 new tenses thrown at you.</p>
<p>I don’t know anyone that’s gone up to Spanish 4 at my school, but I too have heard that 3 is hard. I’m just hoping I don’t fail miserably because my Spanish 2 class is basically just a review of Spanish 1. Is this normal or should I actually be learning something…?</p>
<p>@Divad17: That’s exactly how Spanish 2 was for me. It was a review of Spanish 1 for almost half of the course. As far a Spanish 3 goes, it is very easy. So you don’t need to stress over it. I currently have a 99 in my Spanish 3 class, and it’s honors.</p>
<p>To any other readers: the same goes for any other Latin-based language. It’s well-worth taking 4 years of a language because nothing can replace learning how to fluently speak a language other than English (the more, the merrier). The immersion of different cultures is also a fantastic factor, and it really isn’t too much effort. Rocking a 99 in French II Honors.</p>
<p>I think people stress way too much about the content of their language classes. Anytime someone is speaking another language to you or you’re in a classroom setting you’re learning. I used to worry about the curriculum until I realized that with languages it will all fall into place.</p>
<p>I hate inactive threads.</p>
<p>BUMP.</p>
<p>Sent from my Droid Incredible 2</p>
<p>@evanb1996: Same here. So, nothing really happened at school today. Got a 102 on my Civics test though! Also, we do that " 4 year plan" tomorrow. Pretty excited about it, since I will get to ask the guidance counselors what their opinion is of my schedule. And see how I stack up against the others close to me in the race for Valedictorian.
That is, if we have school tomorrow. 2 inches of snow expected for where I live.</p>