Midterm Mayhem

Learning all about the world of economics

Hey everyone! These past couple of weeks at Stanford University have been extremely stressful. Lack of sleep, high levels of caffeine, and absorption in textbooks are traits seen throughout the student body.  Why you may ask? One word--midterms. In high school, there were plenty of homework assignments, projects, papers, and tests going into your grade, so the stress levels were lower for each individual assignment. However in college classes, there are only one or two midterms (every test in college is called a midterm even if it is not in the middle of the term--weird right!) or papers and a final that makes up the majority of your grade. This means that one midterm or paper could make or break your entire grade in a class! Talk about pressure! Since I am a typical Stanford student, I take my midterms very seriously and have been studying like crazy! Last week, I had a midterm in calculus and I have a midterm in economics next week. While I'm reviewing the latest recession theories, one of my roommates is studying hard for her chemistry midterm and another is writing a research paper that serves as a midterm in her writing class. Safe to say, midterms are unavoidable tense time in every college student's life. Luckily, there are curves in most college classes, or introductory ones at least. That means that if a test is really hard, and the majority of the class struggles on it, then the average will be rounded up to anywhere from a B or C and all the other grades will be adjusted as well. Even though you could get a 78 on a midterm, which is usually a C, this could still count as an A in the grade book because most of the class did even worse. This serves as even more incentive to work hard no matter how difficult the class is. Plus, having study parties with your friends is the perfect way to learn and socialize. My dorm even has a couple of upperclassman students that act as tutors to help us with difficult questions in math and science. If I can't study in a group, I love to go to the library. It's a great environment to make sure you get things done and are not distracted.

Working hard or hardly working?

Study party at the library

Even though midterm time is stressful, that doesn't mean students don't have time to let lose and burn off some steam from studying! Last week, we played Oregon in football, one of the best teams in the country, and won! It was so fun watching this extremely close game, and we even got to storm the field afterwards. Also, this weekend we had frosh formal! This was like a high school homecoming dance but at the college level--it was the perfect excuse to dress up, take pictures, and dance the night away with my friends! 

Storming the field - Stanford victory!

Stanford wins 26-20!

Roommies at the game

Stanford fan section! Can you find me?

Walkway to the formal

Girls headed to Frosh Formal

Dorm loving for the formal

Although midterms can be rough, the experiences I've had in college outweigh any pre-test stress. I can't wait to share more of my Stanford adventures with you!

How do you study for midterms or tests? What do you like to do for a study break? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Mail Call

Hey everyone! Since we are getting into the prime time for testing and admissions, colleges start to search the country to find prospective students. Sure, it is up to the students to choose the college they want to go to, but colleges never want to miss out on any great students because they didn’t know about the school. That is why colleges send you information letters, lots of them. 
There are over 2000 colleges and universities in the US, and many of these colleges market themselves to attract highly qualified students.  So even though high school students are trying to make themselves look good for the colleges, the colleges are trying to make themselves look good to possible students. They use each student's test scores on the SAT and ACT and other information to find students they would like at their school. Once you start taking your college admission standardized tests, you include your email and your home address. Once the colleges receive word of your tests scores, they start sending you letters if your test scores are in the preferred range for that specific school. They try their hardest to contact students through mail, email and even phone calls home.They want all the best students they can get at their schools, so this sort of advertising helps all students know about schools they might not have known about before. But don’t worry, the test scores colleges see when they are sending out letters do not affect your application. You have plenty of time to get a score you are happy with, and colleges will even let you super score your test! (Meaning you can take your top scores from each section from different tests to combine and create a super score). Although these hundreds of letters are annoying at times, it is the best way to find out about colleges you never would have thought of before. And that’s worth it. So when you start taking standardized tests don’t be afraid to fill in your email and your house information, because it just might lead you to the college of your dreams.

Would you use college letters to find your college? Let me know in the comments! 

xoxo

Subject Specifics

Hey everyone! I have been telling you guys about all my tests, but this weekend I got to add three more to my accomplished list. This weekend I took SAT Subject Tests. The SAT Subject Tests are not like the regular SAT, but they are also needed for the college application process. These tests are each one hour solely on specific subjects like ranging from science, math, history, and English subjects. They are to give colleges insight on specific strengths in subjects not on the SAT. Most colleges nowadays don't require these tests, but they recommend them. So they are always an important thing to add to your college process. You can take 3 tests up in each sitting, and there are only a couple of opportunities a year to take the tests. Although it is hard to take more tests, it is a good opportunity to show colleges your hidden strengths in certain subjects!

If you want to find out more about subject tests, check out the official subject test website by clicking here!

What subject test would you take for college?

Let me know in the comments!


xoxo

Its Testing Time

Hey everyone! This week at my school we have been taking a series of tests for the state of California called CSTs. So what is CST testing you may ask? It stands for California State Testing. Students grades 2nd through 11th take multiple choice tests on different subjects like English, history, math, and science specialized with the subjects they are taking that year. I took tests on English, United States History, Physics, and Calculus this year. Each state has there own version of these tests which tell the state how well the schools are teaching students. It helps educators know if their teaching methods are working. The results are important to schools, which can be sanctioned by the state for multiple years of low performance. That is why it is really important for students to try their hardest on the tests. Schools offer many incentives to get schools to preform well on the tests like closer parking spots and free admittance to dances for the top scores and most improved scores. May is a month full of tests, but knowing that you are helping your school and your education makes it all worth while.

Check out this website for any other questions you have about US state testing!
CST Website
What tests do you take in May at your school?

Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Countdown to AP Tests

Hey everyone! May is an intense month for high school students. May is the month for all AP. AP, which stands for advance placement, are accelerated classes that students can take. In May, each AP class takes a nationwide AP test for college. If you score high enough, you can get college credit! It is a great way to get classes over with that you are taking already in high school so you can take classes more interesting to you while in college. There are over 34 AP courses to choose from, ranging from European History to Physics to Art. There are classes that fit everyone's strengths. Even if you do not receive a high enough score to get college credit, college still are very impressed to see you are taking these advanced classes while in high school.
The good part about these classes is you are not required to take these end of year college tests if you do not want to. If you choose not to, the class is just like a honors class. Either way, AP classes also help you prepare for college by offering more advanced curriculum that you may also see in college. Although the work load can be heavy, it prepares you for college and is well worth it. So my recommendation is if you are up for a constructive challenge that prepares you for your future then take AP classes! Start small, with only one or two, and work your way up to more. Who knows, maybe you'll find a hidden passion!

Find out more about AP classes by checking out this website:


College Board: Ap Classes

What classes are you interested in? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

The End of the Beginning

Hey everyone! This week is very stressful for students at my high school, since its final exam week! Our school is based on a semester system which divides the year into two parts. We have final exam periods at the end of each semester. Each class gives one large test, that takes about two hours, which influence your end grades! Most finals are 20% of the final grade! With this is mind, this week and the days before are very stressful and filled with studying! Many people get together in study groups to productively study for a specific subject. Once this week is over, we have a formal dance to celebrate!
This dance, winter formal, takes place the weekend after first semester finals each year. The unique part about winter formal is it is a girls ask guys to be their date dance! This means that girls have to ask guys to be their date to the dance! Many girls carry out elaborate and cute methods of asking, like with balloons, puzzles, cake, etc.
Its a fun twist to a formal dance, since guys usually ask girls to be their date. It makes this end of finals dance truly memorable. Plus, since it is a formal dance, everyone wears their favorite dresses and gets their hair and makeup done! For the boys, they get suits with ties matching their date's dress. Its a fun way to coordinate! Also, the dance takes place in a country club, so there is lots to do along with dancing. Last year there were casino tables set up with pretend gambling! It was a fun way to have an activity that everyone liked that was all in good fun.

How do you like to celebrate the end of a stressful week? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo

Advanced Placement - Success or Stress?

Hey everyone! Today I am going to talk to you guys about Advanced Placement Classes, or AP for short. AP classes are the most difficult classes you can take at school, and are designed to challenge you and hopefully introduce you to new interests. Colleges like when you take these classes because it shows that you are challenging yourself and are willing to work hard in difficult situations. Plus, if you take these classes and pass a rigorous test at the end of the year, you can opt to use this as credit in college, and not take that specific course when you get to the university.
Although these classes sound like a good idea, they cause some trouble as well. Since these are the most challenging classes on campus, the work load is tremendous and it takes a lot of dedication. Coming from a girl in practically all AP classes, I am constantly working on homework or studying for a test in one of these classes. The stress can get to some people, as much sleep is lost and weekends must be forfeited to work, and many end up dropping some of their AP classes throughout the year. However, I am sticking with mine because although it is a lot of work now, it is great for the long haul.

Here is an article from a neighboring high school's newspapaer. It talks all about AP classes, the stress and the triump. Check it out!

http://thediablodispatch.com/?p=1960


Are you taking AP style classes? Would you take a hard class if it could get you out of classes in college? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo