Well, it's that time again, boys and girls. Time to say bye to Popsicles, sandcastles, and (in my case) remote controls as we start heading back to that hideous but well known place...school!! For some of us, it's a great time because we reenter the land of learning (I honestly know nobody who feels like that, but hey, this blog has to appeal to all). For others, it's just another year of sleeping through class, doing as little homework as possible and praying for the torture to end. And for others, well..let's just say there are some of us with mixed feelings.
On one hand, I'm extremely excited. Everyone says that junior year is the best and that I'm going to have *switches to valley girl voice* like, so much fun! Ohmygawd! But then again, junior year is the toughest one as far as academics go. They have all of these college-prep workshops and tests you have to take in order to be accepted. You have the SAT and the ACT and the MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program, for all you non-Michiganders) and so on. I tell you, how is one individual supposed to handle all that pressure??!
And as if all of this isn't stressful enough, I just read a magazine article that adds to it. It was about how girls may be rejected to colleges of their choice because the colleges are looking to accept more boys. One dean of admissions "acknowledged that many colleges - particularly elite liberal arts schools - are trying their hardest to keep the gender ratio balanced, even if it means accepting boys with poorer credentials then girls who apply to the same college." So basically, even if I am an extremely qualified candidate for a school, I may lose to boy who is extremely unqualified just because he is a boy. That means I may have to work even harder to stand out among the other applicants. To me, it all seems unfair, but maybe that's just because I'm a girl ?? I'd love some opinions on this topic, boys and girls alike! 
Comments
It's a shame that you'll have less chance of getting accepted, I'd be really angry if I were you! It's stupid as well, sometimes I can understand positive discrimination to some degree, but when it's male/female, that makes no sense as boys aren't discriminated against in education in the first place!
I would definitely recommend that you take one of those SAT prep courses before sitting for the exam. Some people may say that it gives those people an unfair advantage but you could also argue that people who make the effort to prepare for the test like that are showing their seriousness about the test and about getting into college.
I would try to balance the social aspects and academics in your junior year. While you don't want to study 20 hours a day, it will be beneficial to get good grades. In general, you'll find that with better grades, you'll have more options later on: choice of college, choice of major, internships, jobs, career paths, etc.
Good luck with this coming year and have a little fun too!
Good luck with getting back to the books, I've barely got my head out of them this summer.
Re: We take Guys because they're Guys issue
Don't sweat it! At the end of the day all Unis look at grades, then the 'I want to study X bcos' blurb and then it'll fall on your extra curricular activities / hobbies- personality. And I can tell you that persoanlity gets you a long way. I know uncharismatic smart asses at my Uni, and they're great students that write and do whats expected of them; so please don't lose your mind and hair to become one of them. The most interesting ppl I've met have been the ones that are passionate about life- and the greatest from those that like frogs, like the one that's calling me now!
Work hard, play hard and inject your bright bubbly personality into applications and interviews and you'll be fine.
Don't sell your soul bcos of 'The Man', or should I say 'The Men'!
take it easy- must see to my froggy friend! x
And I totally agree with the whole boy/girl discrimination thing, it's awful!! Women have worked for their rights far too long, and this just makes it seem like the whole fight was pointless.123: Thanks for the tips! I am definitely taking a prep course (even though I heard they are expensive) and doing all the studying I can. And while having fun seems unlikely at this point, I'll try!
melting: Wow, what a great surprise to see you on, I've missed ya! Thank you very much for the pep talk, I think you are absolutely right. I must say that these comments really have made me feel much better.
About the SAT, I've taken it once and when they say it's the mother of all tests they mean it! It's a terrible one. I thought it would be like the PSAT and when I was testing and I flipped the answer sheet over and I saw it when to section 10, my jaw dropped and I went, "Oh, F***". I didn't really study or do much prep and when I did it was about 3 weeks before the test and I did really badly. So do your preparation ahead, right now I'm taking an SAT prep class in school so that's good.
And sorry you did bad the first time you took the SAT...I have nightmares about that happening to me. Hopefully with all of these tips, though, I'll be ok! Thanks!
sasg_2