Reality Check - All Comments

re: High School Advanced Placement Programs

mike — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:56:54 GMT

This was about 6 or 7 years ago, so things may have changed since then. I was in the first graduating class at Chiles High School, and the administration has changed a lot since then. But I have a feeling the AP program hasn't changed all that much in this time.

One thing that frustrated me to no end when I made it through the program was realizing I'd been duped. My school did not EVER tell me ANY of the downsides to AP classes. I only learned most of this once I actually got to college and talked to my UNBIASED college advisors. It's pretty simple really, the more kids taking AP classes, the better the chances that some of them will do well in them, and therefore the more money the school will make. They don't want you to know the whole picture so they hide it as much as they can. I really hated the fact that they would put me through all that stress and grief for their own financial gain. The more I learned about my High School administration, the more corrupt I learned they truly were. I don't speak out against someone without VERY good reason to.

As far as AP credit is concerned, it's really up to the college. I hear the majority of colleges will accept 3 or above. FSU accepted all my AP credits, but I was sad to have lost some CLEP attempts in the process. Some colleges require you get a 4 or 5 to get credit for the class. Some won't give you anything even if you do get a 5. It really depends on the college. I'd recommend talking to the college you plan to apply for BEFORE taking any AP classes.

As far as CLEP tests, they're exams much like the AP exams (only extremely easy in comparison). They test your knowledge on the material for a class. If you do well, they award you credit for that class as if you had taken it, without actually having to show up for a single session. In Florida if you get the Bright Futures Scholarship, they pay for 5 CLEP attempts and actually require you give them a try. But, if you have passed any AP exams, they count as CLEP attempts and will reduce the number of CLEPs Bright Futures will buy you. I can't remember how much a CLEP test costs, but it's a minute fraction of the cost of taking the class. I took 3 CLEP tests and passed all 3 with flying colors. I skipped a whole semester of math, science, and Spanish. Because of this I ended up taking Scuba Diving, Blue Water Sailing, and Swimming classes instead of those boring entry level academics.

The good news is, after the extreme difficulty of AP classes, you will find college to be a breath of fresh air. Your first couple semesters should be a piece of cake compared to what you've been through. You probably won't find any classes of comparable difficulty until you get into your major. Going uphill is hard, but if you climb high enough, it's all downhill from there.

re: High School Advanced Placement Programs

mp2 — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:48:52 GMT

I hope this was like a while ago because I took three AP exams this year and I'm going to be taking.... I think three next year and I'm working my behind off. I know a kid who made like a 5 on most of his and I'm pretty sure we're about the same intelligence or he's got one up on me. If I make a freaking 5 you're saying I won't get the credit? Oh, and then on top of that, umm, we're never told about CLEP tests at my school. I've heard about them but it's from personal research.

cheerlead

cheerlead — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:25:38 GMT

Pingback from cheerlead

re: Hooked on Ebonics

mike — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:04:22 GMT

Actually the differences I'm talking about have nothing to do with race or color. I have known plenty of people of different nationalities who spoke perfect English. I also know a couple guys who are very much normal Caucasians but one speaks deep Miami Spanglish and the other speaks such thick Ebonics I can barely understand him.

re: Hooked on Ebonics

writer lady — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:39:37 GMT

Rev. Wright, Obama's former pastor, defended his racial comments this weekend. His take home message is that blacks and whites are different. Not better, not normal, different.

I think when more whites are able to accept that, the differences become less problematic.

re: Hooked on Ebonics

mike — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:27:34 GMT

Isn't it interesting that we have so many people in our own country that don't speak English, but around the world, most of the major countries teach English in schools? Strangely enough, English is one of the most backwards, messed up, hard to learn languages in the world, but it is becoming the most widely used language in the world because it's the language of international business.

I met a group of kids who just graduated high school and had a good talk with them. They were from Mexico and they were all complaining about their English teacher's thick British accent and how difficult their Shakespeare class was. I told them I had no idea from their speech that they weren't from Miami, and most Americans I know can't even touch Shakespeare.

At the same time, most people I went to school with took a couple years of language class. Almost all of them know how to say "Hi, My name is ___. Where is the bathroom? Fine thanks how are you? Yes. Uhh... I don't understand?" And that's about where their linguistic skills stop. I only know a couple people who have any clue what anyone says at all in another language.

re: Hooked on Ebonics

Blogette — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:09:36 GMT

I think it would be wonderful if everyone in the world spoke the same language. That will never happen, though. Of that I have no doubt. I can understand how people would not want to give up some of their heritage to speak another language, but I do feel very strongly that everyone living in a country should be able to speak in that country's chosen language.

I will often turn on the closed captioning when watching a movie because I have trouble understanding the actors even when they are speaking English.

re: What's Up With Cheerleaders?

mike — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:40:02 GMT

Yeah I think most of the cheering is really for the fans. But it's worth it even just for that...except at high school pep rallies where the fans just want to go back to their classrooms and study.

re: What's Up With Cheerleaders?

Krazy_Koala — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:58:17 GMT

I think cheerleaders are there so that the pep rallies won't seem COMPLETELY lifeless. I actually don't attend the pep rallies. We have them at the end of the day so there is nothing to keep me from just walking off campus and driving away. :)

Also, saying things to the players that is pretty much pointless like.. "Go Team Go!" happens in all games. I used to love listening to the parents at my brothers soccer games.. the coach would always say constructive critisism such as "move back move back!". But the parents would always say something really stupid like. "KICK THE BALL! RUUUUN!" I would always die laughing. I also remember hearing when I used to play soccer... It really ticked me off because of how stupid it was. Now I just laugh. :)

re: Reality Check Closed for Construction

ShadowSamus — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:01:54 GMT

Im lovin the changes on the forums so far. I actually want to post on the forums now. Keep up the good work.

Missing my Spam Mail

Reality Check — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:27:10 GMT

Who would have thought I would actually miss my spam someday. It used to frustrate me to no end when

re: Forest Service Suggestions

mike — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:12:25 GMT

I like the saying, "There's an idiot born every minute". Statistically speaking, there are about 3 of them.

re: Forest Service Suggestions

Blogette — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:37:09 GMT

Very funny. Reminds me of the saying "Intelligence Has Limits - Stupidity Knows No Bounds! "

re: Warning: Labels Part 4

mike — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:13:02 GMT

Oh, don't worry, I got plenty of hair dryer labels in my first Warning Labels post.

* On a hair dryer:

"Do not use in shower." and also “Do not use while sleeping."

You can check out the rest of them at www.blogiversity.org/.../warning-labels-part-1.aspx

re: Warning: Labels Part 4

Blogette — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:58:37 GMT

Don't forget about the hair dryer:

"Do not use in shower."