academic ramblings

[theladyrose]

So I'm back from my college trip of Brown, Wellesley, Harvard (just roamed around the campus a little so I can figure out where I'm going during the summer) and McGill.

My opinions of the first two universities were definitely enhanced by the really lovely weather, and I like the semi-anarchist (or perhaps liberal is the more appropriate term?) nature of the academic requirements. At Brown there's no core curriculum, and Wellesley had more of a subject requirements system that lets you choose which classes you'd like to take from 8 required subject areas. Both Brown and Wellesley seem to have accessible profs who care about what they're doing, renovated class buildings with wireless, nice dorms available for all 4 years of undergrad, and really friendly student populations.

Wellesley is a lot like my current Institution of Higher Learning (IHL for short) on steroids in a good way; it's pretty much everything that I really want. I even got to look around the music library and was delighted to discover that they've got the complete works of Mozart and Beethoven as well as Bernard Herrmann and some Philip Glass. Ellie was initially horrified that I wanted to go to her alma mater but now seems much more accepting of the idea. Getting in to said places shall be the not so fun part. Luckily grades are looking happy as my math and bio grades pretty much flipped themselves around; actually, bio is better than math was initially. And then there are the SAT scores, which will end up in me having to retake the stupid test because there's a substantial difference between my verbal and math scores. Icky.

horosha, you'll be happy to know that Montreal immediately struck me as a poor excuse for a city in the midst of a frozen wasteland even in April. I had remembered it being much more beautiful when I was there a few summers ago, but the campus was somewhat depressing and is apparently infamous for a lot of red tape. After looking through next year's course catalogue (cease your mocking laughter!) I discovered a nice semi-loophole that would let me minor in music, though. But I don't like having to choose which Faculty I'll have to enter; I'm debating between Arts and Sciences and Management as the psych in management major is pretty intriguing.

Course selections are due this Thursday, argh. My big debate is between taking two history electives (not sure about which ones) and taking the French culture/literature seminar. At the moment I've put down the seminar, but I really want to meet with somebody to figure out what to do because my advisor is a French teacher and is understandably unable to help me here because of her own biases (that's what she said to me, at least). As for music history, I'd rather throw myself into the 50 degree pool at 5 AM every morning than not take it.

I don't to be a senior! I'm too stupid and lazy and immature and boring to have ignorant middle schoolers respect me. I swear, the freshmen that I TA probably laugh behind my back after I've helped them with their papers because I walk into things. It's not that I don't know what I want to do with myself; I've got a pretty decent idea. I'm not really scared of going to university or even getting in so much (not now, at least). I just don't want to get sucked into this evil vortex of forgetting what it's all about, of enjoying this time of my life. I'd like for people to see me as I am and not try to dress me up in that special senior BS, because it just doesn't apply. I rather like being one of the campus eccentrics, and I'd rather not be some sort of nice prepackaged image of what a senior ought to be.

I think I'll take up boating in the summer when I'm in Cambridge. The Charles River is really very lovely.

HGTTG quotation for the day: "Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."

Comments

[thehashmark.livejournal.com]

did you see Frank?

[theladyrose.livejournal.com]

Urgh. No. He wasn't able to show up at the last minute because he would've had to cut class and figure out how to hitch a ride up to Montréal.

[horosha.livejournal.com]

I'd have ditched class for you.

[theladyrose.livejournal.com]

To quote directly from him: "There's been an unexpected turn of event since the last time we've talked. Students in Quebec have gone on strike for about 4 weeks, and we just got back to class (I'll explain to you later why we got on strike). In consequence, it's now impossible for me to go to Montreal this week due to the heavy quantity of work we have to do now. I'm quite sad by this turn of event. I didn't write to you earlier because I wanted to hear from my teachers (today) to see what was really going on, just in case there would be an opportunity for me to go to Montreal. Sadly, we are overwhelmed now."

Adric, I can always count on you to be there for me :) I'm trying to see if I can stop by Arizona in mid-June when I'm looking at universities in Southern California but I'll have to see how that works out.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a great experience! Best wishes with your choices. For what it's worth, I've given talks at Brown and have some great colleagues there, and the university (and its student body) has always impressed me. I also love Providence, so that may help. :)

[theladyrose.livejournal.com]

Thanks! If I do end up there, hopefully I'll be able to catch one of your talks. I just hope that it doesn't get too cold up on the East Coast; here where I am in California, we've only got three seasons :)

[clarequilty.livejournal.com]

Well, being a potential music major and a Canadian Citizen, I've looked at attending McGill myself for music. (And the program is fantastic.) Although I've been to Montreal and Quebec City... And Quebec City is much prettier/better than Montreal IMO. I would definatly go back to QC...I think Montreal is really a city that comes alive in July/August. (Mainly due to the Just For Laughs Festival, which I still haven't had the chance to attend yet. :( )

[theladyrose.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to QC before, although I vaguely remember passing by it one time on an Ontario to Québec road trip I took with my Torontan family members a couple of years ago. Montréal is gorgeous in the summertime from what I've heard, but unfortunately I'll have to spend most of my time there in winter if I do go to McGill. As a Californian I don't know how I'll get used to -50 degree winters, hee!

[phoenixbird27.livejournal.com]

Ah, Brown, so yes, so do it! You didn't check out Penn State then?