<p>who has literally been brainwashed by being on this site? (not necessarily in a bad way)</p>
<p>Ever since I started coming on this site, I've started viewing academics in a different light. I've been striving to become a top student. My grades and test scores have shot up drastically, because after being on this site I see it as completely UNACCEPTABLE to do poorly.</p>
<p>For example, my 1970 SAT score that I would have KILLED for a year ago, now seems pathetic to me...</p>
<p>Have any of you been "brainwashed" by the super genius kids on this forum?</p>
<p>Yes, continue to be brainwashed, fellow minion. Come to the dark side, where the only light you see is your computer screen while you try to study even a little bit more despite the fact that you are exhausted.</p>
<p>/More evil cackling</p>
<p>It’s normal to undergo said changes after hanging around CC for so long, but do try to keep some perspective of reality. There are more things in life to enjoy than aiming to get the highest grades that any student has ever achieved or even perfect scores on standardized tests. Remember, also, that much of what appears on CC tends to be selective presentation. You don’t know if the super genius kid is every bit as perfect as he/she describes himself/herself as, and moreover, you have your own strengths so be proud of what you are capable of doing.</p>
<p>I definitely was at first. But eventually, I realized that you don’t know who’s being legitimate and who’s just making things up. Moreover, there will be many people who have better SAT scores than you and many people who will have worse. It’s good that you are trying to be a better student, but you don’t need to be the <em>top</em> student to be happy or successful. Make mistakes, explore, have fun. Don’t let society’s idea of success and intelligence change the way you feel about yourself.</p>
<p>Life is about setting goals and achieving them, and it’s a marathon not a 100 yard dash. There are things in the past you cannot change, but you are in total control of your present & future. You will always be unhappy if you compare yourself to others, even if you perceive yourself as better.</p>
<p>Initially yes, but I’ve started finding the “ZOMG Harvard” people more annoying than enviable. It’s actually made me not want to go to a top college because I don’t want to meet people as shallow as people on here.
My test scores are amazing mostly because of this website, though. I’ll grant it that. :D</p>
<p>Yeah at first I got really depressed and thought I was going nowhere, then I envied the “smart kids”, then my grades/test scores starting rising, and now I’m starting to be content with myself. I found out that maybe the “smart kids” arent so smart afterall, they just know how to work for what they want.</p>
<p>I’m not lying when I say that I had a 1.9 GPA freshman year, and a 2.5 the first semester of sophomore year. Now I’m pulling 4.3s and taking AP classes and getting good SAT scores. I don’t care if I’m not valedictorian or pulling off 2300s on my SATs, because I’ve made so much progress in my own life. Getting all A’s and a 1900+ SAT score may not be impressive to many of you, but I’m hella proud of it.</p>
<p><em>gasp for air</em> That was a lot of deep talk. Just felt like sharing these feelings I’ve had all year :)</p>
<p>CC hasn’t made me really work harder, though slightly, maybe…no not really. But I have learned a lot and now know what a good SAT/ACT score is (like actually good, not CC warped kind) because before I came on here I didn’t know much about the SAT/ACT.</p>
<p>If you ask me, CC has quite a few shallow jerks. Not the people I always want to be around. The kind guys in a gym who stand around flexing talking about how much stronger they are than you.</p>
<p>CC has helped fuel my cynicism of formal education and academic competition. I never even went through the phase of doubting myself because so many people have so much more to show on paper for their high school or college careers than I do.</p>
<p>I’d never thought about self-studying APs before I got on CC. I was so content with my academics… but all of that has changed, and I am glad. I’ve tried to do better (CC standards), and I have rocketed past all of my classmates in the process.</p>
<p>The stress is bad, but the results are great!</p>
<p>I mainly joined CC for two reasons: to help others and get help myself.</p>
<p>To be frank, I’m really sick of the work ethic where I went to school. The majority students didn’t take school half way seriously which doesn’t kindle academic growth. I learned that If you want to improve at a student the best way is to “connect” with those who are on your level or the level you want to be at. </p>
<p>For example, in my calc BC class I started attending a study group with the two best students in the class. To my surprise I’m able to keep up with them fine and finish all the work on time and the power of 3 brains is much more powerful. Now I’m on the top of the class along with them.</p>
<p>Most importantly I’ve learned that you don’t have to be super smart to do well in school. Many of the top students are those who have just developed good habits and are hard working… hard work will trump natural talent. </p>
<p>That said CC is in most ways beneficial as you can “connect” with those who are striving to excel. If anything, you will learn more from being on here than browsing facebook for hours and looking at cat memes.</p>
<p>I was at first, but then I found the way to balance academics in my life that was right for me. some people are really ambitious and at the top 10 and that’s fine. others prioritize things a bit differently and that’s fine too. just as long as you’re not at one of the extremes of the spectrum</p>