<p>hey...I applied for an internship with Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA) and I got a call last week that I was accepted. I'm definitely going to do that internship, but it's only 1-5 every day except for Friday.</p>
<p>I also would like to intern somewhere in addition to the Congressman's office. I've secured an internship at the Center for Inquiry - a nonprofit committed to secular humanism. CFI also hosts several debates, coordinates educational programs, and produces two publications that all have to do with promoting a more rational, ethical world. In addition, I've secured an internship at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)'s civil rights legal division.</p>
<p>Here is my debate - I founded the Young Philosophers Society (philosophy club in my school with English department head as supervisor - we've studied various Socratic dialogs as well as The Republic, next year we're studying Guide to the Perplexed). So the CFI would be consistent with that, and my entire motivation to go to a top-ranked college is its intellectual intensity as well as its well known diversity of people and thought. I also intend to major in philosophy.</p>
<p>BUT the NAACP internship is also consistent with how I will present myself because I co-founded the Global Awareness Project (a group that meets weekly in my school to discuss infractions of civil rights worldwide and we have also organized guest speakers to come and make presentations to our entire student body). Also, as a student coming from a private Jewish school, I need to look as "desiring of diversity" as possible. Don't think that I'm exploiting the NAACP, I specifically contacted the NAACP because of the cases it has been involved in throughout U.S. history that I've learned about this year in school.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm equally interested in both of these internships and they are both consistent with what I've been participating in throughout high school....so what do you think????? Any advice is much appreciated. Thank you</p>
<p>hmm...you're awfully concerned with how you come off. i mean yeah, you have to be, but on the other hand...you'll have to excuse me for saying that you come off as pretty disingenuous (though you've tried to say you aren't). that being said, since "diversity" is the new buzz word (i think its even replacing the word "passion"...if thats possible), i'd say go for the NAACP. it is definitely important to "look as desiring of diversity as possible." and yes, i'm being a little sarcastic...but my advice is still to go with the NAACP since you seem mostly concerned with how colleges will like your choice.</p>
<p>I apologize if that is how I came off - throughout high school, I've had various opportunities to do things that my heart wasn't in and I simply didn't do it. These opportunities are reflections of my current character, not of what I want to become.</p>
<p>I don't think its disingenuous to evaluate two great opportunities. As I stated before, both of these internships are very consistent with my character and what I've already done. Due to faults within the admissions system, colleges don't get to know applicants very well. As a practical person, I'm merely asking how I can best represent the fact that I'm desiring of diversity...not how I can best fill my application with fallacies</p>
<p>is what a joke? I don't think you should judge me as a disingenuous liar before you consider the rest of my character. Since tenth grade I've been reading and studying Socratic philosophy, and I recently have been reading Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. Both of these things have been on top of my already hectic schedule and I'm clearly doing them because I'm interested. It's amazing how when you come across someone with an actual interest in expanding his intellect you automatically write him off as some pretentious teenager who's just looking for an easy-in to college.</p>
<p>On another note, every week for the last year I've been researching civil rights throughout the world and presenting the issues before 40 kids at my high school. How many of you have done even that much for the civil rights cause so that you can ridicule me for a simple question i asked? Your advice is no longer requested, I'll go look for people slightly more competent and logical.</p>
<p>I think you're the type of person who gets into Harvard.</p>
<p>If it was me, I would shoot for the NAACP internship, just because it's a more nationally known institution, but choose the opportunity that you think will provide you with the more positive learning experience. You should get a sense from the office staff at each.</p>
<p>Your committed activities seem to demonstrate a level of nuance and understanding of the world that most applicants do not possess. If your SAT scores border 2300+, I think you will have a better than 50 percent shot.</p>
<p>Yes, I do believe I definitely have the maturity to succeed at such an institution but unfortunately I only have a 2100 (620 M, 730 CR, 750 W). I say only as if it's a bad score...I'm pretty happy with it, but I'm still going to try again in October and try to boost my math score to the high 600's at least. I also have gotten 800s in both CR and Writing on diags, so maybe I'll improve in those sections too.</p>
<p>I'm pretty set on applying early to Columbia or Cornell though...both great schools and I'll be really happy to attend either. Where do you go?</p>
<p>[Sarcasm]Really, you read Plato's Apology and two other books? That's crazy. How much time did that take, like 24 hours? And you still have the time to change the world by presenting on civil rights? I mean, I wear this tee shirt (I</a> Love Civil Rights T-Shirt) but you accomplishment trumps mine.[/Sarcasm]</p>
<p>DaFunk - this is a public forum. You don't even know me, and as a student at a fine institution like Cornell it's surprising that you're so illogical. You're not a fool because of your wit or stupid humor, but rather because of your ignorance. What if I were to tell you that I've written 5 fifteen page papers on the different pieces of philosophy I've learned? Or that I've actually studied Plato's Republic (one of the most important works of political philosophy ever to be written) and 6 other dialogs in depth with the Head of the english department at my high school who has a phd in philosophy from Princeton?</p>
<p>Am I insane or is researching and compiling information for about two hours per week a good first step towarding working for civil rights? Your ignorant self should also realize that I get out of school at 6pm...but time is just time and sleep is for the weak right?</p>
<p>Your foolishness surpasses that of anyone else's I've encountered. You mock those who indulge in intellectual pursuit and you belittle those who expend energy toward protecting human decency. Without people like me or rather people like who I will become, your opportunity and ability to succeed would not exist. You owe me more than I owe you and I haven't even done anything yet, at least according your calculation.</p>
<p>Please, enough with your sarcasm and your petty, lame comments. Be logical and argue like a person with dignity instead of throwing insults at me that are not sensible, let alone comical.</p>
<p>Cayuga - My school doesn't rank...there are only 45 kids in my grade (private school)</p>
<p>Sarcasm is supposed to be illogical. That's the point. But if you want some grandiose philosophical debate, I'm not going to give it to you.</p>
<p>I've played three varsity sports that got at 6:00 every day. I've read numerous works of philosophy on my own time. I've done presentations and also actively given my time to local charities. I've written long papers--many of them.</p>
<p>But what I don't do is come on here and brag about my accomplishments in unnecessary detail. I can name names of books I've read, degrees of teachers I've worked closely with, etc. I could even go into an ad hominem argument as you have, by stating "your foolishness surpasses that of anyone else's I've encountered." But really, there is no point... and I don't want to come off as too high and mighty.</p>
<p>It's good that you are passionate about your academic interests, and are trying to make a difference in causes that are important to you. Those are great, great things. In my opinion though, you will be better off in life (college, the job market) if you can present yourself a little bit more humbly. </p>
<p>I think you need to chill, enjoy you summer a little bit, and maybe go to a party or something. You could learn something.</p>
<p>Sigh... as a product of the public school system, I'll leave it to you two private school kiddies to figure it out for yourself. </p>
<p>But adman, DaFunk, wasn't being illogical, he was actually being pretty funny. And DaFunk, not everybody on these boards are as laid back as you are, some are teacher's pets. That's the great thing about Cornell. Its got everybody under the sun.</p>
<p>Adman -- Between Cornell and Columbia, I don't think there is much of a difference in terms of academics for what you want to study. Apply to Cornell if you want to be stimulated by natural beauty and quiet. Apply to Columbia if you want to be stimulated by a noisy, dirty city. My biases are pretty obvious.</p>