<p>
[quote]
*PAGEANTS
Miss Junior Pre-Teen X (hometown)
Miss X (hometown)
Finalist for Miss. Junior Pre-Teen Massachusetts
Competed for Miss. Junior Massachusetts
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</p>
<p>One of my good friends won Miss Junior Massachusetts and said there was only one Lauren in the competiton - Lauren Fogarty. I'm calling b/s on this whole thread.</p>
<p>This is also completely off-topic, but I was a bit skeptical looking through your original stats so I had to confirm this.</p>
<p>Yeah, could be BS. Half the stats here are probably BS.</p>
<p>Lmao I'm kind of flattered? Maybe you really honestly did think my post was not real and was skeptical. In that case, talk to your friend again. There is more than one national pageant. I was in National America Miss. Also, I competed for Miss. Massachusetts Junior Teen in 2002, not Miss. Massachusetts Teen which your friend may have competed for. </p>
<p>Again, I'm flattered you think my stats aren't real. Curious, are you saying they are too good for anyone or too good for a cheerleader? I don't know you but I've had these conversations before. Stop placing people in boxes and realize every person is dynamic. Someone I admire: Erika N. Ebbel. She attended MIT and has plans to go to med school. Hey AND she was Miss Massachusetts 2004 and has done so many things for the community. Go "research her" (something you seem to enjoy...which is kind of scary) and tell me she's not real. Not that I've accomplished half as much as she has, but you get my point. </p>
<p>Sorry if I came off hostile, it could just be a misunderstanding. But I came to to this board for advice. If anything, then go ahead and pretend I'm fake and make everything hypothetical. "If you were real, I would say do this..." Yeah sure why not. </p>
<p>Haha that accusation made me mad and at the same time kind of made me feel good...Tons of gymnasts become cheerleaders and its not unusual for them to do pageants. Actually uh my talent has always been gymnastics for the talent portion. Because of how typical this is around here, I never received this type of attention...interesting lmao.</p>
<p>OBVIOUS TROLL come on guys are u blind
u put way too much trust in people. This girl is obviously Bull ****ting</p>
<p>To the OP,</p>
<p>Don't worry... when colleges see your application, instead of thinking "TROLL," they stamp, "ACCEPT!"</p>
<p>TTG</p>
<p>Firstly to Suze. There is a system. A good half of my entire grade goes to England and I consider myself pretty well-versed because I must sit through all the assemblies.</p>
<p>Most programs have quotas. You have to apply to a specific program and specific college. For some programs the quotas are very small. English and former English colonies have preference. Then comes Mainland Europe because there system is standardized. We have about 2 or 3 students go every year to Oxford and Cambridge who had top grades and they did not watz in. There are another 5 or so who don't get in who also have top grades. The system is completely different. It's hard for Americans to get in. Period. But the poster does have a good chance because her grades are good. But she's not a shoo-in. </p>
<p>Also to what you said about your father. He is probably trying to live out his dreams through you. As people get older they often go back and wonder if life would have been different if they did this. So in their quest for being 18 again, they often impose on their children. Trying to force them to do what they want. It also reinforces their power and control.</p>
<p>LaurenP88~</p>
<p>I think you must also consider some other aspects of the colleges you want to attend. I'm sure a part of you right now is thinking, "Man, I sure wish I don't have to rely on my dad to pay for my education. Then, and only then, will I be able to choose where I want to go..." Well, this can be made into a reality. I suggest you add some schools to your list that give out generous merit scholarships. Think about it: if you get a full scholarship, you will be fully independent from your father and your father's conditional terms for everything. In such a case, you could probably take out a part-time job to pay for personal expenses- you wouldn't have to ask Daddy for 1 cent! I'm sure he'd be equally proud and a little disturbed that the comforts of his world has been <em>shaken</em> by his youngest. Besides, that's the reality the average Joe and Janes of the college world have to face- working during college to help finance their education. If you find this something you could really enjoy, then the Ivy League colleges would be out of the question (demonstrated financial need only). Now, on the "cultural" aspect, you can find this in several key big cities her in the United States. I'm sure you go to a fairly homogenous school, and live in a homogenous neighborhood so anything "out of the ordinary" in your situation would be a significant deviation of what you're used to. Well, several cities come to mind: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, New Orleans, and Miami. </p>
<p>I think the "match" school, in terms of what I think you might be looking for and appeasing the parents is, actually, Columbia University- have you looked into it, if you don't like it so much, how about Barnard College with affiliations to Columbia? Truth be told, if "culture" is what you're looking for, I don't see the point in applying to Wellesley or Middlebury, which would be EXACTLY the same as life has always been for you. I think you would find New York University interesting and while their financial aid is amongst the very worst in the nation, I have heard of vague tales of full merit-based scholarships given- the details of which I have no clue of. Along the lines of the "international" cities I spoke of earlier, the UC's may not be a bad option. I see that the US colleges you listed are all on the Common Application which will make this process a lot easier. Do recognize, however, that there is only one UC application and all you have to do to apply to, say, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and San Diego is to checkmark the boxes designating the school on top of that ONE application (it will then be sent to a central processing center, copies will be made and sent out to the schools of your choice). All three of those schools you should find relatively interesting. The <em>infamous</em> (haha) UCSB would not be of interest to you (from a cultural standpoint).</p>
<p>One last thing you should think over is what you're actually trying to accomplish by going overseas for your undergraduate studies. What do you want to do with your college degree? If you want to get a job in the United States in the future with only a B.A. degree, then a degree from Utrecht would seriously hurt you. I mean, if I were an employee, I would have ZERO clue as to the quality of the program. If you want to get a graduate degree, then going overseas and trying to attend grad school in the United States is simply making things unnecessarily more difficult. You can always visit Europe- yes, the Netherlands- in your summers off or through a study abroad program. I think that you're just absolutely fascinated with Europe right now, but happens when it wears off? I know you'll probably enjoy your surroundings and such, but what about academics? Perhaps you should look into US schools with strong international reputations where your degree will carry you far. By doing this, you will have good standing with employers here in the United States as well as abroad. By getting a good education at a internationally recognized school, it will provide the flexibility that a curious spirit like yourself need. I can envision you wanting to pick up your bags at age 31 and moving to the Netherlands, at 34 going to Switzerland, and maybe at 45 heading over to Thailand. You're not going to be able to financially support yourself in such a range with a degree from Utrecht.</p>
<p>In the end you have to apply to a little of everything. It's funny, because a lot changes in the time from now to April. Maybe the financially independent person I described above will be exactly how you feel come next Spring- who knows? So apply to several schools that give good merit scholarship, several US schools with strong international reputations, several "appeaser" schools for your dad, and try out some of those international schools. Best of luck,</p>
<p>TTG</p>