The question everyone has on their mind.

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
21

<p>noxious nirvana and kee10 -- Please learn the correct spelling of "you" for the purpose of your college application essays.</p>

22

<p>touche, Ben Golub... perhaps u could get collegeconfidential to put up a sticky on the uses of "you and u"-s and "yours and urs"... best of luck... </p>

<br>


<br>

<p>-- and that "that's not at issue" makes a whole lot of sense?? </p>

<p>Ben Golub, please learn the correct way to type "an" for the purpose of your college application essays. i'm sure the word "an" is more likely to be used in a college essay than the word "you" because most essays tend to be read by admissions officers and we rarely address them directly ("YOU, dear admissions officer, better take Ben Golub or he'll start sending YOU free grammar and spelling lessons!") </p>

<p>CCers, we have a spellchecker here... pls get ur college essays edited for free! :D</p>

23

<p>hahahaha! LMAO</p>

24

<p>Sorry, folks, you're hassling Ben Golub over a perfectly reasonable English phrase. As used here, "at issue" is what we call in English an idiom. Generally speaking, it means "in question", and makes perfect sense in the way he used it. </p>

<p>viz. dictionary.com:
[quote]
at issue</p>

<ol>
<li>In question; in dispute: “Many people fail to grasp what is really at issue here” (Gail Sheehy).</li>
<li>At variance; in disagreement.

[/quote]

So presumably the person who posted the query in 2004 has either been admitted or rejected already, and the matter is no longer "at issue".</li>
</ol>

25

<p>and Ben Golub is harrassing us over commonly used abbreviations that are very much in practice throughout the world... starting from songs to emails... whether he used it in the sense of "in question" or he just typed it wrong is sth he knows (and can easily change his mind about)...</p>

<p>my point isn't to pick at other people's typing errors... it's to show that i expect people on CC to be a bit more mature... if that message has been lost, too bad.</p>

<p>i'm still asking everyone to PM their college essays to Ben Golub :D</p>

26

<p>yeah....... i know the grades alone won't get me anywhere routine very well- but firstly lemme answer my critics...
ok, <no personal="" info,="" please=""> - yeah i know you...and by now you would have realized who i am....Exactly what do you think, i could have done? Ok...maybe done some community service...work...and everything...but remember, community service is about helping people...its not about getting credits for it, and fattening your resume with big nicely written certificates. And ...thats the main reason, people do it....and don't argue with me about the 'goodness in human beings'- routine. Perhaps these kinda stuff are true in other countries...but here in bangladesh except for a few people,nobody- we are a selfish nation, its abt time we acknowledge that. So back to my point, if thats why i am supposed to do community service i rather not do it all...i would rather not degrade my intentions like that. Sure, i help people a lot, help my friends with little things...but i don't wanna go and proclaim all the angelic stuff i do...no way. Thats the essence of helping. And abt...initiative...come on guys...u hardly know me...whats the point of this personal attack on me... I am not painting a 'nothing to do' picture...of the country....i am being realistic...tell me one thing somebody has done...tell me a club a kid has made, for example? Ok...i wanted to do that...wanted to do a lot of stuff....was shut down, by school, parents...all that ****...you gotta admit...life's limited in bd...and thats a fact. its not that i hate my country...its just the truth....</no></p>

<p>Second Critic: </p>

<p>USA doesn't equal Bangladesh. For starters we don't have money, scope, oppurtunity, open-mindedness, support, and whole lot a ****...here like in the states. Frankly no-one even knows what ECA's are here, xcept when they come to class 11 or 12 or something. Just stop and think...your circumstances and our circumstances are different...hell of a lot different....just don't pose comments...unless you really know what you are talking about...</p>

<p>and for the record, the "sure its bangladesh"...quote...seriously guys...you over-emphasized my statement...its called sarcasm...remember? I don't hate my country- i am just acknowledging some of the difficulties we face here which our international peers aren't really aware of...</p>

27

<p>Rezwan, if you think an EC is limited to volunteering and helping others, then you are wrong. Though it would be a good thing for a person to stand and help the poor citizens, its not the only option.</p>

<p>Many students have different passions. I remember you were editor of the yearbook of grade 9 or so. That is an EC. You work for RS, that is an ec, an awesome one in fact since your stuff is read NATIONALLY. My point- the idea that there are no opportunities for ECs in bdesh is simply bs. Do you actually expect to mention this on your apps?Ecs can be anything, from writing to music and sports. Not just helping others, though it would make a difference in bdesh. </p>

<p>
[quote]
USA doesn't equal Bangladesh. For starters we don't have money, scope, oppurtunity, open-mindedness, support, and whole lot a ****...here like in the states.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>What does money have to do with an EC? Just talk with your school and they can provide the opportunity and support for you. Didnt Scholastica have a seperate EC period after school every week? Just because others dont care, doesnt mean you should too. Remember, you want to impress adcoms.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Ok...i wanted to do that...wanted to do a lot of stuff....was shut down, by school, parents...all that ****...you gotta admit...life's limited in bd...and thats a fact. its not that i hate my country...its just the truth....

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You make Bangladesh sound as if they were controlled by Taliban LOL. Come on, you know there's freedom and opportunity.</p>

28

<p>firstly, wow, i'm famous...</p>

<p>secondly, no, sorry, i don't know who u are... so may be ur not as famous as i am... :D (kidding, but i really have no idea who u are)</p>

<p>thirdly, i started a reading club in my school to promote reading amongst peers and juniors... so that answers the "founding club" question...</p>

<p>"and for the record, the "sure its bangladesh"...quote...seriously guys...you over-emphasized my statement...its called sarcasm...remember? I don't hate my country- i am just acknowledging some of the difficulties we face here which our international peers aren't really aware of..."</p>

<p>dear rezwan, u weren't being sarcastic.... what exactly COULD u be sarcastic about... i mean were u trying to mean that we are overflowing with so many opportunities and so the "it's bangladesh!" comment is justified as sarcasm?</p>

<p>and u didn't put it like that: "i am just acknowledging some of the difficulties we face here which our international peers aren't really aware of..." u put it negatively... ur comment was phrased to steer sympathy towards ur situation... when our international peers, as u say, have no reason to sympathise with you except for the fact that it was a very pathetic attempt of yours.... from ur previous posts (since u happened to recognize me, i did a bit of a background check), i can also see that you've been trying to find out if you're considered as a "minority" in america.... that, my friend, also raises my famous eyebrows because u studied in a country where as a bangladeshi, u've been a part of a majority... in america, ur an international student, ur not considered to be a minority...</p>

<p>once again, i have to point out your lack of regards for your own country: "but here in bangladesh except for a few people,nobody- we are a selfish nation, its abt time we acknowledge that." i might agree with u if i were to think that all bangladeshis are like you and try to portray their countrymen as selfish people for their college application purposes... but i prefer to disagree.... i know a lot of people here who are not selfish... unfortunately, we have been represented by some corrupt people elected by ourselves but the vast majority and unrepresented mass happens to be selfless.... pls visit a bit more of this country...</p>

<p>"but remember, community service is about helping people...its not about getting credits for it, and fattening your resume with big nicely written certificates. And ...thats the main reason, people do it....and don't argue with me about the 'goodness in human beings'- routine." >>> r u saying that everyone who does community work has ulterior motives, rezwan? my, my... that would make a lot of us get angry here now, won't it? in that case, i believe colleges shouldn't acknowledge community work because all of us here are "selfish" people trying to fatten our resumes.... colleges must be really dumb...</p>

<p>u see, rezwan, it's important to acknowledge community service and whether it's self acknowledgment or the acknowledgement is given by the college, it's important to let people know that there IS a reward for helping others, both in the materialistic sense as well as in the "feel-good" sense... or a lot of people wouldn't do it... but say, being famous and stupid, i do believe that people are generally good... and i'm sticking to that...</p>

<p>i'm glad to know u love ur country. u should. it makes u a good boy :) and a good boy who loves his country is better than a good boy who does community service because that boy is not good, he's doing it just to fatten his resume! :)</p>

29

<p>kee10, I for one dont like the situation in bdesh. Being proud of a nation for no reason is plain dumb. I am not proud of Bdesh. I am advising just rezwan so that he can have the best resume as possible. Everyone has the right to have opinions of their own country. A <em>good boy</em> is one who is capable of thinking independently.</p>

<p>Rezwan,I applaud you for speaking the truth in this forum. For the first time I see someone not blinded by "pride for their own nation."</p>

30

<p>uhh, that wasn't addressed to you alien_workshop... it was for our friend rezwan... :D and the good boy thing was sarcasm <em>whispers</em>... :) which rezwan is very good at identifying ;)</p>

31

<p>alien_workshop, i don't support people being blind due to overwhelming pride in their nation either... u urself have agreed that there is freedom and opportunities in this country... so rezwan hasn't told the complete truth about bangladesh; he makes it seem like any attempt to do good will be "closed down"... he really shouldn't misinform people at CC...</p>

<p>i think all of us here can recognise what's missing in bangladesh and what isn't... but i would ask rezwan not to make it seem like you can't take initiative in this country... he's distorting the image to people who know little about us and base some of their opinions from what they're reading here...</p>

<p>that being said, this debate can go on and on...but it's eid day here (happy eid to all) and it's late (3.57 AM) and i'm sleepy... rezwan, i hope u do get into your college, pls don't call us a "selfish nation", we are not and u know better... alien_workshop, congratulations on the 2000 hours; i don't think as cynically as rezwan... i honestly think that's great and if a college likes it, it's not going to be doing anything wrong... ben golub, do not take my comments personally... i was irritated by your "u and you" thing... i'm sure u know very well we won't write "u" in our college essay but it wasn't necessary for u to point that out... a lot of people write u and urs and make lots of typing errors here... may be u were in a bad mood, it happens...</p>

<p>goodnight to all from this side of the world...</p>

32

<p>
[quote]
Ben Golub, please learn the correct way to type "an" for the purpose of your college application essays.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I would (if it were necessary), but I've already gotten into college ;-).</p>

<p>On the point of "at issue", I thank mootmom for her defense.</p>

33

<p>i hope whichever college i end up in, i come out of it with maturity that doesn't make me single out people for using "u" in a college discussion forum that has no rule about adhering to standard dictionary english... :D</p>

<p>and also with the maturity to ignore such comments... :D</p>

<p>i'm so glad college is still ahead... i have a lot to learn... idioms, how to be mature... how to ignore comments that are not mature :D</p>

<p>ben golub: read what i wrote in my 2nd last post :)... i still think u just had a bad day because i refuse to believe a student member of the caltech admission committee can lack such maturity :)</p>

34

<p>I saw nothing wrong with Ben's suggestion that colloquial spelling preferences be removed from one's application. It was in no way harrassment, and should have been taken in the same light vein as you'd prefer to see your texting-slang be taken.</p>

35

<p>Well, so this whole thing is a bit ridiculous... obviously you can spell how you want where you want, and my comment about application essays was a joke. On the other hand, it's just simply true that most intellectual, educated people I've known, by an overwhelming majority, dislike this ugly way of spelling English and think it makes the author seem illiterate, even when it's used in an informal forum.</p>

<p>So, maybe you should take this as an inexpensive heads-up that trivial things like how you type can make a difference to how seriously your thoughts are taken. If you think anyone who pays attention to such things is not someone you want to deal with in the first place, then that is certainly your choice -- but it might prove costly in one way or another.</p>

36

<p>mootmom: "I saw nothing wrong with Ben's suggestion that colloquial spelling preferences be removed from one's application."</p>

<p>ben hadn't suggested it as tactfully as you have, mootmom... if you go back to the post, u can see his way of conveying his "dislike (of) this ugly way of spelling English" was less... nice. </p>

<p>.... "and should have been taken in the same light vein as you'd prefer to see your texting-slang be taken."</p>

<br>


<br>

<p>ben: i'm glad to know u intended it as a joke... however, i didn't find it too funny, rather irritating and childish because i think you're very well aware that no one in his/her right mind would spell "you" as "u" in a college essay... the way you phrased your remark came out more as a slight insult than a joke but if ur intentions were otherwise, then it's okay.</p>

<p>rest assured however that i have the sensibility of knowing when to use proper typing mannerisms... u'd be mistaken to think that most people write only in one specific way that doesn't change from place to place.... very few people, a small minority of us here actually write in the exact same tone, language and style that we'd use in a college essay or paper... the only thing writing "u" has cost me here is the precious time i've wasted on explaining that there's a difference between how people write online and how they write elsewhere... i see now that it was a stupid debate to launch on to because i expect most people to understand that :)</p>

37

<p>
[quote]
the only thing writing "u" has cost me here is the precious time i've wasted

[/quote]
</p>

<p>... and the attention of people who might provide you with valuable help or insight if your posts were less painful to read. If you think there are very few such people, or that they are not important -- as I said, your loss.</p>

38

<p>... the valuable help or insight on how to spell in an informal college forum.... a great loss, indeed :D... like i said if the help you might have tried to provide is SO valuable, try to make it into a "sticky" here at CC... "uses of u and you... how to avoid sounding like an illiterate on college confidential"... a lot of people might receive your generous help with far more grace than i did :D</p>

39

<p>no hard feelings, ben.... i'm not even applying to caltech... the only reason i came to this thread was because rezwan's comment presented an inaccurate picture of my country... i have my SAT I tomororow and i promise u that i won't write "you" as "u" in my SAT essay... :D... happy? :) enough of wasting time here... i should go back to SAT math....</p>

40

<p>
[quote]
...the valuable help or insight on how to spell in an informal college forum....

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No, help or insight on other matters, if you were ever to need them. The point, which you seem to insist obtusely on missing, is that how you spell will affect who pays attention to you, and sometimes the help you lose would have been worth a lot. This is my last message on this nonsense.</p>