This book is sick -- "The Overachievers"

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>So on my lunch hour I was perusing through the Coop (local bookstore), and I picked up this new hardcover (came out a couple days ago, i believe) called "The Overacheivers", by Alex Robbins (she also wrote "Pledged", some undercover sorority book). </p>

<p>Anyways I started reading it, and I was hooked. The author follows around a bunch of high school students (i.e. "AP Frank", nicknamed because he took 17 APs, Taylor the "Popular Girl", and so forth) at this high school (Whitman High) in Maryland. In between the coverage of all these different kids are articles about many things that you commonly see on the CC forums, esp. the Parents' seciton (i.e. the infamous New York preschools, the Dale-Kruger study, sleep deprivation, the intensity of modern day HS athletics). </p>

<p>From reading it, it seems like the author spent a hell of a lot of time on CC as well. I'm not finished but I plan on going back after I'm done with work. Has anyone else read it? If so, comments?</p>

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<p>Wow, Walt Whitman High School. I was just there this past weekend.</p>

<p>I definitely need to read that book ...</p>

<p>How is another reference to this educational district as the land of "overachievers" not surprising?</p>

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<p>hmm i'm going to have to pick up a copy of that. sounds pretty good</p>

<p>i read Pledged and liked it a lot although it's quite biased, but i guess that's the point</p>

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<p>The first chapter is online if you're curious (er, I was). It sounds good; reading about other people's absurd machoism is always a motivator.</p>

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<p>Can you post or pm me the link to this first chapter? I couldn't find it lol</p>

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<p>figgy, heres the link: <a href="http://www.alexandrarobbins.com/theoverachievers/chapter1.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.alexandrarobbins.com/theoverachievers/chapter1.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>k thnx, ill read it another time (bed time for now)</p>

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<p>I go to Walt Whitman High School. haha.</p>

<p>I just saw a MSNBC article on Robbins and her book yesterday...I had no idea of her chronicling people at my school previously. Robbins went to Whitman herself as well.</p>

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<p>:):):):):):):):)</p>

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<p><strong><em>Spoiler</em></strong></p>

<p>The two most interesting stories were about the popular girl with the perfect math score who hid in the fireplace [or something like that], and the jock who took diet pills to stay up and finish his assignment.</p>

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<p>Hmm, I just read the chapter 1 online. Wow, I actually know who AP Frank is...or at least, heard of him. He got into Harvard and his brother just graduated last June and will be a freshman at UPenn this fall.</p>

<p>This is mind-blowing.</p>

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<p>I finished it a few days ago - it wasn't the best-written thing ever, and I absolutely skipped over all of the suggestions for toning down competitiveness at school (I mean, honest*i*), but there was a bit of it that just really resonated - occasional grade freak-outs and psychoperfectionism and whatnot. I don't know. Give it a read if you're into that sort of thing. </p>

<p>And paco, that's either awesome or scary.</p>

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<p>The atmosphere I have to live in... haha goodbye CC junior year awaits me</p>

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<p>The woman was just on Colbert, she was kind of boring seeming. I questioned the book because of her interview, heh.</p>

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<p>Yo When Is The Next Colbert?</p>

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<p>Yeah, that's my high school.... now I'm at Caltech, Class of 09'. Funny thing though, AP Frank is pretty chill. I probably should read this book. Any questions anyone? I was in the grade below AP Frank, class of 05'.</p>

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<p>I also went to Walt Whitman and I'm in the same grade as A.P. Frank's brother. He's pretty chill too, and a big flirt with the ladies haha. I think I know who you are korinfox, since you went to caltech and are one year my senior</p>

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<p>:P I know who you are, your birthday's a dead give away. If you know what I mean.</p>

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<p>haha, you're not my senior. We're exactly the same age. I saw your name pop up when i clicked on my birthday on fb haha</p>

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<p>Oh wait, that makes 3 of us that have the same birthday.</p>