<p>It has, it really has</p>
<p>@mrnephew, how do you know about the “first round” process? We’re newbies to the application process in this household and there has been endless speculation around how it all happens from Jan 15- M10…
It’s become sort of a parlor game at this point! ;)</p>
<p>According to my interviewers, the package is read by three people: the regional AO, the interviewer, and a third person. If the regional AO was your interviewer, they find another person. They kick out the apps or accept the app that are definitely out or in (the first round). They then bring the remainder “to the table” and discuss who should be let in and who should be WL’d/rejected. Some schools use a scoring system (e.g 1-2 is definitely in, 3-4 is discussed/WL’d/rejected, 5 is out) </p>
<p>On an unrelated note: I was at the beach this weekend and I took some photos of the sunrise, and I have to admit I got some really good ones. My dad keeps saying I should email them to my interviewer. I told him that I really loved photography in my interview, and it’s in my application. Should I email just a few to him? I don’t want to look like a pushover to try to get myself in and I know in reality it wont help at all but should I?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t. It sort of just seems pointless to do and they are really busy right now. The AO might actually see it in a negative light so I would just stay safe and not send the photos. How were you at the beach?!?!?! It isn’t beach weather anywhere in the country unless you’re in southern California or Miami. You’re so lucky you got to go to the beach</p>
<p>@needtoboard thats what I told my dad. And no, it was in Delaware haha, it was freezing. We went to visit some family friends- it was snowing. </p>
<p>Where ISN’T it snowing? It’s too bad that winter’s coming to an end so early… There should be more snow</p>
<p>@sincostan I know! I got a foot and I half which I know to a lot of people is nothing but seriously, we haven’t gotten that much snow since 2010</p>
<p>I just finished Fahrenheit 451, I had to read it twice, but it’s a really great book. If any of you guys decide to read it, I suggest noting down the character traits of specific characters and paying attention to truth, ethics, and justice. Especially look for the impact society has on one’s moral code and the manipulation of truth by society. Also, if you can, try and get your own copy or read it on the kindle because it’s a good idea to take notes in the margins. </p>
<p>I also recommend Les Mis, it may sound boring but I really enjoyed it. It took me a while to get into the book, but i t was worth it in the end. Victor Hugo controls you with his words and makes you feel really strong emotions. There was this one line about Fantine that made me cry and it wasn’t even describing a particularly sad event. Instead, Hugo was describing Fantine herself and comparing her to a bird. </p>
<p>Oh, we’re talking about books? In that case, this long weekend I read J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan, and I have to say I’m not into older books like that but I loved it. Then again Peter Pan was my entire childhood. It was a pretty easy read and not long, there were a couple words I had to look up but it still was a really good book. I also just finished A Fault In Our Stars by John Green after all my friends pushed me to read it. I don’t think I’ve ever been more emotionally attached to the book however I predicted the end the moment I started to read it. If you haven’t read it, it’s a must read and it’s short and easy. </p>
<p>A great book is 1984. That book is so intriguing. A bit mature at times, but it’s a good book. It’s a quick read, but not because it’s short. It’s so good that you’re not going to put it down.</p>
<p>I’m hesitant to read 1984 only because I hate to read Animal Farm and absolutely hated it. Not only the gist of the book and the idea, but the way he wrote it. I don’t know I guess I’m judging a book by it’s cover. </p>
<p>I liked Animal Farm. He portrayed the idea of Stalinism very well. 1984 is a great book. You should give it a try.</p>
<p>@sincostan I liked the symbolism but we hardly talked about it in class. I can blame that on the 95% of my peers that didn’t understand the history behind it. “Well, why was he so ruthless?” asked the girl in the back while I literally fell asleep. And I absolutely love reading and have never really hated a book. But I don’t think I hated the book as much as I hated the people in my English class last year. I’ve never been so bored in English (my favorite class) in my entire life. But now I have an English teacher who finds it appropriate to touch her students. Like last week she put her hand on my shoulder and stroked my face during lunch. And if I don’t get into MX, there’s a 50% chance I’ll be in her class next year, and if I do creative writing as an extra it will be 100% chance. Yay me. </p>
<p>Maybe I will give it a try 
</p>
<p>I liked Animal Farm.</p>
<p>@ccnaf14 I feel really sorry for you. That must be terrible. And Animal Farm and 1984 are both great books. So is The Wednesday Wars. That book was pretty good, even though it’s a book for 4th and 5th graders. </p>
<p>@sincostan I had all of my faith of my current English class ruined when we started talking about Peter Pan. Everyone in our class had seen the move (I was the only one that read the book haha) and write about what we thought the symbolisms were. It was not supposed to be a formal piece of writing just something quick, rough draft type paragraph with notes in the margins so this is what I wrote:
"Vague and strong references of religion appeared; only enforcing my idea that Peter Pan is the angel (biblical) that brings children (being the Lost Boy’s) to Neverland (Heaven), in a result never growing up (which has been said in many accounts and books that when in heaven, people are younger ‘Heaven is for Real’ by Todd Burpo) because they are already dead. </p>
<p>Regarding the shadow, it makes sense too. In the beginning, Peter looses his shadow. However, a shadow is never made without light. Light is often associated with good whereas dark is associated with evil. So J.M Barrie was only trying to tell us that even in good there is evil. In order for a shadow to exist, there has to be both lightness and darkness present. In the book, when Peter’s shadow is attached to him, it only came to life when the light was presented. In another sense, both evil and good must be present to make up a childhood or life even- just like both sadness and happiness must be present."</p>
<p>The rest of my classmates literally wrote: "Peter Pan was a character in a classic book about how kids never grow up. I think this means that… a) the kids were dreaming b) we never really do grow up (you could make a good case) or c) that the author was referring to his own children. Nobody even did the assignment, and she made me read mine aloud. Nobody understood it hahaha</p>
<p>Wow that’s hilarious. My class isn’t that bad, but there are some moments when the class feels really… awkward (if that’s an okay way to put it). My classmates try their best to avoid reading the assigned readings. It got to the point where the teacher made the readings five pages for every other day. </p>
<p>@sincostan We’re reading To Kill A Mockingbird now and I don’t think that people could shy away from reading any more. To be honest, I’m really quiet in the classroom (which is a huge reason I’m applying to bs, smaller classes, but my classes are small already with about 15 or 16 kids) and I suck at reading aloud because I rush and stumble over words, but I’m the only one that does it. </p>
<p>And yes, our teacher makes us read aloud. Why? Because we must be in kindergarten with her kid whose homework is to write the letter ‘g’ fifteen times to get a gold star. </p>
<p>And the worst part is- English is my absolute favorite class, it’s what I want to do when I’m older, it’s a really big part of my life. Another reason why I hate my current school - strong in Math and Sciences, weak English and History. </p>