Friday November 19, 2004
Smart School

Heh, looking at everyone's schedules and everything for next semester kinda put things into perspective for me... if I didn't before, I definetly understand now why I wasn't good enough to get in through regular decision... and I had to get in off waitlist.

Some people here have 6 or 7 APs worth of credit. They take classes for fun and then take the AP... and get 5s. These people have a year's worth of credit already... and can graduate in three years from CMU if they wanted.

Others are uber smart (as in true geniuses). They're taking Analysis II, Matrix Algebra, Great Theoretical Ideas, 15212... all these uber-hard classes... at the same time. And they'll probably get As in all of them without ever trying.

There's people with enough credit to pursue double or triple degrees (not just a double major or triple major). There's one person with over 300 units of AP and transfer credit (meaning after he takes the required 120-ish minimum units, he can graduate... so a year and a half).

Then, there's me. Compared to most of the people here, I'm dumb. I had two 4s on APs, and no 5s. Only one of those 4s got me credit. Then I had transfer credit from SMCC. That's it. I'm in the most basic calc class, the "starting" programming class for CS majors... pretty much as low as you can go class-wise. I struggle with classes here, am happy with Bs and Cs... after all, as Jim says, "This is CMU. ANY grade is a good grade."

I guess I'm finally realizing what I've gotten myself into? But the great thing is, those really, really, really smart people don't forget about us little people. Very few of them are stuck up (I can actually only think of one person who can't resist letting people know that he's better than them). I hear stories about MIT all the time... how people are backstabbers, stealing textbooks and homework just to push someone back in the rankings. I think that's stupid. Here, we don't have rankings. When you need help, you can always find someone to provide it. And no one treats you like you're stupid when you need it.

I was kinda feeling bummed about this... thought I was stupid and such... then I realized, I'm a CMU student. Hell, I'm a CMU Computer Science Major. That in itself means I'm up there in the top 1-2%. And once you start comparing yourself to the top 1-2%, of course you're going to look dumb in comparision to some. Even if I graduate last in my class of ~130, I'll have the exact same diploma as the person who graduated first (relatively speaking... not taking minors and double majors and whatnot into account).

So I feel great about things. I love my school. I love my classes. I've got a great schedule to look forward to next semester. I get to go home and see everyone again in about a month.

Hmm... if this entry sounded a bit egotistical, I didn't mean it that way? It's just something that's been bothering me lately... and now it's not. Yayzor.

Know what would rule? If someone bought me this and this and this. Yar.


Posted at 06:09 PM
3 comment(s)  |  Please leave a comment?

Comments:

Alan, remember, what's the point in comparing yourself with other people in the first place? You'll always be better than everyone at some things, and worse than everyone at other things... So don't worry that you seem "dumber" than other people. You're not.

Posted by: Tim at November 19, 2004 06:17 PM

There are cs majors who start at 15100.

I've noticed it is easy for people hear to feel daft and intelligent in the same day, as well as appear foolish and arrogant all the same.

I had a really long post that wasn't ending, so I'll spare you. In short, hard work is the only way anyone can accomplish anything. We are here to learn. There should be no walls that impede that. With what I have and will learn, I hope to save the world. Your goal may be different (admittedly, mine is rather vague), but even if we aren't the most gifted, how can we be sure it will get done if we don't try? Also, while there are some who may be academically behind you, don't use them as a reason to feel good about yourself, use what you have done to feel good (others may disagree).

..That was still long. oh well

Posted by: Mark at November 19, 2004 08:03 PM

Hehe.... I will be one of those students with tons of AP credit... If I get 3's here on out, except for a couple that I'll get 4's or 5's on for sure, I'll have a year and a half worth of credit at the college I'm going to.

*shrinks into the corner after realizing that this college is Colorado State University, with the average incoming SAT score of 1120...*

But seriously, Alan, I'm glad that you kind of see both sides of it... People smarter and dumber. You just have more giftings in some areas (crazy-good grades at PPA, drawing dead babies) that others don't, and others have gifts that you don't. I've never been a proponent of "gifted" education, because isn't *everyone* gifted in one way or another? How about "academically talented" education?

And WOW... people smarter than Alan? *checks to see if hell has frozen over*

*gets some ice cubes*

Posted by: Zeke at November 19, 2004 11:37 PM


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