Int World History
Int English
Int Bio
Int Geometry
PE
French 3
Photo 1

AP Euro
Int English
Int Chem
Int Alg 2
PE
French 4
Photo 2

AP US History
AP English
Int Physics
Int Precalc
AP Psych
AP French 5
Photo 3

Gov't
AP English
AP Physics
AP Physics
AP Calc BC
AP French 6
Photo 4

You'd think after four years of schedules like that, I'd be set for college. My grades aren't bad and seriously, 9 APs. And 9 intensified courses (I had to count for something else, I'm not that self-involved). So I should get in somewhere, right? Apparently not. I'll probably get to spend my spring break at home sending my $300 check to Pitt. Not okay.

I want to get into Duke or Penn so badly that it hurts, and I know at this point that there's nothing I can do about it. And even if somehow I get into one of those places, there's no way in hell I'll be able to afford it. But that doesn't look like it's gonna be a big problem right now.

I need my class rank, our class size, to write about a million essays, to get into college so I can tell all these shitty scholarship people where I'm going, etc etc.

I don't understand how these people can set deadlines for February and March when most people don't find out where they're going until April. Yet another way I'm penalized for shooting too high for my early decision.

Oh yeah, and I need to get a senior experience. Soon. Ya know, since the forms are due on Wednesday next week. Shit shit shit shit crap.

I'm a mess. I can't handle this. I really really...agh

Just ignore this post

I really don't care about the state of your relationship or lack thereof. Please stop talking to me about it.

This weekend has been fun. And it's not over. Got deferred from Penn on Thursday night, but c'est la vie. And I'm stupid.

Basically, I'm just letting you know I'm still alive and such.

Hi, Justin Timberlake. You're on SNL.

Who knew we have exactly 2 weeks until New Year's? I'd better have plans because I never ever go out.

This is good.  Life is good.  Unless you count the college thing, but...whatever.

BU just called me.  The man was incredibly awkward but he went to B-school there too so we'll see.

Homecoming was good.  And we won the game (heck yes we did).

Life is just kind of going right now.  Nothing is incredibly amazing, nothing is terrible.  I've just got to make it through to June.  And right now I think I can handle that.  But then you never know.

I don't love school, but it's not terrible (apart from french)
I love love love this Death Cab song
I love compliments a LOT
I hate how disgusting my room is
I adore some of the kids I coach
I dislike working in a freezing cold pool
I love making $20 for 45 minutes of work
I hate how I'm exhausted and hungry and cold all the time
I like how chill I've been recently about a lot of things.  Inwardly, never outwardly.

Annnnd that's pretty much it.  Again, life is good.

I told myself that I'd never do this.  I'd never complain about this, I'd never be that girl that does this.  Aaagh.

So I drove last night (because driving is for thinking) and wasted like 1/4 of a tank of gas and came to no conclusions.  And maybe I'm being stupid and maybe I'm blowing this out of proportion and maybe I'm seeing things that weren't there to begin with.  Yes, I know that I just can't make up my mind about this stuff.  But...I don't know.

I don't even know why I'm complaining.

School school school school school.

Apparently Anne's bro was at an NYU party with Rupert Grint aka Ron Weasley but was too trashed to do anything other than call Anne.  Sad story.

Anyone care to help me edit my college essay?

I feel like the second to last paragraph is somewhat awkward.

And basically I'm having issues with English because...I can't pull things apart like I'm supposed to be able to do for that class.  I was under the impression that it would be different from last year but the only difference is that my teacher isn't batshit insane.

Hamlet death count:
1) Hamlet's father
2) Polonius
3) Rosencratz
4) Guildenstern
5) Ophelia
6) Gertrude
7) Claudius
8) Laertes
9) Hamlet
Am I missing anyone?


So I went to Penn today and I loved it even more and I ate lunch at Cereality and I love love love Penn and the Huntsman program and the fact that I might get in because I'm a girl. And I love love love math?

Wharton = amazing. Huntsman = double amazing. There's someone graduating in 5 years with 4 degrees: Bachelors in Business and Bachelors in International mumbo jumbo or the like, and then Masters in Business and Masters in other mumbo jumbo or the like. I'm a lot amazed. He/She is probably like the guy that graduated from UVA in a year.

I need to get my apps done and done and done and done. I just need to finish my Penn app, actually. It would be REALLY REALLY NICE if I got in early. REALLY REALLY REALLY NICE.

But wait, I'm not getting in because "oh well I know someone with a 4.0 and 2400 SATS and blah blah blah who didn't get into yada yada" shut the fuck up. I don't give. That doesn't mean I'M not going to get in.

22 days? Oh boy. Oh no. I need to write 4 essays. In 22 days.

But I love me some Penn!!!

Early decision countdown (in case you weren't worried enough already): 28 days.

Checklist to do before then:
-finish Common App essay
-write about a Penn professor I would like to study with and why
-write about the stuff at Penn that interests me the most
-write about an international issue that demonstrates how business and international affairs intersect
-tie up loose ends in app
-turn in my transcript request to counseling (do it tomorrow?)
-remind teachers about recs

Then on to regular decision and...oh...NINE more colleges. So I can get my butt in gear and so that I can guarantee myself at least one acceptance.

I can't wait until January 1st.

Note to self: shut up about college.

Anyways. The next month or so:

This week: Swim meeting (Wed), ASPAN (Fri til 7ish), the reunion of Rosalie's 4 personalities (Sat)
Next week: babysitting (Sat)
Week after: homecoming? Is it really this soon?
Week after that: goodness knows, but I've promised myself that my college stuff will be totally done by then.

And the student teacher we have for gov't is simply not okay. She yelled(ish) at us today for not reading the Federalist no. 10. Hello? This is REGULAR government. Oh yeah and you aren't my teacher. And...uh...Marymount. Wow. And pants. Another wow.

The only class I'm struggling in right now is French. An 89.1 is not okay (and the only reason I have it is because of my lovely teacher who can go straight to hell). I need to pick that up before the end of the quarter. And keep it up until I'm accepted somewhere.

Why won't I let myself settle for JMU or something? I'm so absurdly hypercompetitive sometimes. Oh yeah and I want a decent education that...doesn't involve cirrhosis. Maybe.

Please stop me.

Yay for the Redskins!

This has been an altogether great weekend. And we're close(ish) to securing our place for our photo show. And I'm happy.

ABCR was reunited! And it was amazing, as per usual.

I didn't do my French homework. Hmmmmm I guess I'll do that tomorrow.

I'm intensely glad I'm not at W-L taking IB because my life would suck. It's bad enough I have to write multiple college essays. English is not my strong point.

So far this year, coaching the little monsters at Sunday night swim isn't so bad (except for the fact that it's freezing in there). I miss summer and the free time that came with it.

Next weekend: time with Jenna! Giants v. Redskins (oh it's ON.)

It's been a good few days.

And on Tuesday and Wednesday, it's supposed to go up to 83! That's a comfortable temperature.

Yay! Just in general, yay!

Dear University of Pennsylvania's Huntsman Program,

Please stop ignoring me. I know I'm not good enough for you, but that doesn't mean you should blow me off. I'm going to apply, and there's nothing you can do about it.

On that happy note, I would greatly appreciate it if you could accept me early decision. And ignore the fact that #1: I know nothing about the interaction of international events and the business communty, and #2: I can't write worth a damn. I'm sorry, but I'm good at math and stuff which is what you really want.

Please please please please please don't leave me hanging. Email me back. Tell me you can answer my questions...in person. I would very much like to demonstrate interest. I'm dying here.

Sincerely,
Caitlin Shaw

P.S. I'd be perfect for those brochures you send out because I'm so ridiculously attractive. You know. It'd be like me and an asian kid and a black guy and possibly some remotely hispanic girl. The usual group. And we'd all be learning and studying and having fun just like what really happens in college.

P.P.S. I'd throw some pretty kickass parties.






Dear Common Application,

Why can't I just give you my name, high school name, and social security number, and you can look up all this janx on your own? You're useless.

Hugs and Kisses,
Caitlin







Dear Yorktown Counseling Department,

I recall you telling me not to take more than 3 APs because I would be swamped. I'm writing to say that I found myself today at 4:15 PM finished with any and all homework. So uhh suck on that.

Oh yeah and YOU'RE USELESS.

Best Regards,
Caitlin Shaw (not that you know who the hell I am because you're the most impersonal department in the world)







Dear Mummy and Pappy (aka Mom and Dad),

No, I will not allow you to talk about college. I get enough of it already. And I'm pretty sure I've gotten it under control. So stop asking me when everything is due because you're not going to catch me off guard. November 1st for this one, January 1st for everyone else except Columbia (because they're different and they're the 2nd)

Have fun at back to school night,
The obnoxious daughter










Dear You,

I'm very sorry if you read that.

Love,
Caitlin.

Yesterday was...pretty much amazing in a moderately interesting way. I can say I'm happy.

Today: homework and swim practice
Tomorrow: school, homework, swim practice
Tuesday: same thing minus the swim practice
Wednesday: see Monday (no Harvard info session because of back to school night and me being an orphan)
Thursday: see Tuesday
Friday: Gah.

Right now I could-a would-a should-a been writing my college essay, working on applications, doing my ISEF forms, sleeping, etc.

But the Skins are playing. 21 to 7, yesss!