#what is ap capstone

[novelprep1]

What is AP Capstone?

AP Capstone is an advanced program designed by the College Board to develop students’ research, analytical, and presentation skills

[yisanged]

we're doing scheduling next week so i've been thinking about future classes and i know i want to take research at some point so i started looking up topics to try to get a feel for it. who the fuck

[nicole-ashwood]

Double Exposure: A guide on how we make them pay and the signs that will show it's working

Yes, I know a lot of the hate is going to Deck Nine, and believe me some of that is deserved. But ultimately Square has final Veto power and dictates where the story goes thanks to studio mandates.

Either way, this first part is how we focus our own power and make the bastards fix this. You want change? Here's a guide.

Do not buy ANY more Life is Strange products. Corporate bastards only pay attention to cash flow. Hit their wallets.

If you have self control and decent writing skills, leave a review on Metacritic. Praise what works (Hannah, some of the writing, the inklings of a background plot revolving around an evil future Max), and damn everything else.

Everyone else? Try and do the same on Steam. Just make sure you have enough playtime (~30 min - 1 hour) so people will be more aware. Quality doesn't matter on Steam so much as the Community Score.

Attack the story and writing choices, not the cast and writers. Bosses exist for a reason, focus your fire if you plan on referencing anyone.

Do not dox, send death threats, or do ANYTHING that they can use to justify your dismissal. You want this fixed, don't stoop to their level.

If you can, vote in any game awards the series appears in. Hannah has another game on the way, we'll make sure she gets her proper praises then.

Get your opinions where they matter. Instagram, TikToc, Reddit, and Twitter are where the search algorithms look. Make sure people know how bad they fucked up here.

Return the game if you can, and just watch Let's Plays. Bleed them dry.

This game will only sell if we aren't loud enough. Games are expensive. Your average buyer will still look up reviews and scores before they pop down a 50.

You want change? Don't say it's hopeless and get to work.

You die when you lose hope, and if anything I at least plan on taking as big a chunk out of them as possible before then.

And now for signs we need to keep an eye out for.

Anonymous Employee leaks and what tone they are going with. If the leaks show us things like Arcadia Bay, character returns, or anything else that gives us a hint to the plot taking place in AB, those are good signs.

Keep an eye on anyone who might return, and what their upcoming work is. Rhianna/Chloe has the mystery Lead and is our best clue, but the actors for Joyce, David, Victoria, Steph, Alex, and Ryan are all people we need to keep an eye out for. If they plan on bringing in LiS 2, then keep an eye out for Daniel's actor. He is the only one who could really return.

Watch for updates to the Remasters and series wide collectors editions. Square is going to milk the shit out of any capstone game, and this is where they'll do it.

Look for collabs that feature Max AND Chloe. Those will be meant to keep the series fresh in peoples minds up until 2027/early 2028 (assuming the tweet screenshot I posted previously continues to be true).

Books that highlight Chloe's view will probably be on the way soon. A lot of the stuff we've seen regarding Chloe in this game points to them revising what they originally wrote so Chloe appeared less toxic then originally wanted (yes, I just heaved when I wrote that). These books will continue to soften her, and ensure that she is single for the next game. Yeah, I fully expect the next game to ape the theme of restoring bonds from the first.

Keep an eye on their LinkedIn. As of this writing, they have 101 employees, half of which are artists and designers. Expect that number to increase come January. The finance report for this game will be out by then, and Square will probably pour more cash into D9 to hasten the next games release.

This series can be salvaged. It needs to be salvaged, if anything because it's the loudest voice gaming has for those who are marginalized. This series, in our current hellworld, is too damn important to end on some bullshit pivot like this, but it's only going to make it if we force their hands ourselves.

If you are a fan.

If you care about LGBTQ+ issues.

If you want to help those who feel alone and without anything to look up to in life.

Then by the Gods you damn well better do your part.

[mizuena2010]

What’s your opinion on cannibalism? (I’m only asking because I want to write about it for my ap capstone but idk if it’s too weird)

Cannibalism in wild animals is kinda creepy, but it’s like, I guess it’s ‘natural’ because sometimes maybe there isn’t enough food in the wild..so animals just like…eat their own kind ig or for hierarchy reasons

but in humans, it’s a little chilling, because we do have access to food(even in places with extreme poverty, eating other ppl are like some of the last things on their mind) and we have more consciousness than animals do, meaning we feel for people and have empathy (I hope 😭)

Cannibalistic murders will always be so scary to me. Like you did WHAT when u have FOOD? 😨

I think reasearching on it is interesting tho. And hearing stories about it is alarming, but kinda interesting since you’re trying to wrap ur head around what the cannibal was thinking to do smth like this

[dustedmagazine]

Fontaines D.C. — Romance (XL)

Until now, being a fan of Fontaines D.C. was pretty easy. The exhilarating way in which they burst to life with 2019’s Dogrel helped galvanize a renewed broader cultural interest in post-punk, exacting as it was in its marriage of youthful observation and acrimony alike. Their turn to the significantly moodier A Hero’s Death was timely in both fortunate and unfortunate ways, musical growth as a mile marker for the darkness that was 2020. The powerfully dense Skinty Fia was another signpost indicating they were on a steady but stable path despite the Glastonbury and Fallon and CNN appearances, despite the Grammy nominations, despite the skyrocketing success. You didn’t have to squint to see the band of “Nabokov” was still the band of “Big.��

The “constant process” of songwriting the group lives by has continued apace right from the off; they’ve been doing a career speed run from beautifully wayward Rob Doyle characters on Dogrel to probing the depths of the Irish soul and expatriatism on A Hero’s Death and Skinty Fia (to say nothing of frontman Grian Chatten’s solo full-length as more than just a personal aside). The through-line of their homeland was always there regardless of whether they lived in Dublin or London or on the road or anyplace else — just as James Joyce left only to spend his whole life writing about Ireland, so, too, did his apostles a century removed leave only to end up singing of the very Dublin City their name wouldn’t let them forget.

Romance is a conscious divorce from that, an attempt to think and write from a less Irish perspective. There’s nary an “In ár gCroíthe go deo” to be found; the closest you’ll get is “Horseness Is the Whatness” lifted from (where else) Ulysses. In the run up to Romance’s release, the band made a point of saying they took inspiration this time around from Italian cinema like The Great Beauty and Japanese manga like Akira. There was American nü-metal and English trip-hop afoot. The “Starburster” video offered a visual makeover straight out of a prime-era Prodigy performance. The influences are far-reaching, the ambitions greater (or at least more diverse) than ever.

The craic here is that the results are Fontaines’ Achtung Baby (or, later, Absolution and Holy Fire) moment, a star turn or a shark jump so divisive and egregious, it couldn’t be ignored by longtime fans. Call it a clean, empty room worthy of mere morbid curiosity and little more; call the “spiritual form” Chatten has espoused a gleaming, gormless, soul-sapped skyscraper that uncouples the quintet from its past; call the songwriting dumb and deprived of the depths The Lotts allowed for; call it a misstep; call it a failure.

… Or call it the band’s capstone on its ascendancy of capital-R Rock. It’s true, you’ll have to squint a lot harder to see the studied studio effort of “Starburster” in the raw live band of “Big,” but if you’re gonna be big, you gotta shoot for the rafters. Say what you will about the emotional reaches of A Hero’s Death and Skinty Fia, but neither possessed the immediacy of Dogrel and its singles, though strong, belied a more texture-forward approach. Less individual tracks were capable of standing out.

No such problems exist with Romance. The Metallica-aping opening riff and punching electronics-assisted kick of the title-track tell of new territory setting you up for something much larger-sounding than any of the previous three records, but that’s aided by a refined, popcentric approach. Some of this is down to Fontaines’ desire to do more in the studio that may not necessarily have translated live, but switching to producer James Ford (originally half of Simian Mobile Disco but now probably best known for his work with Arctic Monkeys, Blur, Florence and the Machine, Haim and others) is more indicative of the expectations — the band is leaning all the way into Wembley-size grandiosity here. It’s called Romance, for God’s sake.

How you feel about that, and about this record, will be directly attributable to your tolerance for bold moves and grand gestures. Whether it’s the short, muscular radio rock of “Here’s the Thing” or the soaring, string-assisted “Desire” or the amniotic Mellotron of “Sundowner,” the album has something for everyone in a relatively tight timespan. There’s something to be said for pacing here, too: What could have been a messy tracklist ends up flowing naturally from crashing to composed and back again, which does much to further the record’s cause despite Chatten’s admittedly more anonymous, universal lyrical efforts.

Perhaps nothing epitomizes this more than the instant classic “Favourite.” Frankly, it struck me as an idiotic decision to release the closer as a second single, especially one like this that's destined to become a setlist staple; who does that, and why the fuck would you spoil the ending before we’ve had a chance to take the full ride? But hearing Romance in full, the decision now comes across as a calculated power move, a nod of supreme confidence as the record spends its duration turning from dark to light: Yes, we know exactly what we’re doing and where we’re headed, and though you may be reluctant, you really should come with us. To drive it home amid a Smithsian strum and the most gorgeously open-hearted love song they’ve yet written, right at the end of the album’s final bridge, an auld turn of phrase slips in worthy of Grian’s best: But if there was lightning in me / you’d know who it was for. Color me a romantic, but I know who he means — and if you’ve ever loved this band, you do, too.

Patrick Masterson

[seaseren]

I think the SCH transformation skill is supposed to be aping White Mage on purpose. Nym fell to a voidsent plague that they might have been able to cure with access to the restorative powerhouse that White Magic brought. These could be the last spells that the frantic Scholars crafted - altering their fairies to match Seraph - a Golem or Sin Eater that Amdapori mages build or conjured - in the hopes that she could have the strength to cure the tonberryification. Lily-Seraph wasn't strong enough? Find a way to turn that transformation magick on yourself. Maybe it's enough to stop the curse spreading through your body, or maybe it'll empower your own purifications enough to help someone else. It's a desperate spell for a desperate people. It might not even have been finished in time, and the WoL finishes the last Scholar's masterpiece millenia too late.

I still hate the skill, though. Because even if it suits a Nymian Scholar at the height of their ability or beyond, we've barely scratched the surface of skills modeled after SCH's own identity of being a battle-tactician and squad leader. And also- they've been pigeonholing healer gear as white dresses for expansions now, and now they're truly forcing us to wear a white dress.

Thank you for this message;;; I really like your working of it into the lore, its really well done, but yeah that last point is perhaps my biggest issue. My main, Entlona, is just....not at all that aesthetic, the idea of her dressed like that and looking like that feels kind of viscerally wrong. If we just had like, a toggle, but it looks like enough people love it that it feels like kind of a fools errand to try to find workarounds. It just feels really really wrong, and part of why I gravitated towards scholar was that it didn't have that long robes angelic healer aesthetic, and now we're the one class its kind of enforced on bc everyone else can still wear a different glam but our options are now a) ignore what is probably a capstone ability, which can range from "would probably help but eh" to "making things wayyy harder on purpose" or b) dehumanize yourself and submit to the angel.

And like. if the transformation at least looked anything like Seraph I would be 20% less upset. But it really looks nothing like her (or Feo Ul, which was another explanation I found)

[pelahnar]

Panic Mode

I remember in high school, I relied on what I now call “Panic Mode.” I had the mindset that “the deadline is far away, I don’t have to work on it” up until “the deadline is basically here, I have to work on it now” which is when Panic Mode would set in. I am now aware that this is a common experience among people with ADHD, but I didn’t know that at the time.

I somehow had the ability to perfectly predict how much time it would take me to finish something while in Panic Mode, so it would kick in at exactly the right time for my to dash out a product just as it was due.

So...I was good at high school. My products were high quality, regardless of how little time I spent on them. So, I never had the threat of a bad grade hanging over me to fix my procrastination issue (well, I had the threat of a bad grade, just never the reality; I graduated high school with an above 4.0 GPA, because - even with my procrastination - I got A’s even in AP classes).

But the thing is: Panic Mode was awful.

I spent the whole time crying and freaking out that I wasn’t going to finish in time, even though I always did. I think I was worried that if I stopped freaking out, if I believed that it would work out just like it always had...that it would stop working out.

I was probably right. It was only the panic that allowed me to finish in time.

In college, the trend definitely continued, even if my ability to predict how long I’d need to spend in Panic Mode now told me I’d need to start panicking sooner. And it happened for more assignments.

In high school, daily homework was fine; the teacher said “finish this by tomorrow” and I said “I will finish this by tomorrow” no panic needed. It was was the assignment was “finish this in a month” and I said “I can actually do this in a single 14 hour session the night before it’s due.” And such projects only happened once or twice a semester.

In college, it was common to have relatively difficult assignments given once every week or two. For every class. Suddenly Panic Mode inducing projects were happening 2 or 3 times a week, every single week, rather than a couple times over the course of several months.

It was very bad.

I did okay in master’s classes, up until I started trying to teach in classroom and suddenly deadlines were burying me alive - lessons that needed to be planned by the time that class started, but really should be planned a couple days before that, assignments that, out of respect for the students, should be graded immediately, but didn’t need to be graded by any specific time.

The sheer amount of little things I needed to be doing, but none were enough to induce Panic Mode eventually overwhelmed me and I dropped out of student teaching.

So now I’m trying to finish my degree. I have all the classes done, I just have a final capstone project to do. And I’m putting everything into finishing this with plenty of time to spare and no need for panicking.

[secretly-your-history-professor]

hello students <:

i wanted to try the 30 days of autism acceptance, so ill be combining all the first four days on this post, sorry for the long one! just as a reminder, autism speaks is a hate group, light it up blue and puzzle pieces are hate symbols, there is no "cure for autism", and (well-researched) self-dx is 100% valid <:

1 April: The typical introduction question! Tell us something about yourself. If you can't think of anything, try these: What do you enjoy to do in your free time? What music or series/show do you like? Are you happy with your current living situation/the people you live with? What's one of your favourite foods?

my name is elio, and in conjunction with autism i also have adhd and dyscalculia. im a gay trans guy in a committed relationship of 4 and a half years (so far). my favorite movie is gone with the wind, and my favourite food is toasted naan bread with goat cheese, pears, almonds, and honey on top <:

2 April: When were you diagnosed and when did you know that you're autistic? If you're self-diagnosed, when did you first suspect that you're autistic and when were you sure?

i don't have a formal paper diagnosis just because it was a very expensive and arduous road for me, and i was worried about workplace and medical discrimination since my dream job is in academia and im trans. i first suspected i was autistic around 14 or 15, and after talking to several autistic people, taking a lot of online screenings, and asking my sister (who has a degree in psychology), i was certain at the age of 17ish.

3 April: How good or bad is your memory for things people say? For example verbal instructions. If you're deaf: Can you lip read? Do you think your autism influences your ability to lip read?

its honestly atrocious. i have to repeat back the instructions multiple times, if i remember them at all. i definitely prefer to write things down or read them to retain information. are there any conversations going on around hyperlexia right now?

4 April: Were/are you in special education? Regular school? Home schooled? A private school? Did it change over time? Did/do you like it?

i went to poor public schools my whole life except for preschool, which was a free private program held in a nearby church basement (welcome to the south, i suppose). i was put in a lot of advanced programs for ela, but was very nearly held back because of math. by the end of high school i had taken 6 AP classes in english and history subjects and the AP Capstone program. i didn't mind school all that much, i was always a teachers favourite student because i was quiet and friendly and generous, etc. etc., but i never had friends after 4th grade until my senior year of high school.

[novelprep1]

What is AP Capstone?

AP Capstone is an advanced program designed by the College Board to develop students’ research, analytical, and presentation skills. It extends the Advanced Placement (AP) experience beyond traditional subjects, focusing on inquiry-based learning and real-world applications. The program consists of two courses: AP Seminar and AP Research.

Benefits of AP Capstone

Enhanced Research Skills: Students gain proficiency in designing and conducting research projects, crucial for academic and professional success.

Critical Thinking: The program emphasizes evaluating information from diverse sources, fostering analytical thinking.

College Readiness: AP Capstone provides experience in college-level research and writing, preparing students for higher education challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the prerequisites for AP Capstone?

There are no specific prerequisites, but AP Seminar is typically taken in the junior year, and AP Research in the senior year. Strong reading and writing skills are beneficial.

2. Can AP Capstone courses be taken online?

Yes, some schools offer AP Capstone courses online, allowing students to complete the program remotely.

3. How is AP Capstone scored?

Both AP Seminar and AP Research are assessed through a combination of performance tasks and written exams. Scores are reported on a scale of 1 to 5.

4. Does AP Capstone count towards college credit?

While AP Capstone itself does not grant college credit, the skills and knowledge gained are valuable for college success. Some colleges may offer credit or advanced placement for AP Seminar and AP Research scores.

5. How does AP Capstone impact college applications?

AP Capstone is highly regarded by colleges and universities. It demonstrates a student’s ability to engage in rigorous academic work, which can enhance college applications and provide a competitive edge.

For more information on AP Capstone, visit the College Board’s official website or consult with your school’s guidance counselor.

[katiebug-ladybug]

on a scale of 1 to 10,, how screwed am i in the fact that i haven't started my research paper + presentation for ap capstone and i present on tuesday?

[markets]

wait what is the essay for? bc if its for ap capstone then i agree wholeheartedly. mine was due last week and ive written like a fifth of the required word count

been debating answering this as to not doxx myself but i cant hold it in anymore yess it is anon SO GLAD SOSMEONE UNDERSTANDS mine is over the required word count but under the ssuggested one and it also ssucks...😢

[education-and-sadness]

~Prepping for the AP Research Presentation~

Since all my actual AP tests are done, I have to prepare for my AP Research presentation. The paper is done, I am just formatting it. So, here are some tips for prepping for your AP Research POD. ^A lot of this applies to AP Seminar too (I know your test already happened though)

Remember, You’re the Expert: Odds are, you’ve worked your way up from AP Seminar and have spent two years working hard for this moment. So remember, you’re the expert. No matter how scary your panel may be, you’re the expert. You’ve done the research. My panel includes the district superintendent, but I’m not worried, because he doesn’t know everything about my topic that I do. You’ve got this!

Avoid Death by PowerPoint: There is a fabulous TedTalk about avoiding Death by PowerPoint...watch it. It tells you how to make the most efficient PowerPoints. It really helped make my presentation look professional. 

Practice Makes Perfect: Practice, practice, practice! Talk it out, even just to yourself and make sure you know where you should switch slides, what you should say, and how you should say it. 

Ask for Presentation Help: You should always ask for help if you need it. One of the things I’d recommend is asking if you are able to use a teleprompter so it will play your script. We weren’t allowed, but it never hurts to ask!

Practice the POD Questions: You know you’re going to get one question from each category, so practice answering them. Have parents/friends/siblings ask you some of the questions and practice answering every part of the question.

Dress Professionally: Dress nice. This is a great excuse to wear a blazer to school. This is you showing off your accomplishments, your research. Dress to be as impressive as your research was!

Get Some Sleep: Get some good sleep the night before. Not only will you be well-rested, but you won’t have circles under your eyes, making you look even better for your big presentation. 

Good luck to all my fellow AP Capstone students!

[anna-justice]

Lost or Found - 4

Summary: As Jay, Hailey, Kim, Adam and Kevin start their junior year in the wake of a tragic summer, the past year of their lives comes back to haunt them. If you enjoyed Pretty Little Liars, this is for you! *UPSTEAD/BURZEK High School AU

...

4 - Back to December 

...

Jay jumped out of the truck and ran towards the house, Hailey racing after him. He spotted his mom standing on the porch and pushed through the crowd of neighbors to get to her. Hailey stayed on his tail, not wanting to get lost in the commotion. 

He immediately wrapped his mom in a hug, checking her for any signs of injury. “Are you okay? What happened?” He asked frantically. 

Jane looked past her son at the girl standing behind him. “I’m fine. Your father…” She trailed off, she knew how secretive Jay was about his problems, especially when it came to Pat Halstead. 

Hailey sensed the awkwardness and smiled softly. “I’ll just wait at the truck, or I can call my aunt?” 

Jay sighed, he had completely forgotten that Hailey was there. “No, I’ll drive you home, just, uh, give me a few minutes.” Hailey nodded, wanting to remove herself from the situation as fast as possible. Jay turned back to his mother. “What happened?”

“I got home a little while ago and I found your father passed out on the floor, I couldn’t get him to wake up so, so I panicked and called 911.” Jay hugged his mother once more, letting out a breath of relief. Thankful that this particular incident wasn’t connected to Erin. “Go, take your friend home. I’m fine really, I think your dad is convincing them to let him stay here.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to leave you alone.” Jay searched her face for any inconsistency, but she was solid.

Jane smiled, “I promise. I’ll see you later.” 

Hailey watched Jay walk toward her, he was obviously upset. His jaw was clenched and there was an unnatural intensity to his walk. “Everything okay?” She asked as he neared her. 

“Yeah,” He snapped. “Let’s go.” Hailey tried not to be hurt by his harsh words, everything wasn’t okay and she wasn’t about to push him on the subject. 

The drive back to her house was quiet and tense. Neither of them spoke ,Jay kept his eyes trained on the road and Hailey scrolled through instagram. She wasted no time jumping out when he pulled in her driveway. “Thanks.” She squeaked before shutting the door behind her.

Jay rolled down the passenger side window. “Hailey.” He called after her.”Are you going to be okay?” She nodded and disappeared through the front door.

Jay felt like shit as he drove away, he didn’t want to leave her there alone, but he wasn’t close to good company right now and the last thing he needed was Hailey asking a bunch of questions. He chose to ignore his issues with his father the same way that his father chose to ignore him. However, his mom was a different story. He wasn’t sure what was affected more by Pat’s drinking problem, his dad’s liver or Jane. Will used to share the burden with him, but he was off at college now. Jay had to face the music alone. 

…

A few hours later, Hailey stood in the middle of the school supplies section in Target with Adam and Kim. Unfortunately the world doesn’t stop turning when you’re dealing with a stalker/psycho/murderer situation, which meant school was still starting next week. 

Adam groaned, glancing down at the list in his hand. “Why did I decide to take AP Chem?” 

“To impress me.” Kim throws back, Hailey smirks while Adam throws her a bored look. 

“Haha, very funny.” He grumbles and pulls a composition notebook off the shelf. “Do you think Griffin will like me better if I get the one covered with scientific formulas?” He asked, holding up a notebook with slope intercept form and the quadratic formula written all over.

Kim pulls it out of his hands, “Um, I don’t think so.” Adam gives her a look. “Adam these are beginner math formulas, Algebra 2 stuff.” 

Adam throws his head against the shelving. “I’m so screwed.” 

“Oh, one hundred percent.” Hailey says, earning a laugh from Kim. “Kim I don’t know why you’re taking 5 APs.” 

“I’m getting my capstone.” She says, sorting through her different color organized 5-Star notebooks. 

Hailey laughed, “You are like one class away from it. But, I’m glad you are because now our schedules are almost identical.” 

Adam houghed, “I have 3 classes with Jay’s moody ass.” 

Hailey was about to say something, the events of that morning playing in her head, but Kim beat him to it. “Imagine if it was me, if I was the one missing and you had to watch him and Erin be happy.”

Adam sighed, realizing he sounded like a complete dick before, “I know. It’s just, Jay and I have played on the same team since little league. We’ve been friends for years, since way before Erin. I know it’s selfish but I thought losing her meant I got Jay back.” Hailey felt for Adam, he wasn’t one to express himself so openly, at least to her. 

Kim took his hand in hers, “We’ll get him back, he needs closure.” She looked to Hailey, “We all do.” 

Hailey wasn’t sure if it was really closure that they all needed, they needed to figure out who was threatening them. As far as they knew, no texts had come through since breakfast, but Hailey couldn’t shake the constant feeling of being watched. It felt strange, wrong even, to be back to school shopping in the middle of all this. But clinging to any sense of normalcy seemed to be a theme throughout the group. 

They wandered through the rest of the isles, Kim convincing Adam that they didn’t need 3 cases of double stuff oreos for movie night. They rounded the corner and Kim gasped, yanking them both back behind the wall. “Ohmigod, Adam. I think that’s Nadia.”

“What? There’s no way.” He said.

Kim nudged him, “See for yourself.” 

Adam poked his head out and quickly turned back to face them, eyes wide. “Holy shit, that’s Nadia.”

“I told you!”

Hailey looked between the two of them, who looked like they were about to pee their pants. “Who the hell is Nadia?”

…

Later that night, continuing the never ending day, the whole scooby gang sat around a firepit on Kim’s porch. Kim insisted that Hailey call Kevin and Adam call Jay as soon as they snuck out of Target and tell them to meet at her house. Hailey still didn’t know what was going on, she didn’t know who this Nadia girl was, but she was sure she had something to do with Erin.

“Okay,” Hailey said, interrupting the nervous chatter. “Is anyone going to tell me who this girl is?” 

“Well, not to be weird but, you kinda took her place.” Kim explained. 

“Huh?” 

Jay spoke up, “She and Erin grew up together, where most of the rest of us met the first week of freshman year.”

“She was the third girl, a little closed off, only really trusted Erin.” Kim said. 

“And she had a huge crush on Jay.” Adam butted in. 

“Yeah.” Jay spat, “Anyway, Erin was always the jealous type, we started dating around Thanksgiving and by Christmas, Erin had enough dirt on Nadia to get her expelled.”

“Are you serious?” Hailey questioned.

Kim nodded, “Erin blackmailed her out of town, none of us have heard from her since New Years, freshman year. And none of us know what actually happened. Erin told us that she was “a little skank who couldn’t be trusted” and that she had planned to ruin us all. She was protecting us, but now that all seems so stupid.” 

“Yeah,” Kevin joined in, “We were horrible to that girl.” 

Hailey’s gears were turning over, her mind was running wild. Nadia had to be connected to all of this. Suddenly, Erin’s phone, which was always with Jay, buzzed on the ground. 

Blocked ID: I see the whole gang is there. Time to turn up the heat. I know who you all hold dear, the golden boy is also a momma’s boy, the athlete is in the running for fake father of the year, the mystery’s love for her brothers isn’t as much of a secret, the princess isn’t the only one in line for the throne and the heartbreaker, well now there’s someone who could break his. Follow my rules and your loved ones stay safe, don’t, and there will be many funerals in your future. Let the games begin. 

Everyone was silent after Jay read the text aloud. It wasn’t just them, everyone they loved were in danger too. Hailey spoke up, airing out her theory. “Think about it. Who in the world hates Erin the most? Who shows back up right after Erin is supposedly gone for good? Who would know all of your secrets? Nadia, guys.” She looks to the rest of her friends, all of them thinking the same thing. “Nadia took Erin.”

...

A/N: For the purposes of this story, Jay’s mother’s name is Jane and Will is older. I know that it differs from the show, but I think for this Will being older works better. Also, I don’t think I had ever mentioned before how long Erin and Jay had been dating, but now it’s a year and a halfish. 

[prooductivity]

Stuff is starting to really get busy... I have a capstone project, writing assignments from IYNA, a followup with my teacher on my AP score appeal, a practice test to finish writing as well as Cornell clerical work to get through. I even deleted TikTok because the procrastination was getting too much!!! 😅

22nd July -  What is your dream vacation?

getting to stay at home with my loved ones and my friends :)

This is part of the summer study challenge from @myhoneststudyblr​

[omg-physics]

Studyblr Re-introduction

Hello! Every semester I like to re-introduce myself, partially to greet new followers, partially to put my plans for posting for the semester out there so y’all know what I’m doing and to maybe pressure myself into following through.

Who am I and what am I doing?

Right now I’m on my last semester of college! I’m double majoring in physics and chemistry with a weird concentration in engineering (it’s a new program and it’s quite bad). I’ve already been accepted into several graduate schools in aerospace engineering (so so excited to soon make the transition to gradblr!!!), and will be essentially constantly traveling for visits and interviews. I’m also going to be writing my undergraduate thesis on adapting ultrafast pulse techniques to work with parahydrogen hyperpolarization (I’m quite stressed because I have a *lot* more lab work and troubleshooting to do and I’m not sure I’ll get it done in time to actually write the thesis).

Classes?

I’m taking two gen-ed type classes: one on nutrition and another on the philosophy of love and friendship. Then I’m in organic synthesis and advanced pchem. I’m also in a frustrating capstone group project class for my physics major which takes more time than I’d like.

What do I do when not studying?

I’m training for a marathon and also growing flowers from seed (I’m very excited I planted them today--they’re marigold and lavender). I also enjoy reading almost anything and bodypump and am trying to get back into creative writing after a seven-year bout of crippling writer’s block.

What to Expect?

Expect lots of posts on general study tips, and probably detailed updates on how I’m doing with my thesis. I’m hoping to be posting several times a week throughout the semester. Also expect more pictures! I just recently got a hand-me-down phone that can actually take semi-decent pictures, so I’m excited to spice things up! Finally, I’m emphasizing self-care (in the form of actually keeping up with my breathing exercises/journalling/healthy hobbies) this semester, not sure this will make this into my blog posts since I usually keep my mental health private but if people are really interested lmk.

Advice/Homework Help?

I am a very friendly but also extremely anxious person and I love helping people! (I have two younger siblings that I have tutored through chemistry/physics/early college courses.) If you need help on physics or chemistry coursework I will be happy to answer questions, chat, walk you through example problems, etc. I also have experience with: taking the GRE, applying to grad school in engineering, switching fields between undergrad and grad school, double majoring, doing research as an undergrad, taking AP classes in high school, surviving as an anxious bean, etc. Please feel free to ask me for advice!

And that’s it! I hope we all have awesome semesters full of challenges, inspiration, and happiness! 

[seminalstudy]

Hi everyone! I’m currently in the process of transferring to a new university and one of the biggest parts of that has been planning out and scheduling which classes to take my first semester, in hopes that I can graduate at the same time as people my age :’) As someone who’s planned how to graduate in three years not once but twice now, I figured I could share my experience and/or advice with anyone looking to maximize their college academics!

1. Establish a timeline: Ask yourself how many years you’re giving yourself to complete your degree as this will help you figure out how heavy your course loads will have to be to graduate at your expected time (this could be anywhere from 2 years to 5 or more). At my first college, I planned to graduate in three years in order to save money and because the school had easier academics, so I was confident I could handle the extra work. My new plan to graduate in three years is so I can graduate with other students my age, set your goal!

2. Now that you’ve established a broad timeline, it’s time to start looking at potential majors/minors and career tracks: Hopefully, this is something you’ve started looking at before applying to college, but don’t worry - it’s not too late! As someone going into college with the knowledge that I’d be taking out max loans each year, I tried to figure out what I wanted to do early on so I could maximize my credits ie take as many required classes as possible and not ‘waste’ credits on classes that wouldn’t really contribute to my degree (ofc I ended up changing my mind 3/4 of the way thru the year but that’s life). I narrowed my options down to 3 or 4 majors and managed to eliminate 2 of them pretty early on.

3. With at least one track in mind, research all the requirements to earn a degree in that area: Universities often have “general education requirements” regardless of your major, so you take classes in multiple disciplines and broaden your perspective. Course catalogs/general bulletins/college websites are where you can find info about your gen-eds and major-specific required courses. It’s really helpful to map this out by hand or in a spreadsheet program (I did it both by hand and with Excel to stay uber-organized). This is also where you can narrow down the majors you’re interested in by looking at the required courses and course descriptions. I considered a Data Analytics major early on, but after seeing how much coding was required (not a strong suit or interest for me) I could comfortably eliminate it.

4. Reach out to your advisor/navigator/registrar to clarify any questions: If you’re confused by any of the requirements for your major/gen-eds, talk to someone at the university. I feel bad for the numerous advisors I’ve had because I pestered them with questions so I could have a complete understanding of everything - it really helps in the scheduling process and I’ve never had a staff or faculty member be irritated by the questions - they love to help (plus it shows initiative and starts forming connections which is A+). Seriously, reach out if you’re confused, don’t just sit in the dark!

5. Map out required courses and pre-requisites: This is where Excel or Google Sheets can be your best friend - they make it really easy to keep track of what needs to be taken when. Some courses require a certain academic standing (sophomore, junior, senior) for you to take them, others require you to take several classes before you can register for it. Certain progressions of classes can really limit what your schedule looks like, so this step is incredibly important (and somewhat time-consuming).  

6. Generate a slightly less vague timeline: Based on pre-requisites and required class standings, begin to assign classes to fall and spring semesters. Let’s say you have to complete a senior capstone in order to graduate, and you can only take it senior year, write it into the timeline. Maybe you need to take Math123 and Math124 for your major, but Math124 requires you to complete Math123 first. Place 123 into a semester and 124 in the semester following that. This doesn’t have to be exact, but it’s good to be aware of what your future schedule will look like, and what classes you need to take sooner rather than later (this is also time-consuming because you’ll find numerous variations in potential schedules). 

7. Determine the courseload you’ll need to take: Some people luck out and have lots of AP/IB or like credits that will transfer into real college credit, helping to eliminate the number of classes you have to take (I was not such a person). You’ll generally receive a credit evaluation during the summer before the first semester so you can plan accordingly. Most advisors recommend taking 15-17 credits, but if you need to take more so you can graduate faster or less so you’re not overwhelmed, do what you need. I ended up taking the max credits allowed then over that, but that’s only because I was pushing so hard to graduate faster. This kind of ties into the last step, but you also need to evaluate your personal strengths and weaknesses.

8. Determine the courses that will maximize your first semester: Fun fact, your major requirements can often double-dip and count for your general education requirements too! Look at the pre-reqs for your higher-level classes and try to choose those that will open up the most classes, see which of your major required classes could count for gen-eds, such as humanities or science courses. If you’re between a few majors, look for classes that a required for them. For me, I was between a Business Administration or Sustainable Business major, so many of the requirements were the same. I took classes that could count for both, but if I wanted to go one way or the other, I wouldn’t be screwed over.

9. Try to balance the courses you NEED to take with those you WANT to take: I’m a humanities kind of gal (science has not been mon ami in the past) but both of my colleges require science and math classes. So, when I have to take a math and science course simultaneously, I try to add in some of the subjects I’m stronger in (history, english, etc) so that my GPA wouldn’t die. If you’re fortunate enough that affording college isn’t a concern, I’d personally say take as many courses that interest you as possible, but when financing a higher level education is more of an issue, complete your requirements but leave some space to explore your interests.

10. With a handful of courses in mind, look at actually scheduling your classes: With online registration, you can generally look at which classes are full, what times are available, etc. Are you really, definitely, for sure a morning person who can handle that 8am? Do you need a definite break for lunch? Will you be more productive in the mornings or evenings? Are there multiple profs for the class and does one have better ratings than the other? (ratemyprofessor.com is a lifesaver) Is there enough time outside of class to study/do extracurriculars/have a social life? Sometimes you’ll really need to take a class and it’ll be at some ungodly hour, but sometimes you gotta suck it up. Try not to overload one day with classes and make sure there’s enough time between classes to get to your next class, especially if your school has a large campus. This part is really based on personal preference, so enjoy it!

11. Give yourself time to do all of this: Especially for a first-year college student, there’s a lot already happening, and the opportunities are endless. It takes a lot of time to thoroughly research. This is a big process if you really care about being organized, and it can set you up for great success in college! All of these steps are really tied together but you’ll need more than one day (I took several weeks lol) to plan out a college career.

12. It gets easier: After doing this for just two semesters, I was much more comfortable making these big choices. For my new university, I managed to accomplish this in only a few days, but I was already familiar with the major I’m pursuing and how to lay everything out. For those of you continuing in college, consider mapping our the rest of your time if you haven’t already, and keep track of the courses you’ve taken and still need to take! This way, you won’t be thrown any loops when graduation comes.

Disclaimer: This advice is based purely off my own U.S. college experience which is undoubtedly very different from others! Ultimately, pursuing a higher-level education is your own personal journey, and do what you need to do to find success, this is just me trying to help out others!

If you have any questions about any of this, want to talk scheduling with me, or see my schedule planning notes and spreadsheets, just message me, I’m always willing to talk and even more willing to make friends!

-B