Where to start...
I've been very busy lately with trying to keep my grades up... so basically, I've been doing a lot of reading, writing, and mindless bookwork (but aren't we all?). I've also been doing a lot of drawing, painting, and Photoshopping, so I've been able to keep a good balance of work and hobbies this year.
So after many hours of thinking college over and talking with my parents and others, I've decided I want to go to University of Michigan. By 2013, if all goes as planned, I'll have a Bachelor's in Art and Design and possibly a double major or minor in Japanese. I'm leaning towards U-M because it would be a challenge, as well as an intellectually enriching experience I probably wouldn't get at any other college in this state.
For a while, I was set on Kendall College of Art and Design, which I'd have no problem getting into whatsoever. Because it's in Grand Rapids, I wouldn't have to pay room and board, so my tuition would be around $13,000... which is good for a private art school, and yet still insanely expensive.
U-M tuition is around $10,000 and with room and board, we'd have to pay around $15,000 (ouch!). However, for me, the benefits substantially outweigh the cost. U-M was ranked as the 2nd best public university in the nation in 2006. They have fantastic networking and all of their programs rank in the top 20 in the nation (including the Art and Design program). It's NOT a party college. The competition there, I think, would help me improve upon whatever it is I am doing. It is ethnically, politically, and philosophically diverse, and I wouldn't be stuck in school with just art students. I would be able study a second language and I'd have more study abroad opportunities. They have a wide array of liberal/radical and environmental student activists groups. It was ranked somewhere in the list of top 20 best colleges for LGBT students. And lastly, Ann Arbor is sah-weet and has relaxed drug policies. Therefore, U-M is definitely the right college for me. Now how am I going to get in?
I'll have harder time getting in than I initially thought because affirmative action was voted unconstitutional last year (which I believe was incredible stupidity on behalf of Michigan voters), Luckily, they won't look at my mediocre freshman year grades and as long as I can pull nearly straight A's again this year, I should be good to go. In addition, I'm head chairman of the Environmental Activism Club, and an active member in Art Club, Anime Club, the Gay Straight Alliance, and National Honors Society. My only obstacle is the Math portion of the ACT, but I am signed up to get tutoring for that, so we'll see how it all unfolds in the coming months.
Next semester, I'll be taking my first online course in Japanese, and finally I'll be able to get some second language credits. I'll also be dual enrolling at Kendall in my senior year for classes in 2-D and 3-D Design. So all in all, I'm really enthusiastic about my future.
Also, if you haven't seen Across the Universe yet, I suggest you go to theater ASAP. It was everything I hoped it to be. Last night, I made an Across the Universe web design for my Photoshop class, so be sure tell me what you think of it (constructive criticism is always welcomed).
Now for some venting: I'm getting really frustrated with people who simply "don't believe in global warming," such as my father. September resembled August, and it's mid-October and the leaves haven't fallen yet. If I'm not able wear a sweater everyday in November, then there's a real fucking problem. That's all I have to say.
So after many hours of thinking college over and talking with my parents and others, I've decided I want to go to University of Michigan. By 2013, if all goes as planned, I'll have a Bachelor's in Art and Design and possibly a double major or minor in Japanese. I'm leaning towards U-M because it would be a challenge, as well as an intellectually enriching experience I probably wouldn't get at any other college in this state.
For a while, I was set on Kendall College of Art and Design, which I'd have no problem getting into whatsoever. Because it's in Grand Rapids, I wouldn't have to pay room and board, so my tuition would be around $13,000... which is good for a private art school, and yet still insanely expensive.
U-M tuition is around $10,000 and with room and board, we'd have to pay around $15,000 (ouch!). However, for me, the benefits substantially outweigh the cost. U-M was ranked as the 2nd best public university in the nation in 2006. They have fantastic networking and all of their programs rank in the top 20 in the nation (including the Art and Design program). It's NOT a party college. The competition there, I think, would help me improve upon whatever it is I am doing. It is ethnically, politically, and philosophically diverse, and I wouldn't be stuck in school with just art students. I would be able study a second language and I'd have more study abroad opportunities. They have a wide array of liberal/radical and environmental student activists groups. It was ranked somewhere in the list of top 20 best colleges for LGBT students. And lastly, Ann Arbor is sah-weet and has relaxed drug policies. Therefore, U-M is definitely the right college for me. Now how am I going to get in?
I'll have harder time getting in than I initially thought because affirmative action was voted unconstitutional last year (which I believe was incredible stupidity on behalf of Michigan voters), Luckily, they won't look at my mediocre freshman year grades and as long as I can pull nearly straight A's again this year, I should be good to go. In addition, I'm head chairman of the Environmental Activism Club, and an active member in Art Club, Anime Club, the Gay Straight Alliance, and National Honors Society. My only obstacle is the Math portion of the ACT, but I am signed up to get tutoring for that, so we'll see how it all unfolds in the coming months.
Next semester, I'll be taking my first online course in Japanese, and finally I'll be able to get some second language credits. I'll also be dual enrolling at Kendall in my senior year for classes in 2-D and 3-D Design. So all in all, I'm really enthusiastic about my future.
Also, if you haven't seen Across the Universe yet, I suggest you go to theater ASAP. It was everything I hoped it to be. Last night, I made an Across the Universe web design for my Photoshop class, so be sure tell me what you think of it (constructive criticism is always welcomed).
Now for some venting: I'm getting really frustrated with people who simply "don't believe in global warming," such as my father. September resembled August, and it's mid-October and the leaves haven't fallen yet. If I'm not able wear a sweater everyday in November, then there's a real fucking problem. That's all I have to say.