Xatal

I just got back from my orientation, so I’m a little fresh about this. :]

If you’re going to college, chances are they offer an orientation program. If you’re debating whether or not to attend it, you definitely should as it’s a great source of any information that you need.

Every school’s freshman orientation program is different, but here are some things to expect:

1. A long speech. The school will likely give an introductory speech from some esteemed member of the staff.
2. Information about requirements. You’ll probably be given information about general ed and/or major requirements to help you pick your classes.
3. Dorm information. My freshman orientation didn’t do this (and I wish it had), but your school might show you in a few of the dorms and talk about them. Some orientation programs have you stay the night in the dorm to get a feel for it.
4. Stuff for parents. The school is going to try to persuade your parents that their money is well-spent and that you’re going to be safe. If the orientation program keeps you there with your parents, be ready for a long talk about the school’s boasting points and the like.
5. Tour of the campus. Another thing I didn’t have, but I know some schools do. They might take you around and show you more of the school. You might find out more about what the cafeterias are like, you might find out where the library is, and so forth. The school wants to start introducing you to where you’re going to be living.

Keep reading »

One of the most exciting things about taking a language at my high school was always that every other year they took a trip to a country that spoke the respective language. Spanish learners went to Spain, Punjabi learners went to India, German learners went to Germany.

For the kids who went on these, they were a ton of fun. I had the pleasure of going to Germany in the summer of 2006, and I would fully recommend making a similar trip. If you’re unsure if you want to go or not, maybe I can convince you.

If your family doesn’t travel much, this might be one of the only opportunities you have to travel, let alone leave your home country. Keep reading »

It’s no secret that the senior year in high school is the best of the four. Finally, you’re at the top of the tower and all of the lower grades look up to you. This is your last year of required education, and afterwards you’re free to do with your life as you please.

By senior year, you’ve probably already found your ideal set of friends and have made many new ones. Now that you have the traditionally tough junior year out of the way, be happy — senior year rocks!

So what’s so important about your senior year?

Basically, making the most out of high school. I can’t stress this enough. After this year’s over, this whole part of your life is over, and you won’t get it back. High school is awesome because of the balance between responsibilities and freedoms. You have more privileges than you’ve had before (driving, etc.), but you still don’t (always) have as many responsibilities like work and bills. If you’re going to be a senior, you’re already through with 3/4ths of your time there. Make the most of the last bit. Keep reading »

If you’re starting to choose a college, the best place to begin looking for information is always the Internet. Several websites have a quality “college finder” or “college search” to help give you some ideas of where to go to school based on your preferences. Most of these will ask similar questions about what you’d like in a college, such as your major, ideal distance from home, size of campus, sports, and so forth.

A lot of these websites are also great for providing general statistics about colleges or universities, such as male/female ratio, tuition, average age, ethnicity distribution, and so forth.

Much like the Student Search Service, a lot of the college searches are only helpful if you don’t already have a school in mind. If you’ve already narrowed it down to a few, the searches won’t be too helpful to you. However, the information that these sites provide is useful no matter who you are.

Keep reading »

Since finding out about it, a lot of teachers have developed a vendetta against Wikipedia. I’ve known lots of kids who use it as their only source in a research paper, and teachers go bonkers when they see that. This is because Wikipedia is editable by anyone, making it an unreliable source for a formal report.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Wikipedia as much as the average person. Like any Internet hipster, I look up information on Wikipedia all the time. I know how much the regulars over there guard pages against any harm, but I also know that anyone who looks around long enough will find some incorrect fact on a page. I have found many, and I regret to say that Wikipedia isn’t as flawless as we’d all like it to be.

Now that teachers wag their fingers at Wikipedia as a source, it’s time to go back to the old-fashioned way of finding information online without it. Keep reading »

“Xatal” used to be used to host my webscripts, but now I’ve transformed it into this blog about school.

If you’re directed here looking for webscripts, go check out XatalProjects, where I’ve moved them to. I’ve updated my links on HotScripts, but it hasn’t gone through yet I guess.

Sorry about the inconvenience!

When taking any test put on by CollegeBoard, such as the SATs, PSATs, or AP tests, there is an option on the forms to submit your name to the “Student Search Service”, which will allow you to receive information from colleges.

When I took the PSAT my junior year, I checked this box, thinking that it would be great to get more information on colleges. That was a bit of a mistake. Keep reading »

Money is always pretty hard to come by when you’re a teenager. As what we have available to us expands, so does our need for money. Before we know it, we need money to pay for gas, video games, hanging out with friends, and a ton of other things. During the school year it might not be a great idea to have a job because it might conflict with what little free time you already have, but during the summer it starts to seem more and more like a good idea.

But what jobs are good and what jobs are bad? Being young, it’s hard for us to be picky, but there are good summer jobs out there for teenagers. You just need to hunt around! Bear in mind these general tips which, while pretty obvious, can be a huge help to you in finding a job: Keep reading »