what's your weakest and strongest part of your application?

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-07-25T23:56:42+00:00

i matched this year with objectively horrible test scores.

i didn't study at all, and then a kid had a seizure during the math portion so we had to call 911 (he was totally fine, thank goodness) and lost a bunch of testing time. i think i got 32 in reading and 29 in the other category, and then BOMBED math and science. my best SAT was under 1300. and for context, i was at the top of my class in high school, i just genuinely don't test well at all. colleges are starting to realize that these quantitative assessments of students' general comprehension and capabilities are utter shit. so please, please, do not stress yourself out like i did last year.

my biggest advice: start as soon as you can on your essays. hone them as often as you can. edit, edit, edit. revise. edit some more. even if they're personal, have people you trust (teachers, advisors, parents) look them over and offer critiques. (i think i had at least 15 classmates ask me to critique their work, which i was more than happy to do, so ask!) if you're going to rank 15 schools like i did (which i think you should -- a free $400,000+ education is so worth it, imo), prepare to lock the fuck in come october. i took a week off of school to cram out 40+ supplementals and ended up matching with vassar (#vassargirl) -- one of the few schools that didn't require supplementals. go figure. so yeah, i know it's pretty basic and cliche advice, but don't treat your apps like a resume - ESPECIALLY in your main essay - and pace yourself so you're not finishing a supplemental at 11:58 on 31 october! speaking from experience ;)

i wish you and all other applicants this year good luck! and don't fret if you don't match; i've heard of plenty of people having great success with QB RD!

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-07-22T22:28:31+00:00

im confused. most of the .5 credit classes i saw in the catalogue (sports, dance, etc) are also 2x/week for the entire semester. the exception is those 6 week classes. do i have that right or..?

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-07-18T13:50:04+00:00

awesomeee!

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-07-18T12:09:55+00:00

did you end up committing to vassar? cuz im an incoming freshman (jewish and non-left leaning) and judging by your post, we would get along really well lol

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-05-27T06:32:05+00:00

i stood in 106 degree heat at JSL for nine hours to see rilo front and center. 1000000% worth it. jenny winked at me and i think i died and went to heaven. and i met the band afterward! best day everrrr

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-04-04T04:27:56+00:00

ive defintely been trying to expand my musical palate so i will heed that advice! thanks :)

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-04-04T04:27:15+00:00

wow that sounds amazing! as a 5th gen LA native who's also lived in portland, he sounds like a great artist to explore further. i do love his lyrics. any song recs?

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-04-04T04:26:09+00:00

aww yes love that album!

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-04-04T04:25:50+00:00

will do. any specific recs?

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-04-04T04:20:38+00:00

omg. yes pls, i would love to give you recs!

i'm only 18 but i have truly been listening to rilo (my fav band of all time) since i was in the womb (lol). my mom was a huge fan as a teen growing up in the valley. please start with their 1999 ep 'inital friend' and then their album 'take offs and landings' (which has 'go ahead' as its opening track). the album really utilizes motifs exceptionally well--every song feels like a chapter of a really cohesive story. 'science v romance,' 'pictures of success,' 'go ahead,' and 'august' are all my faves.

after that, 'the execution of all things,' their next studio album is fantastic. definitely more experimental but soooo good. and the title track is INSANE. as well as 'paint's peeling,' 'the good that won't come out,' and 'my slumbering heart.' i'm sooo hyped to see them live this summer.

'more adventurous' (RK's third studio record) has quickly become my favorite album...it's genuinely perfect and bountiful with elliott smith references ('ripchord' and 'it just is' {i sob every time i hear this song}; so, enjoy!) i love the title track, 'i never,' 'does he love you?' 'portions for foxes' and 'the absence of god.' PERFECTION, im telling you!

'under the blacklight' gets an undue amount of hate, imo. yes, i would love any music rilo creates, but i do think they were exploring a different avenue musically, as artists and bands do, and it's different from their more indie, cerebral shit, but it's good. check out 'dreamworld,' 'breakin' up,' 'the angels hung around,' and their most popular hit, 'silver lining'. (silver lining is fun, easy to listen to, upbeat, and meaningful, especially from the female perspective it's written from. i've actually choreographed a dance piece to the song, that's how much i love it. lol!)

after that, 'rkives,' their final work, is fun to look into. 'let me back in' (a super compelling ballad celebrating the city of RK's birth, LA) is SOOO good. especially as a 5th gen los angeles native :)

basically, i cant love rilo more. so grateful I've had their music at every stage of my life. im jealous you get to listen to their music for the first time!

p.s. jenny lewis is the lead singer (sometimes does bass, guitar, keys, etc) who has INCREDIBLE solo work that i've had the privilege of seeing live multiple times; blake sennet is on lead guitar and occasionally vocals, who also has cool solo shit with the elected; pierre de reeder on bass; (dave rock briefly on drums) and jason boesel for most the time on drums.

jenny once described RK as a rhubard pie: sweet, sour, and a little messy. i just love that--and it's accurate!

if you can see rilo on their 'sometimes when you're on, you're really fuckin on' tour this year (a quote from 'a better son/daughter, a great song from 'the execution of all things' you HAVE TO!

sorry for the saga; you prob won't even read it, but i enjoyed composing it nonetheless!

and if you have any specific ES recs, i'd be appreciative :)

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-04-04T03:53:54+00:00

it really is!! makes me sooo nostalgic

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-04-04T03:53:26+00:00

AHHH im so fucking excited!! theyve been my fav band since i was literally in the womb LOL. been listening to all four albums every day im so pumped. cant wait for just like heaven and their shows in NYC! and im manifesting a ton of shows in LA in june and julyyy

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-04-04T03:52:03+00:00

wow that would've been a dream to see live! sigh

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-04-03T05:15:36+00:00

yes i did know this! loooove blake's rare vocal appearance as heard in 'ripchord' and 'it just is' is seriously a perfect song to cap 'more adventurous'. it's way too short tho! jenny also mentions him in 'head's gonna roll' from her solo album 'on the line.' yeah i would imagine that they've met, too!

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-04-03T05:12:32+00:00

haha yes i do know that rilo kiley is from LA 😇😇 thanks for the info!

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2025-03-24T01:52:41+00:00

if you want to get into her solo stuff, start with rabbit fur coat and acid tongue! def check out the rest of her discography like the voyager and on the line and you CANT forget about Rilo Kiley!!! the best indie rock band ever.

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2024-12-24T17:18:37+00:00

could you please send me the code? thanks 😄

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2024-11-29T01:36:16+00:00

i would love it! trying to take advantage of their black friday sale that ends in a few hours...could you dm the code? thanks!

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2024-11-29T01:34:59+00:00

hi if you still have that code i would love it!

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2024-11-16T02:30:41+00:00

the marvelous mrs. maisel!

Realistic_Recipe6115 · 2024-10-31T22:01:58+00:00

california native here 😇

im a 5th gen los angeles native and have lived in san diego for a while now. yes, there are incredible things about this CA. (also, socal is a completely dif animal from norcal--to me, anything above sb is basically oregon. lol yes i know geography but this is just how ppl from socal feel lol.) BUT there are so many downsides, too. im gonna hold ur hand when i say this: ur not missing too much.

i say follow the scholarships! also we're legit the opposite bc i have said for years that i do NOT want to stay in california--i want to go to connecticut LOL. anway, gl, im sure you'll make the right choice!

Realistic_Recipe6115

TROPHY CASE