I haven't been posting a lot because I've spent the past month and a half preparing for my APs (Advanced Placements) and then slacking ;) So now I'm back! And probably along with Viona and Kenneth as well *hint hint Vio and Ken*
I will split my post today into three totally different sections: AP preparation (personal thoughts), SAT Subject Tests (technical) and an article on email etiquette I stumbled across.
1. AP Preparation
For most people in our school this is a very stressful period. People retreat into their closets to mug. Some even take study leave; but I don't support this practice because I like to hear the teachers reviewing the concepts with us.
I, however, was unintentionally relaxed. Most unfortunately, I felt pretty confident for Chem and Bio AP because of the semester of preparation for these two olympiads. Those of you taking the olympiads might feel the same way when you take your APs too. Furthermore, I've spent like 11 years of my life taking exams and the past year taking a couple of standardized tests (SAT, AP, admissions exams); so these things don't work you up so much anymore =) Hence, I didn't study much for Bio and Chem AP. I'm not sure if this confidence is well-founded yet (AP results will only be out near the end of July) though.
Physics, Statistics and Calculus were slightly different. I was still taking it in my stride but I had to do more studying. I gave back to Dr Chong all my magnetism concepts, so nothing was left in my brain about it. Then statistics arh; statistics AP is like the weirdest AP. It was most uncomfortable to do because the questions are sooooo unpredictable and sooooo "artsy"/unscientific. So must revise that. Calculus. After learning about convergence and divergence tests, you will feel like crying. But my teacher always encouraged us. I did ALL the past year Free Response Questions on series before I finally felt confident in that topic.
Nevertheless, I am starting to find fun to finish standardized tests. (I haven't met anybody who finds it fun to study for them.) It's fun to tear string wrap (APs are wrapped to make sure nobody peeks at them during the transportation from US), paste AP "barcodes" (i.e. your AP number label), take computerized tests and find your way around another school. I'm not kidding! Please don't laugh at me.
Take away point: There are so many standardized tests you have to do in Year 6 (especially if you want to get into Medicine in multiple countries) that you should be confident and start to find them fun.
2. SAT Subject Tests at ACJC
I took the Chemistry and Physics SAT Subject test at ACJC. I wanted to test at Hwa Chong, where I went to previously, but the spaces were taken up. So guys, sign up early if you have a preferred test location!
A LOT of people tested at ACJC. They had a long queue of people for the SAT. The queue wasn't so bad for the SAT Subject Tests though. The place feels very packed, as opposed to Hwa Chong, where we had a large "preparation room" for us to sit in before we took the test. Plus ACJC uses normal blue exam tables, but Hwa Chong had large sturdy tables.
Physics is known to have a gentler grading curve, that is, you are allowed to lose more points to get a maximum score of 800. Hence I chose it over Biology, though I'm stronger at Bio. I got a The Princeton Review's book for AP Physics B so I used that to revise. Do note though, that relativity is not tested in AP but is tested in SAT. Plus, based on a Kaplan book that I borrowed but merely glanced through, for optics, SAT seems to focus on converging lens and not diverging lens or mirrors. I didn't answer 4-5 questions because I didn't have enough time :S Hope I can still do ok.
Chemistry was pretty easy. Managed to finish everything and had time to check. Revised with the Princeton Review but I recommend revising well for APs because the Princeton Review SAT book didn't contain some material that came out in Collegeboard's Official Guide for all SAT Subject Tests.
I didn't see Lay Kuan's post on Chinese SAT earlier so too bad for me, I took two sittings of SAT Subjects already. No $$$ left liao!
3. 10 Rules of Email Etiquette
In applications season, there is going to be a lot of emails going on between you and your college counsellor (we were assigned counsellors this year), you and the admissions officer, and you and your referees. Short rules on things to take note of from US News =) http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/10-Rules-of-Email-usnews-4178453220.html?x=0
Since E-mail is not going away any time soon, it makes sense to develop some ground rules for its usage. Here are 10 that I try to follow:
1. Do not use E-mail for sensitive subjects or topics that may be especially susceptible to misinterpretation.
2. Do not use E-mail if you are having a difference of opinion with the other person. It is very easy to come across as curt or uncaring in an E-mail message. Schedule a meeting with the person or pick up the phone.
3. Scrutinize the tone of your E-mails. Recognize that the receiver cannot hear your tone of voice and may not spot irony or humor.
4. Don't put anything in an E-mail that you wouldn't want to read on the front page of the newspaper or while sitting on the witness stand.
5. Be wary of forwarding E-mails unless you are certain that the sender would not mind if the message were forwarded. I've received forwarded E-mails that contained some rather personal comments in addition to the business content. I doubt if the author of the original message wanted me to know about her family situation.
6. If you want an E-mail to be regarded as urgent, then label it as such. Regard non-urgent messages the same way you'd regard regular mail and don't expect a reply within hours.
7. Beware of using text messaging abbreviations with people who might find it to be unprofessional, confusing or abrupt. I recently received an E-mail from a customer service department that was written in "textese." I thought it was funny but not everyone would have that reaction.
8. Unless the person is on the other side of the world, the fewer messages, the better [take note when getting your referee letters!]. If you need to communicate so much with someone who is just down the hall, go see the person.
9. Beware of rushed messages. Those are the ones you are most likely to regret.
10. Forgive notes that seem unpleasant or out of character. We all have days in which we need people to cut us some slack. Unless it is extreme, don't let one note ruin a relationship.
Michael Wade writes Execupundit.com, an eclectic combination of management advice, observations, and links. A partner with the Phoenix firm of Sanders Wade Rodarte Consulting Inc., he has advised private and public-sector organizations for more than 30 years.
So all the best to Year 6s for application season! Don't forget to submit your personal statements to Mr Allan/Ms Huang by 31st June!
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