Smart-People Camp!

[Ms. Jellybean]

Okay, that's not what it's really called, but it IS a four-week residential science and math camp paid for by the state. We're staying in the nicest dorms, too, by golly!

Just was curious if anyone else has done something like this before. I'm having lots of fun, because I already have a "group" that I hang out with (and eat lots of ice cream with!) and we have jokes already, such as "KEANU REEVES AND HIS GROUPIES!"

Anyone else done stuff like this before?

[BDC]

I've done it about 4 times. It's really fun to be around people that you can have intelligent conversations with, or discuss really stupid things in an overly analytical manner. It's like living on my floor in my dorm.

It's one of the greatest things EVER.

[Landatauron]

This one time, at residential science and math camp.

[DocD83]

I never went to any "camps," per se, but in seventh grade I took the SAT for some odd reason. Won two awards for it from John's Hopkins. I wonder what my score actually was.

I'm not sure if it counts because I was mortal enemies with everyone I took the test with.

[Ms. Jellybean]

I took the SAT in the 7th grade. Made a 1030, if I remember correctly. And now they're changing the stupid thing!

We played "The Weakest Link" last night and it got down to three guys and me, one girl. They all voted against me, even though I was the round's strongest link. GAH! But it's all good, I guess. I got "the finger".

[Magill]

I did this deal called "College for Kids." It was 5th and 6th grade. We went to high school for maybe 3 weeks in the summer and could take up to 3 classes. I don't even remember if it was every day. High school teachers taught the classes, and we could buy junk food at the cafeteria snack counter.

I don't know that I necessarily learned a lot (how much can they teach in 3 weeks), but I felt very grown up ("this is just what high school will be like!").

[duckie]

I remember taking the SAT in 7th grade as well - for me, it was to get into an advanced math class that was taught at the local university. Got accepted into the class, but found out that it was the same night as boy scouts... so I decided not to take the class.

Didn't matter too much anyway... the one other guy who was accepted into the class ended up in the same honors classes as me anyway... but I got to go camping while he hit the books

[Ms. Jellybean]

Camping vs. schoolwork... I can see where you're coming from.

So they've (kind of) combined the two here, planning fun activities to lure us into believing that this is more than a summer program for geeks with nothing better to do. It was this or a summer job. Blech.

Anyone ever heard of Governor's School? I was nominated to attend, but didn't pass the audition. Luckily, I get another try next year. I live in North Carolina, so Governor's School is the BIIIIIG thing here, academically.

[Ms. Jellybean]

[glow=red,2,300]Ooooh, glowing text...[/glow]

Badger badger badger badger badger.

Yes, I'm bored, and I hate to see my thread "just... fade away!"

[DarthToad]

Anyway, as you all know, I was in a program similar to Jellybean's. The major thing about coming back is that
A) All your friends at home seem dumber.
B) You're thrown back in (my grandfather died, was dying when I got home. We've had minions and that sort of thing for days.)
C) You get very angry at Starbucks for their mediocre mochas.

Also, I'm not doing much for the next couple of months in terms of programs (school doesn't start start until early September, 3rd I think. I know it's not the 1st.) Well, I might try starting that novel I wanted to write. That'd be nice.

[Ms. Jellybean]

It is a bit annoying when your friends seem a bit... how should I say it... lacking in understanding?

[pythianlegume]

Heh. I just got back from sort-of-nerd-camp: the Sewanee Young Writers' Conference. For young writers. Obvs.

The amazing thing was how quickly everyone seperated into cliques. You had the Nerd Fantasy Writers, who adored Tolkein, the Broody Rock-Loving Drug-Using Writers, of whom I am ashamed to admit I was one, and the WASPy Little Rich Girls Who Didn't Want To Be There, dumb chicks with sweaters tied around their shoulders.

Other than that it was very cool, and I came out of it with a lot of new material to work with. I typed so much today my typewriter's making a disturbing humming noise that I don't trust. Unfortunately the closest typewriter repair shop is two hours away.

[Ms Jellybean]

We have cliques here. We're on our last week, and the cliques are going strong:

1) Techies. The guys who know C++, Java, AND Javascript, speak in l337 to confuse people on occasion, and also have anime obsessions.

2) Artists. The people who, ahem, "modified" their T-shirts (and then everyone copied us!), draw, play instruments, and are generally more talented at things like that than the normal person (to some degree).

3) The "Oh My God They're So Cute!" guys and their groupies. Basically preppy people who talk loudly about just being here because their parents made them. Brainless lot, lacking in general individuality.

4) Med School. They only hang out with each other, because they're over there ALL DAY and therefore have no other friends. My roommate is one. It's like the fires of Hades. Okay, not that bad, but still...

Then we've kind of branched off a bit... My guy friends are "Techies" and my girl friends are "Artists". I'll table-hop at lunch.

[PoolMan]

Guest-Ms said:

Brainless lot, lacking in general individuality.

"You're all individuals!"
"WE'RE ALL INDIVIDUALS!"
"I'm not!"

[Ms. Jellybean]

That... made... no... sense... *twitches*