TamTam's Anti-advice Column
“How do I get a teacher to like me?”
The only way to make a teacher like you is to stop going to their classes. ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER, AMIRIGHT???!?!!?
Don’t email them, don’t say “hi” in the halls, better yet - just don’t come to school in the first place. Yeah you might see some angry emails from Havergal, and your parents might be mad that you’re skipping school. Skipping school is no biggie at Havergal, where the tuition fees add up to roughly $30/hr of school. The more school you skip THE BETTER IT IS!!! DEFINITELY NOT A WASTE OF MONEY AND EVERYONE’S TIME!!!
Then at the end of the year, after skipping almost all of your classes, show up for the exam. Expect to get all 4+’s. Your teacher likes you, don’t they?
But if your teacher still doesn’t like you after that year, you might need to shake up your approach. Perhaps consider being respectful to the teacher, doing your homework, asking insightful questions, participating in classes, keeping your phone off the whole class, stay after class to tell them how much you liked that thing they talked about (and you genuinely are interested in). Maybe DON’T use your laptop to shop for bikinis online, and don’t pack up before class is actually over. Overall, just show interest in the course and treat your teacher as you would any other human being - with kindness.
What’s the general Grade 12 admissions timeline?
I only know the timelines for US and Canadians university applications so here’s a COMPLETELY ACCURATE AND ABSOLUTELY NOT FALSE MONTHLY GUIDELINE - the real todo’s are in italics!
US:
SEPTEMBER- ABSOLUTELY NOTHING / Begin drafting essays, decide if you want to apply early decision -if yes, start working on that application, compile potential list of schools to apply to with a balance of safety, reach, and dream schools
OCTOBER- ABSOLUTELY NOTHING / ask for reference letters early in the month, polish early decision application, finalize list of schools
NOVEMBER- Decide to apply early decision (which means an earlier deadline and binding admission to one school) TO ANY IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL, OF COURSE. Write everything three days before the deadline: the common app essay, activity list, emails to teachers begging for reference letter, supplementary essays / submit early decision application, start brainstorming for regular decision applications
DECEMBER- Apply to 10 school that you don’t actually like, BUT ARE “NAME-BRAND” SCHOOLS, so why the heck not? And make sure you procrastinate the essay writing to the very end. The pressure and limited amount of time helps you focus!? / polish regular decision applications
Canada:
SEPTEMBER- ABSOLUTELY NOTHING / talk to guidance about your academic interests and research programs
OCTOBER - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, but maybe throw some badly written scholarship applications together / think about where you want to be next year and talk to guidance and your parents for advice
NOVEMBER - LOSE YOUR OUAC CODE (the code used for registration on the Ontario University application site) AND DON’T LOOK FOR IT / keep your OUAC code safe! Set-up your account on the website and start clicking around! Finalize list of programs you are going to apply to (make sure to balance safety, reach, and dream programs)
DECEMBER - DON’T LOOK FOR YOUR OUAC CODE!!! Don’t think about where you’re applying / have a solid list of programs and when you’re ready, apply! And start working on the supplementary applications (if necessary)
JANUARY - APPLY TO ONLY THE HARDEST PROGRAMS, NO SAFETY SCHOOLS. SAFETY SCHOOLS ARE FOR THE WEAK, YOU’RE A RISK-TAKER WHO PUSHES HERSELF, RIGHT? YOU DON’T NEED A SAFETY SCHOOL. SURE, YOU COULD GET REJECTED FROM ALL OF THE PROGRAMS YOU’RE APPLYING TO BUT WHO CARES! YOU AREN’T A SUCKY BABY! (MAKE SURE YOUR GRADES DROP TOO!!!!) / keep working on supplements, make sure you don’t get hit with senioritis after applying