http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/03/the-slacker-paradox-myth-or-reality/ Demystifying Student Success Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:41:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/03/the-slacker-paradox-myth-or-reality/#comment-2264 Alycin Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:56:17 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/03/the-slacker-paradox-myth-or-reality/#comment-2264 I was that kid, too. I actually dropped out of the regular high school after skipping at least 2 days of school a week for about a month, and went to a self-paced school with a lot less structure and great teachers, but no oppurtunity for AP classes, which I had been taking at the regular high school. I graduated with a 2.8 GPA and was accepted into all 8 colleges and universities I applied to. I can only assume it was because I rocked my essays and my ACT... but I was definitely a slacker in school. I was that kid, too. I actually dropped out of the regular high school after skipping at least 2 days of school a week for about a month, and went to a self-paced school with a lot less structure and great teachers, but no oppurtunity for AP classes, which I had been taking at the regular high school. I graduated with a 2.8 GPA and was accepted into all 8 colleges and universities I applied to. I can only assume it was because I rocked my essays and my ACT… but I was definitely a slacker in school.

]]> http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/03/the-slacker-paradox-myth-or-reality/#comment-2262 Jonathan Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:21:36 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/03/the-slacker-paradox-myth-or-reality/#comment-2262 I too am that kid. Current high school senior, I was recently accepted to University of Chicago via Early Action. Several people who definitely were not slackers didn't get in, while I who definitely did slack got in. We're still waiting for decisions from everywhere else, but in this particular case I can say that I agree with Sierra in that the essays were a huge help. Sorry, kid-who-deserved-it-more-whose-slot-i-took. I too am that kid. Current high school senior, I was recently accepted to University of Chicago via Early Action. Several people who definitely were not slackers didn’t get in, while I who definitely did slack got in. We’re still waiting for decisions from everywhere else, but in this particular case I can say that I agree with Sierra in that the essays were a huge help. Sorry, kid-who-deserved-it-more-whose-slot-i-took.

]]> http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/03/the-slacker-paradox-myth-or-reality/#comment-2260 Sierra Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:26:04 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2008/01/03/the-slacker-paradox-myth-or-reality/#comment-2260 I was that kid. I was accepted to a lot of really good schools. I think it was mostly because of my admission essays I wrote. They were witty, creative, and pretty unique. I graduated with a 2.11, didn't participate in many extracurriculars.. so I have no idea how I actually got into these schools other than my essay. I was that kid. I was accepted to a lot of really good schools. I think it was mostly because of my admission essays I wrote. They were witty, creative, and pretty unique. I graduated with a 2.11, didn’t participate in many extracurriculars.. so I have no idea how I actually got into these schools other than my essay.

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