The Quest for High School Mathletic Glory

Chapter 18: Angry Applications

The Monday morning after the Math Madness quarter-final loss, the atmosphere wasn't about celebrating and the student body's morale was rather low. In an attempt to cheer students up, the morning announcement contains admission offers from certain students.

"Congratulations to Shane for his early decision admission to Tulane and to Cory for his admission at McGill!" the principal then announces on the PA system.

I really ought to check on the status of my early decision application at UChicago! Ouch... if I was rejected there? I know only that I started working on my applications to Georgetown and Tulane. But I believe that Georgetown isn't for me since I can see the issues with this mathematics department from here: it's the university's poor child. If it comes to negotiations with Krista or Marcia, I can easily let go of Georgetown without any complication. There's a world of possibilities for all three of us and I must take advantage of it! I may as well add one or the other within HYPS, and another one among the « Lesser Ivies » should I get a rejection from Chicago... Radio silence as it relates to Krista and Marcia. So neither of them have been admitted or rejected under early action or early decision as of yet, she thinks, while the big difference entre early action and early decision resides in the attendance obligation should we be admitted.

"There's only one month left, and we haven't finalized our application lists! Damn it! We must finish this immediately and we will have free reign to study" Marcia hustles Krista.

"It has been weeks that we haven't checked anything about that! We were too busy with this math tournament!" Krista then sighs. 

And it's only now that Geneviève feels like she can write anything for the student newspaper; she can, without complication, talk about loans and scholarships without substantially changing the content of the article on financial aid for college compared to last year's article. Maybe a few numbers here and there, but otherwise...

During the food drive organization meeting, Florence and Geneviève might quickly agree on the essentials, that is, posters and food baskets at the grocery, gas station, in schools and at church, with the food bankers, such as the community soup, who will take their contents, in loose change as well as in non-perishable foods. But once these planning details are finalized...

"You undoubtedly know that everyone here acts as if you were to attend Chicago; you might have what it takes to succeed there, but never did I have the occasion to meet you outside of the math team meetings, which I attended when Curtis brought me there" Florence points out to Gen.

"In my mind, you appeared to be more of an art girl. You jump on graphics opportunities, be it for the math team, the food drive..."

"Yes, but the big problem of arts is that there are few careers in arts that require a degree. College is more about choosing a backup plan. But I also want to go to college to travel, so I decided that ULaval..."

"Laval? Are you kidding me?"

"Laval is much better than anything I could get in-state with what I have, if you talk strictly about the educational quality I'll receive"

Laval... the only time I remember having heard this name before Florence talks about it is in an article in the AP French course. Very easy to get into so long as you pick the right major, she thought.

"Let's say that Skidmore is my first choice. Laval should send me my acceptance letter by now..."

"Flo? Go check in the system at Laval and I will do the same at Chicago."

The admissions committee has reviewed your application and, while we are unable to offer you a place in the class at this time, we would like to review your application again in the spring. Poor Geneviève! It's not a rejection, but it's not an admission either. Without a doubt I hold the absence of clubs at this school responsible for this situation. That said, clubs are not the end of the story, she thinks, while Florence realizes that, while she is admitted in the année préparatoire, the AP Exams don't count at Laval for advanced standing purposes, at least not for French.