Hatrack River Forum: Presidential Classroom

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Posted by J T Stryker (Member # 6300) on :

Ok, so I check my e-mail today and in my "in box" I find an e-mail titled Presidential Classroom. I was intrigued by this e-mail, normally spam is blocked from my e-mail, so I opened it and discovered that I've been accepted to the program and they are paying for my entire course, including traveling to D.C. and back. I know, sounds too good to be true, so I called the toll free information hotline on the e-mail, it checks out. I've just spent the last hour looking at the web site. The only thing I haven't figured out is, how did I get accepted into this program. All they would tell me on the phone was that I'd been recommended by someone with a political pull. I wonder who my benefactor is? Oh-well, here is the web site, Presidential Classroom .

Edit: Has anyone ever herd of this program before?

JT Stryker [The Wave]

[ September 30, 2004, 08:50 PM: Message edited by: J T Stryker ]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Wow, congratulations.

Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :

that's cool, I'll look at the website later, when are you going? Hopefully it'll be a good experience. I recieved a 4-H award that will send me to something similar (with out reading site) next july, I'll have to miss picnic with the pops [Frown]

but it will be worth it

Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :

Presidential Classroom? *sarcastically* NO, never heard of it...

I just met my fiancee there.

Ok, seriously. I highly recommend it. Actually, quite a few hatrackers have attended PC. It may be slightly expensive, but it's a blast, and totally worth it.

My little brother went this past winter, to an areonautical one. There are many divisions--sientific, 'general' (the one Inanity Plea and I went to), and an international one. Depending on the division you go to, you write papers, attend lectures, and tour the Capitol City--plus, to get to see the Capitol Steps in their natural habitat.

I initally only went because it was a week excused from school. It turned out to be a life-changing event.

I recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to go.

[edit to add]--Wow, the WHOLE thing free? Damn. You are one lucky son of a gun.

[ September 30, 2004, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: MaydayDesiax ]

Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :

I went to Presidential Classroom, but what you have sounds like some sort of spam. You have to apply for it and when I went it costed about a thousand dollars. Some people do fundraise, but the program normally doesn't just give you the money unless you apply for a scholarship.

It's an excellent program, though, and I'll tell you more about it if you're interested anyway.

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

Don't call the toll free information hotline on the email, call the number on the presidential classroom website. Also, google the number in the email.

Posted by J T Stryker (Member # 6300) on :

It's the same phone # Fugu. Yes, aparently someone recomended me and also got me one of the scholar ships... I figured out who it was though, one of My assistant scout masters was an instructor for the program while he was he worked in washington.

I still have no idea what it actually is though. Please tell me more.

[ September 30, 2004, 09:44 PM: Message edited by: J T Stryker ]

Posted by Insanity Plea (Member # 2053) on :

Presidential Classroom is an intensive one-week program where students from around the US go to DC to learn about the government and it's operations by being there. If you've ever heard of the Close-Up program that many high schools have, it's simular, except it's more national (with Close-up you're with our own class), you are roomed with three people from other states, and in groups of about 40 called Caucases, during the week you mostly travel with our caucas, and end up writing a research paper. Also there are several Cross-fire sessions in which are broken down to groups of about 20 where you just debate a subject for an hour. There are also plenty of pretty good speakers. I loved the program...I also met Mayday there. If you've ever seen the 9-11 episode of West Wing, a group of PC students are stuck in the White House.

When I say intensive I do mean intensive, on an average day you're up by 7:30, and you don't get to bed till about 12-1, so get plenty of sleep before hand, and be prepared to recover the day after you return home. If you want to know what a typical day is like I've been trying to finish my journal of what happened during the week...I really should finish it, but here.
Do you know which program you're going to?
Satyagraha

Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :

That's right, I forgot about that! Hehe.

Here's my account of PC. It's complete, unlike some slacker's. ( [Taunt]

@ Bernard)

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :

COngratulations!! [Smile]

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

In 1982 I went to Presidential Classroom.

I shook hands with Vice President Bush before he became President and Father of a President.

I met Geraldine Ferraro, the only Major Party Female Vice Presidential Candidate.

I toured the CIA, FBI, and various other things, including not spending enough time at the Smithsonian.

It was a great time.

One thing that I noticed, they divided people up into different groups for busses, food, and hotel rooms. All were different to make sure you met new people each day.

Posted by Insanity Plea (Member # 2053) on :

They don't do that anymore, now you go places as a caucas, oh! one other thing is that you visit a foreign consolate/embassy, however this one is more or less hit and miss...because you don't choose where you go.
Satyagraha