Right, so I just got back from the thread I posted about my acceptance at Georgetown(Wooohooo!) and I noticed that when I was asked what my grades and test scores were, I had a sudden fear of answering because it would be boasting. However, I logically know that I was asked a question and there would be nothing wrong with answering it, and that I should take pride in my accomplishments. Why then, should I be afraid of saying these things? I feel (emotionally) like pride is something that is not to be encouraged because it is vain or arrogant. But everyone says you need a sense of self worth, and where else but your accomplisments are you going to get it?
As you can see, I'm mightily confused. Does posting what I did to get into Georgetown make me vain? Should I feel reticent about saying this kind of thing to other people? My logical thougts and my emotions are conflicting wildly here.
Posted by Koga (Member # 5646) on :
I think it makes perfect sense to be proud of those things, and I really think talking about your accomplishments becomes bragging or boasting when you mention accomplishments excessively, or compare them to others with less accoplishments, like if you had said "I don't know about it being Harvard but my SAT scores are 770 verbal and 660 math, for a combined 1430, so what were your scores?" but you didn't seem to be doing anything of the kind.
I think it sounds like you have accomplished quite a bit to be proud of, and I hope things go well for you at Georgetown. Congradulations.
Well that is my opinion for what it is worth.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I think your scores and stats are only important in that they produced the result. But if you want to post them, I think you should label the thread accordingly. Edit: My mom would never tell me my IQ, and to this day she claims she "forgot" it
[ December 14, 2003, 11:52 PM: Message edited by: pooka ]
Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
I am a Canadian here, and I'm only vaguely familiar with the SATs, I thought 1430 is only a good score, not great or anything to boast about. Am I wrong?
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
While it's true that the SATs were made considerably easier a few years ago, a 1430 is still a fantastic score. In the old days, the average was around 1000; I think it's still something like 1200. A perfect score is 1600, and is VERY rare.
Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
Well, four years ago, I took them because my parents wanted me to. I didn't study or prepare, I didn't think my score was anything special; it seemed pretty easy and intuitive to me. I guess I was wrong.
Posted by Polemarch (Member # 3293) on :
Regardless of the worth or lack thereof of my SAT scores, what do you think constitutes boasting? Where does one draw the line?
(in other words, stop deraling the thread! )
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Oh, the question is what constitutes boasting. Hmm. I'm going to plead the fifth.
Posted by ana kata (Member # 5666) on :
<laughs> I think it's safe to say that you will not be boasting overly much if you post your score. It might not represent all that great a score on the hatrack scale, after all. Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
The girl that sat next to me in 7th grade social studies got a 1600 on hers when we got older.
I still say it was my influence that got her there.
Posted by Chaeron (Member # 744) on :
I think you can post your score without worrying about being called arrogant, or being accused of gloating. The way you talk about your score makes the difference in my mind.
Posted by Da_Goat (Member # 5529) on :
quote:Regardless of the worth or lack thereof of my SAT scores, what do you think constitutes boasting? Where does one draw the line?
Well, I believe that answering questions on a form truthfully is just doing the right thing. However, telling people on a messageboard that you were afraid you were boasting by using your astronomically high grades on a form, now that is boasting. Of course, it it's nothing compared to actually posting the numbers.
(The above should not be taken seriously.)
Anyway, I'd say the real difference lies in whether or not you were asked to give your information, and if asked, and if it was a face-to-face encounter, the tone of voice, posture, gestures, etc. you used when answering.
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
I don't think you were bragging and you certainly did not come across as arrogant. You shared your test scores and grades in a specific context where it was perfectly appropriate.
I've had this same dilemna a lot, myself. I went to Columbia and my best friend, Cara, went to William & Mary - both great schools. Most people blink or smile vaguely when she tells them where she went and they ooh and aah when I say I went to Columbia. It's always upset me because I know it makes Cara feel bad. Also, she's smarter than I am and could have gone to an Ivy League school if she had wanted to. I'm proud of my school, but I don't think it's a greater achievement than Cara's. And yet I get showered with praise and she doesn't. It happens so much, that I usually just say I went to college in New York to avoid all the fuss.
Posted by Black Mage (Member # 5800) on :
At least they're adding this new essay to SAT's. We took a look at some of the essays from when they were testing out the test, and the ones that made a perfect score--well, it'll be easy, I think.
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Pffft! Brag as much as you want to! There's enough sad stuff in the world. Be happy! Be proud! We will rejoice with you!
I, for one, want to hear all about it. Hearing about other people's TRIUMPHS always inspires me. I have ambitions, and I love to see how other people have been able to chase their dreams.
So, you go!
Bragging is when you are trying to insult someone with the information you share. Otherwise, it's just you sharing something you are proud of. What's wrong with being proud of an accomplishment?
[ December 15, 2003, 01:10 PM: Message edited by: Jenny Gardener ]
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
quote:While it's true that the SATs were made considerably easier a few years ago
GRE too, right? I'm thinking it HAS to have been made considerably easier.
Even though my lazy proofreading skills did knock me down.
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