Ask Jiwon and Punya – May

Hello RAM nation! AISG’s confidants Punya and Jiwon now offer the student body a full-time service, giving advice free of charge. We accept any and all questions which can be posted on the comments area under the page. We will choose the questions which we can answer and questions can be anonymous or attributed to their author—it’s up to you. All questions will receive answers from both advisors (so there will be multiple perspectives and both gender opinions). Lastly, this page is supposed to be humorous and helpful as well as interesting so sit back and enjoy! You may note a serious lack of genuine advice-seeking questions in those listed below—this is a problem that YOU can change! Ask us a real question; we’ll give you a real answer. 

Q. What’s an appropriate way to ask my IB teachers to raise my predicted grade? 

Although teachers differ in style when giving feedback, they tend not to like the number-sticking method where a student goes, “I need a seven but I have a five. What do I do?” Often the better way is to first identify points of improvement, and ask how you can improve on those points – and when teachers see progress, they will raise the predicted grade. Also, if you try to engage in the assignments seriously, you should be able to see some change. – credits to Ms. Barga

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Q. I was just planning to relax and have fun this summer. But now I feel like I’m falling behind since a lot of my friends are doing summer programs at universities. Do I need to do that to look good on my college apps?

Two months is a long time, during which you can not only chill but also build some experience or work academically. If you have read the article “University Hacks: No Summer Camps”, you will probably be aware that it is not necessary to build up a beautiful extra-curricular vitae with summer camps in Ivy League universities. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to do anything during the summer and just chill. Do something that will truly help you. Maybe something like reading books or building up for some sports season.

To make my point, you shouldn’t just plan to relax and have fun. If you are to have fun, go look for fun hardcore. If you are to relax, try your best to relax. If you are going to travel, travel hardcore to make the experience really memorable.

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Q. How do you relieve all the pent-up stress and frustration now that we’re nearing finals? 

Don’t. Wait until you are done with the final exams.

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Q. What would you have done differently to prepare for IB/11th grade?

I would have made myself a more organised person. I still want to make myself more organised.

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Q. Should I YOLO all summer?

You Only Live Once. Think about it. With YOLO you can justify pretty much everything.

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Q. My best friend’s boyfriend and I have great chemistry, but I would never do anything about it. Still, I really enjoy talking to him, even though I am also dating someone. Is this harmless / OK, or too dangerous?

You can be great with your best friend’s boyfriend or best friend’s girlfriend, but the moment you start calling it chemistry, things might crumble apart.

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Q. In IB, How can one schedule this week and next week to ensure that they are able to get through as much of the syllabus from first and second semester for the finals?

Start now.

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#Most of the comments posted below will be approved and thus displayed, so if you wish to ask questions anonymously, please send an email to Punya Barghava or Jiwon Lee.