Lacepiece23 wrote:Lincoln wrote:Lacepiece23 wrote:I do agree with Lincoln. However, concerning AOP I would highly encourage anyone invited to attend. I did not in large part to TLS. I read that there was no boost and was pretty much like screw it I'm not wasting my time. I really regret it now. I noticed that people who had the chance to attend formed some really good relatinships with each other and professors that I definitely missed out on early on. Its nice having a professor that you can go to just to talk about life. I know its hard to see now and don't get me wrong grades are REALLY improtant. You should be devoting like 99% of your effort to doing the best that you can. However, this sort of falls in that 1% of an intangible experience. If you get invited definitely go. You will not regret it.
Edit: And you will get to hang out with me for a week. I promise that we'll have a lot of fun.
If you don't know how to make connections with professors outside of AOP, you have more serious problems, IMO.
where did I say that you could not make connections with teachers outside of AOP? Of course I made relationships with professors after AOP like anyone else could. Thats not the point. Also, don't appreciate the tone of your comment.
When I wrote "you" I meant it in the sense of "if one does not..." I have no idea who you are IRL, so any perceived insult directed at you is a misreading of my comment.
I just meant that I haven't seen any difference whatsoever between students who went to AOP and students who didn't. My roommate was at AOP; I wasn't. I have more friends than my roommate does and much closer relationships with professors (including ones who were involved with AOP). Of my closest group of friends, two went to AOP and three did not. We became good friends in spite of that, and we all have good relationships with professors.
I think if you belong to a discrete minority AOP can be helpful because you get to know others belonging to that same minority before classes start and get a chance to hang out. I partied with grad students for a week instead and don't regret it for a second. Almost getting arrested for skinny dipping and making out in the public swimming pool at 2 a.m. was definitely more memorable than dinner at Professor Johnson's house. But I guess reasonable minds can differ.
0Ls: Go to AOP or don't go to AOP; I really don't care. When I was in your situation I was kinda butt hurt for not being invited. In hindsight, I'm glad I had more time to be irresponsible.