Shaise

With USC's Mork Family scholarship, what are they looking for? Are they looking for people who are excellent in their fields, or people who are dedicated to philanthropy as well (seeing to how the funds of the scholarship is provided by a family of philanthropists, Julie and John Mork). I only have one year and a few months to apply for US Universities, and I don't really have any impressive extra-curriculars. A lot of people have been telling me there's no hope if I have no activities at this point, to which I say, "well, it's better than doing nothing, isn't it?!". I understand I risk getting a frowned look from the admissions because I am squeezing my activities in the last year. As for showing "community-spirit" or "philanthropy" like some universities and scholarship foundations desire, I was thinking of taking on two volunteering opportunities available to me, but again, since it's all squeezed in the last year, won't it seem that I'm just doing it for the scholarship. If that's the case, it's something I'd rather not list on my application at all. While I do care about my fellow human beings, and would love to put volunteering activities on my application, I really fear rejection from admissions, and thus would prefer to take the time to focus on just taking part in activities in my field, which is space exploration and aerospace engineering. For the latter two, I have an excuse for getting involved so late. I plan on joining a rocketry club, which only allows age 18+

Here's the thing. I'm a UK student looking to apply to a US college/university. I've been in Sixth Form for two years now (I'm 17), and in these two years I was some BTEC and A-Level courses that didn't interest me, and I didn't perform that well in, because for the past two years I hadn't been able to find myself. In Y12 I failed two A-Level courses, and chose new courses for this year, so I'm in Y12 again. I didn't know what I wanted to do. Only recently however, I've had a sudden drive to go for an ambition, and thus I will be going to a new sixth form college to do Science/Math A-Levels (the courses I were doing in Sixth Form for the past 2 years were English and IT). I hadn't been putting effort in previously, but the amount of motivation I have for this ambition, I feel like I will be willing to do anything, even acknowledging how hard it'll be (my science and math abilities are also very good, and I am very well competent, I just hadn't been utlising my capabilities). With that being said, I'll basically be repeating Y12/Y13. I will start these new courses come this September, when I'll be 18. I certainly already have a list of some extra-curriculars that I'll want to do in relation to my ambition. I want to do Aerospace Engineering in University.

As of right now, being 17 y/o, and gone through two sluggish effortless Y12 spans in Sixth Form, and secondary school, I have very little extra-curriculars.

I am re-sitting GCSE Maths two years after originally sitting it.

For alot of my GCSEs, I actually just sat the exams with little to no revision, and even then the revision was last minute. But I still managed to get a-ok grades. For Science I got an A, with no revision at all. Same with English Literature. I also got four Bs.

I also got three Cs, of them was GCSE Maths. I didn't very little revision without any real effort for GCSE Maths, but managed to get a C by just "blagging" it in the exams. I know I am definitely capable in Maths. I once got a B in a mock exam (again, with no revision).

I'm wondering that, if with last minute revision that I'll actually put effort into, I can score at least an A. Besides, GCSEs should be like a piece of cake, especially considering I've already been exposed to Level 3 Sixth Form education (A-Levels).

But I plan on starting new A-Level courses in September, courses that I actually have an ambition for.

To sum up my question, I'm basically asking for any tips with last minute revision. Will an Edexcel text book help? Or would it be too mundane and tedious to just flip through different topics in a textbook page after page?

After one has finished High school, is there any State in the United States where college or any type of post-secondary education is compulsory?

I understand that jobs with ITAR requirements (mainly jobs in the space sector, like NASA, SpaceX and Virqin Galactic) can only hire US Citizens, Permanent Residence or a bunch of other people. Therefore they cannot sponsor and hire people with a non-immigrant H1B visa.

However, to conform to the requirements, could a space organisation ever sponsor a foreign national for a Green card so that they could then be hired (of course, assuming there were no domestic citizens and/or Permanent Residents to fill the position)? Would it be one of those difficult but not impossible things?

I know this may be something someone will publicly reveal, but are there any people who are known have been given permanent residence in the United States on the basis of extraordinary abilities?

Would Wehner Von Braun have been one of them?

I know the last one took place in 2008-2009, and I also know that it's usually something that is never definite, and they can call for them any time.

But looking at the current situation, such as number and age of active astronauts, can you come up with an opinion of when their next selection campaign MIGHT be? If so, when do you think?

I'd also like to ask, why are ESA selection campaigns so much less frequent than NASA? I know the ESA was only formed in 1975, and NASA has been around for longer, but from what I understand, the ESA has only made calls for astronauts in 1978, 1991 and 2008.

I'm pretty sure I've seen NASA astronauts get selected in 1978, some times in the 1980s, the late 1990s and a selection in the year 2000, and finally the recent call they just sent out in 2015. I may be misinformed, if so please correct me.

Thanks :)

I am interested in applying to US universities in two years time, however I have found that I must take these admissions test by something known as the college board. Firstly I'd like to ask, does each University in the US have their own admissions exams? Or do they all recognise the admissions tests from the college board?

Also, what are these tests like exactly? I know that there are sections such as Reading, Writing, Math and Essay (some top universities want you to take the Essay section so I'll aim for it). Is that all, are there only these sections or are there other optional ones that universities require? My knowledge on this is pretty vague so I'd appreciate if someone explains it fully, and is the ACT a different optional test altogether?

Another thing that concerns me. I'll be sitting 4 A-Levels later this year. I hear that SAT and ACT are difficult. I'm really concerned; how am I supposed to revise for SAT and ACT exams whilst studying 4 A-Levels, is that even possible? Have people done this?

Finally, can SAT and ACT exams be done on a weekend (to ensure I don't miss my A-Level classes)?

I'm from a low-income family. My mom is on benefits. You may be asking why I didn't just sit A level in a public institution. I tried many times but they all won't let me sit my desired courses because I got a C in Maths for GCSE. Because of this I took to trying to learn it privately from home. Because of a court case a few years ago, I get about £2000 when I turn 18. I figured this could help me afford buying three A level study courses online (£400 each) but I was completely blown away when I found out that the fees to take the exams at the exam centre is more than £1000 for all my subjects (because of the Practicals for physics) . With the money I have I CAN afford to cover all exam fees for the AS year, but that means I can't afford the home study courses. How can I study for these A level courses??? The ones I want and need to do are Physics, Maths and another one which I'm undecided on. I'm also worried about how I'd cover fees for the A2 year as well. I'm hanging on a string here. Is there ANY way I can get financial support so I can study and sit these exams? Only now I appreciate what I had in public education. It's just a shame they won't let me in.

I DESPISE the guts of that man enough as it is. He was abusive to us and my mother as a child (which makes me wish I was born into a normal family; I hate having to be a sob who has to go through this crap. I can't wait to establish my own standard of "normal" and put this all behind me when I'm older and independent). Even worse, I hate myself and consider myself ugly because lately I've been looking in the mirror and notice that I'm starting to look like him! I'm 17. I avoid looking at the mirror and hate myself. I'm starting to hate my mom for her behaviour (she acts like she has the right to command me what to do, even when I become an adult, if she even try to politely object, she goes on a demon-like rampage, saying the most evil things imaginable, and she herself has been abusive in the past). She makes me feel like some illegitimate child when she compares me to him after I object to her. And I HATE it more than anything. I hate his guts as I said, especially as I look like him. Sometimes I fantasise about murdering him, so it adds salt to the wound when my also bad, but-not-as-bad-as-my-"dad" mother compares me to him. It's like a weapon she enjoys to use at her pleasure. She holds it over my head. I feel like some inferior race being related to my pig of a dead. As for my mother, I hate her personality as well. If I dare disagree with her on anything, "you remind of him. Why don't you get out of my life! I wish I never had you kids, you're just like him!"

It pains me so much that it has to be her and that she's like this. But I cannot stand her and she truly is a horrible person on the inside. She's manipulative and backbiting. In general, she appears as a loving mother and provides for us and has raised us, however, living with her, I feel like I'm scrounging off her. This is something of myself I hate to admit, and I can't wait for myself to make money, give it to her (to pay her back so I don't feel like I am a liability anymore) so then I can move on and feel like I've paid my way. Then I want nothing to do with her. I can do much better than living with someone who makes me feel like I'm a horrible person for doing what's instinctively right. Basically, I had a dad who was also horrible, he was abusive, but thankfully he left. Ever since, she uses him as a "weapon" against me. From time to time, she compares me to him, although I hate his guts (and now, I hate her as much as him). When she gets angry, she says horrible things such as wishing death upon me, today she said "why don't you just jump into a grave so I can bury you?!". She feels like she has the right to say things like this. It makes me absolutely angry. I'd NEVER say anything like that to her. Even if I did DARE to say anything like that, she'd go on a rampage. In the PAST, alongside my horrible father, she has done things that can definitely be classed child abuse. I've witnessed her beat the crap out of my younger sisters, horribly, though not recently.

Earlier today we were just discussing future plans and we want to end up doing as careers. I'm only 17 so I'm still in college, but I plan on doing Computer Science in University. The last year of this course may be abroad study. I also plan on entering one of those YTP courses with the ESA, which involves working abroad for a year. I'm a young guy who's barely been abroad (I do remember going to Greece 2003, but that was years back and I was only a little kid). I'm itching to go to another part of the world, and if the opportunity comes, then darn skippy I'm gonna take it! Especially ON MY OWN without her.

When I told her this she made an annoyed face and "...why can't you just do jobs here in England!". She also insists "WE will move somewhere if you get a job". Notice the "WE", does she still think I need diaper changing when I'm in my 20s?! Of course, since she's my mother, I will send her money when I have a career, but really, the family unit is not going to last forever. The bird's going to leave the nest permanently sometime anyway. Besides, she's got my two (not too much) younger sisters if she's worried about support or company. She also gets angry when I imply such ideas, like she frowns and say "oh, so you want to live away from your mother when you're older?". And when I spill my sweat and blood in doing alot of (brutal) coursework, she insists I'm doing this "for her". Hell no, I'm doing it for myself and my future, you had your chance, but you blew it.

I think I have this complete ideal (and better) version of myself that I can visualise, and I could perfectly convey it to a professional it to an expert, I could maybe address all things I don't really like about myself. And before you think this is about a low self-esteem, know that I am not doing this in response to harsh opinions from others, rather I am only doing this in accordance with my own opinion. I want to change, I want to look (in what my perspective is) better.

Part of the things I want to get is rhinoplasty and ottoplasty, but when I look in the mirror, another thing that I just wish I could get rid is my angular jawline. It makes my face abit too wide in my perspective, and the angles on the jaw are too far a part. I always squeeze and just hope I could slightly compress them (and I mean this metaphorically, not literally).

I surprised to find out that (particularly in Korea) this can be done. However, the Koreans place too much emphasis on making it a V-shape, with the chin being absolutely pointy. I don't want that. I just want a thinner (but not too thin) face, if you know what I mean. I also heard that the procedures for these surgeries can result in DEATH! And when I look at before and after pictures of others, they're all East Asian. Not that this is a problem (I'm definitely not racist), but because I'm not East Asian, I'm worrying that I'm looking into the wrong solution for my plan. Are there any white or black people who have had this done?

My 12 year old daughter always makes weird movements. It's really hard to describe, she started off doing it in private, but then she became comfortable doing it in the living room with us around, and she's SLOWLY getting to the point where she's starting to do it in public!

I'm confused as to whether this is something she is doing deliberately or whether it is something she can't control. Whenever she asks her about this she's quick to change the subject, she hates talking about it. The way I best describe what she does, is that she tenses all the muscles on her faces, exhales heavily, always tilts her head toward the ceiling and bangs her elbows on the side of her rib cage. And she bangs them very heard, I can tell by the sound. I wouldn't be surprised if she bruises herself this way.

She does this every few minutes (if not, more frequently than that) when she's at home watching TV or using her phone. She does it and just acts as if it's completely normal. After doing it she just carries on with what she's doing and talks to us like it never happened.

I've been suspected that this is a very bad case of OCD, because whenever she goes upstairs to bed, she just stands at the edge of the stairs. She takes the first step, and keeps ascending and descending on the bottom of the stairs. It's like she's waiting to certify herself for something, like she's trying to "get something right" before she can go upstairs. It's like a ritual of her own she's invented.

Any ideas?

Do I still have the status of Permanent Resident, or would it have been long gone due to my absence from the United States?

I originally got a Green Card from marrying a US Citizen but divorced about a year after (don't ask).

Would I apply for a new Green Card from the USCIS? Will they still have records of me from three decades ago? And if so, would I be able to sponsor my kids for green cards (they're all under 21 and aren't married)?

I'm currently studying a Information technology diploma at college, but I don t want to rely entirely on that. I want to do some home learning so that it can become a personal hobby of mine so I can then move on to the more advanced languages like C#, Python, Java, HTML etc.

I have a brief gist of Visual Basic, and so far I m enjoying what I m doing, creating basic programs.

How long do you think it d take to completely master this beginner s programming language if I program with it in my spare time on weekends?

Note this, that I ask this question from a completely NEUTRAL standpoint. I did hear that the Canadian immigration website crashed after Trump won, so are you serious about actually moving to Canada?

And this is a question for everybody. Do you think some liberals will actually leave America in droves after Trump's inauguration?

......what are the odds of eventually becoming a US Permanent Resident with those qualifications.

I'm far from any of those qualifications yet. I'm still in college. But I plan on getting an honours degree in University (if get things right, my graduation would be in 2023). I'd probably then pursue a job for 5 years, which then leads up to 2028.

From here, what are the odds of me eventually becoming a permanent resident, and by what year would you imagine I'd finally get the Green Card?

I imagine a good career is hard to make without a degree, but I'm worried I might only end up in a cheap, un-respected university with a degree that no one will accept and I'll just meet a dead-end and fail completely, whilst I watch other people in my generation become Presidents, Astronauts and CEOs, whilst I'm stuck as a nobody. Does going to Oxbridge really define you as the best?

Right now I'm at college. Next year I'm actually getting some money, with which I'd be able to afford to take on A Level courses (privately) that no college will let me do due to my GCSE Maths grade (which is a C). The course I'm doing is a BTEC Extended diploma. And I now know that the moment I dared typing "BTEC", people are going to start pelting me with all this BS that "BTEC is worthless, it's a disaster you're going to get no-where!", or atleast that's what happened last time.

Anyway, would you advise I completely drop out next year in favour of getting good A level grades in order to get a CHANCE of going to Oxbridge? Or should I carry on this BTEC course but also take an Alevel course aside (which means I'll have to delay entering university for one year) so I can increase chances of going to a good university, not Oxbridge, but a good university nevertheless. I'm sure there are plenty of other world-respected universities in the UK, right?

So what do you think? What should I do? I'm only 17, but when I'm in my 50s, I don't want to have the "failed life of an average joe".