STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

honey · Gucci

i need objective input...

poptart · Coach

I think it depends on her personality. It might mean something, but it might not. Is she a super-competitive person? Is she a friend?

I think if I were you, I would simply play "dumb" and ask her if she thought the practice tests were harder/easier. If you don't see it as a competitive situation, there's no reason for you to play into any games she might be playing, right?

honey · Gucci

Lisa wrote:

I think it depends on her personality. It might mean something, but it might not. Is she a super-competitive person? Is she a friend? I think if I were you, I would simply play "dumb" and ask her if she thought the practice tests were harder/easier. If you don't see it as a competitive situation, there's no reason for you to play into any games she might be playing, right?

i would consider her a friend. we hang out after work, and she lives upstairs from me. i'm not sure if she's a competitive person or not, though i'm guessing she probably is. another friend of hers (who i've met) was going to apply to columbia too but decided against it. my co-worker made a comment along the lines of being sad b/c she wanted to go to columbia with her friend, but not wanting to talk her back into applying b/c it meant less competition for her.

ayo · Coach

I would just ask her..

even if she misreads it and thinks you are trying to participate in her little game...

you need information....

Elle · Hermes

I think you should treat this situation as if you weren't also applying to Columbia - like a friend who is asking about something important that is going on in your friends life. If she chooses to think you two are competing against each other, than that's her deal and you don't necessarily have to take part in it. IMO regardless of whether she treats this as a competition between the two of you, I don't think she would fault you for wanting to know what her experience was. I'm sure she would have asked you for the dirt had you been first to take the test.

Good luck!

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

this calls for a cost/risk/benefit analysis.

cost: offending her

risk: her not telling you anything even if you do ask.

benefit: finding out about the test.

i figure three scenarios could happen from you asking:

Scenario One: you take the risk, receive no benefit and suffer the cost, meaning she doesn't tell you anything, you offended her and you don't know anymore about the test than you do now.

Scenario Two: you take the risk, receive benefit but still suffer the cost, meaning she does tell you some stuff but you offended her by asking.

Scenario Three: you take the risk, receive benefit and suffer not cost, meaning she tells you stuff and isn't offended.

imo, I don't think she could provide any substantial info. that would really impact your score. There just isn't any time. Besides, what would you do if she said the real test is crazy hard and the practice tests are worthless? You'd probably just freak out. In fact, if she's super-competitive she may say something like that just to psych you out.

So imo, even though I couldn't care less about the cost, I wouldn't take the risk. You know why? because there are better things to be doing right now.

And those things are: breath, focus, have faith.

You can do this, honey. I just know it. YOU CAN DO THIS.

Good luck and we're with you.

blubirde · Chanel

Yeah, I'd ask too. I'm sure she won't care. Besides, if she's a friend she'll probably want to talk about it with you anyway.

Good luck!

honey · Gucci

thanks for the advice i appreciate it! i ended up asking her about it b/c i knew it would bother me if i didn't. she was really helpful, and her experience gave me pointers on what i should focus on in the next 2 days. wish me luck.