MIllennium

[PrivateTim]

Do you have the class of 2004 profiles, though Tim? Using the 2014 statistics feel a little irrevelent, because going by what Blue has talked about, college standards have changed drastically since the late 90's, when Darius did his college search, to now.

 

My guess would be Darius's GPA is around a 3.2 but he did well on the SAT's....he doesn't seem to have extracurriculars, or volunteer work, so my guess would be he'd have to go to an easier party school, like a Cal State. Do well there, and then go off to law school on a bit of a higher level.

 

I defnitely think Berkeley and UCLA are out of the question for Darius at this point, unless JP pulls some major strings or it turns out that Darius is some world-class athlete. But I haven't gotten that vibe from him- he's a social butterfly who cares more about hooking up than grades, and I'd like to see some realistic consequences from that- him not getting into the schools he wants and having to attend schools that aren't that desirable. Brad's college application process was much easier because it was 1980 and the crest of the baby boom was over, and schools were easier to get into. But starting with about the late '90's, the process gets much harder and cutt-throat.

 

That's true. Not sure I see someone like JJ and his Louis Vuitton handbags hanging out at the USC football games, though.

 

The link I posted has the freshman classes of 2008, 2009 & 2010. I don't think 2004 would have been terribly different.

 

And not to insult your beloved Delaware, but CA has so many universities we haven't even thrown half of them out there yet. CA probably has 100 4 year schools.

 

USC is totally the kind of school a social butterfly like Darius might go to, but that also goes for schools like the University of Redlands, the University of the Pacific, Occidental (where Obama went), The Claremont Colleges & Whittier College (Richard Nixon's alma mater). Then there are the Catholic schools, U San Diego, U San Francisco, U Santa Clara & Loyola Marymount. A couple of them are very much social/party schools.

 

Another possibility is that Stefan or JP could pull strings to get Darius into UC Davis that has the country's #1 school for oenology (wine making).

 

As to Marine biology or oceanography, the top two schools are USC, with their Wrigley Institute and UC San Diego with the Scripps Institute.

[methodwriter85]

The entering freshman class of fall 2000....I still think it would have been significantly different as compared to the freshman fall class of 2010. Considering how Blue has described his college search vs. what Tommy B has said about his own, it makes sense that there was a changing of standards throughout that decade. It makes perfect economic sense if you think about it- higher demand equals univerisities being allowed to be much pickier about who they let in, thus increasing their prestigue, thus justifying increasing hikes in tuition.

 

In the late 60's into the mid-1970's, there was a dearth in the amount of births happening in the United States. Many colleges, which had to expand at a furious rate during the 1960's and the 1970's to meet the demand of the Baby Boomer generation, started to see their enrollments shrink throughout the late 1970's and the 1980's because of the resulting smaller pool of college-aged people. It's why the college search was easier for people in Brad's generation(tail-end Baby Boomers born after the crest wave of 1956 but before the start of Gen X in 1965) and your/Marcel's generation(Gen X.) I've had some interesting conversations with professors about those "Baby Bust" college days....not fun for them or the schools, to say the least.

 

Birth rates began to rise again in the late 1970's, and then in the mid-1980's, an echo baby boom began as people in Nick and Brad's age cohort began having children. The bulk of the echo baby boom lasted roughly from about 1977 to 1995, with the crest somewhere in the late 80/s/early '90's. It corresponded to peaks in college enrollment throughout the mid/late 2000's, and colleges could get much, much choosier.

 

Anyway, I like your take on colleges, but as Blue pointed out, Pepperdine or the Catholic universities are out. Brad's relaxed a bit, but I cannot see him willing to pay to send his son to a religious-affiliated school. (Unless of course Darius already has access to his trust fund, but I can't see Darius stepping on Brad's toes and thinking about going to a Catholic school.) I like the idea of San Diego State or something. And it looks like you agree with me on Darius not being able to get into Cal, and probably not get into UCLA. It could actually be a cool scene for Mark to write- Brad comforting Darius over not getting into the top-choice schools he wanted to get into. It'd be realistic and touching at the same time, I think.

Edited December 12, 2010 by methodwriter85

[PrivateTim]

The entering freshman class of fall 2000....I still think it would have been significantly different as compared to the freshman fall class of 2010. Considering how Blue has described his college search vs. what Tommy B has said about his own, it makes sense that there was a changing of standards throughout that decade. It makes perfect economic sense if you think about it- higher demand equals univerisities being allowed to be much pickier about who they let in, thus increasing their prestigue, thus justifying increasing hikes in tuition.

 

In the late 60's into the mid-1970's, there was a dearth in the amount of births happening in the United States. Many colleges, which had to expand at a furious rate during the 1960's and the 1970's to meet the demand of the Baby Boomer generation, started to see their enrollments shrink throughout the late 1970's and the 1980's because of the resulting smaller pool of college-aged people. It's why the college search was easier for people in Brad's generation(tail-end Baby Boomers born after the crest wave of 1956 but before the start of Gen X in 1965) and your/Marcel's generation(Gen X.) I've had some interesting conversations with professors about those "Baby Bust" college days....not fun for them or the schools, to say the least.

 

Birth rates began to rise again in the late 1970's, and then in the mid-1980's, an echo baby boom began as people in Nick and Brad's age cohort began having children. The bulk of the echo baby boom lasted roughly from about 1977 to 1995, with the crest somewhere in the late 80/s/early '90's. It corresponded to peaks in college enrollment throughout the mid/late 2000's, and colleges could get much, much choosier.

 

Anyway, I like your take on colleges, but as Blue pointed out, Pepperdine or the Catholic universities are out. Brad's relaxed a bit, but I cannot see him willing to pay to send his son to a religious-affiliated school. (Unless of course Darius already has access to his trust fund, but I can't see Darius stepping on Brad's toes and thinking about going to a Catholic school.) I like the idea of San Diego State or something. And it looks like you agree with me on Darius not being able to get into Cal, and probably not get into UCLA. It could actually be a cool scene for Mark to write- Brad comforting Darius over not getting into the top-choice schools he wanted to get into. It'd be realistic and touching at the same time, I think.

 

Well I graduated from Cal in 1999 and have been pretty involved ever since then. I don't think admission standards have dipped at Cal since the late 1960's when being a legacy began to mean less. Cal has been uber competitive since then. UCLA has come up a lot and UCI and UCSD being heavy science schools have been very tough to get into since the early 90's (my mother is on staff at UCI and has been since 1989). I can't speak for other states, but CA has exploded in terms of how many kids go to college so they have added schools and expanded the ones they have. There may have been a baby bust in the east, but in 1980 CA had 23 million people, 34 million in 2000 and close to 40 million now. I assume the southwest is all like that.

 

Pepperdine is not all that religious and neither is Loyola Marymount or the other Catholic universities. USF, USD, Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount are all very supportive of gay rights.See the links below.

 

USF GBLTQ Links

USD Rainbow Education

Santa Clara Safe Space

Loyola Marymount Launches GBLT Office

 

They are also very fun schools socially.

 

If Darius is really mister social, I see him at USC and joining a fraternity house. I can just see Stefan at the SAE house visiting Darius and flirting. Remember that USC is the home of the George Lukas School of Cinematic Arts and the Annenberg (TV Guide) school of Communication & Journalism. San Diego State would be too low for Darius. USC has cache and a lot of kids with money.

[methodwriter85]

So Darius could realistically get into USC, then? Hmm, I think that could work, then. That could be his back-up to Cal and UCLA, and the one he gets into. San Diego State could be his fourth choice "safety" school.

 

That's another thing that a high school counselor I talked to mentioned- kids start applying to more and more schools. It was around 2003-ish that I remember the Common Application picking up steam as a way to give kids chances at more schools without them having to spend so much money on applying to a dozen schools.

[PrivateTim]

So Darius could realistically get into USC, then? Hmm, I think that could work, then. That could be his back-up to Cal and UCLA, and the one he gets into. San Diego State could be his fourth choice "safety" school.

 

That's another thing that a high school counselor I talked to mentioned- kids start applying to more and more schools. It was around 2003-ish that I remember the Common Application picking up steam as a way to give kids chances at more schools without them having to spend so much money on applying to a dozen schools.

 

Since USC is a private school they can handle admissions any way they choose. It has become a lot harder to get into USC over the last 20 years as Dr. Sample took over, he really built the university's prestige and leadership. That being said though USC is still a family and legacies mean a lot and people who support the university mean a lot as well. The saying in L.A. is "you are a Bruin for 4 years, you are a Trojan for life".

 

The influnece of Stefan, especially since USC's Marshall School of Business is renowned for its Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, it is likely Stefan would already have been involved there and then with Robbie's position in Hollywood, USC is one of the top two schools in the country (along with NYU) for Cinematic Arts. And any number of their neighbors in the Colony would be involved at USC to give recs to Darius.

 

We haven't heard much about their friends, but living in that area guys like Wyatt Russell, Max Spielberg, Truman Hanks would have been likely friends, especially with Wyatt's love for hockey, it is likely he and JJ would know each other pretty well. And then there are all the power players in Malibu and the Palisades that no one outside the industry knows, the agents, producers, writers, directors and studio heads that make the area what it is.

[methodwriter85]

We haven't heard much about their friends, but living in that area guys like Wyatt Russell, Max Spielberg, Truman Hanks would have been likely friends, especially with Wyatt's love for hockey, it is likely he and JJ would know each other pretty well.

You're forgetting that JJ doesn't talk to hockey players, save for his brother Matt and Matt's boyfriend, Wade. JJ's a sweet kid, but also just a little bit prissy. I'd like it to have turned out that JJ's unpopular not because he's short, but because the kids at school think he's a stuck-up snob. An interesting twist on the whole "outcast kid" storyline...sometimes kids are outcast because they really don't come off well for one reason or another.

 

Truman Hanks is out, because Truman was born in 1995 like Courtney, and I can't imagine that either JJ or Will would want to hang out with a four-year old. Max Spielberg could be likely, as well as his brother Theo Spielberg- they're about the right age and they're not hockey players.

 

Anyway...USC. Sounds like a good fit for Darius. But is there a pre-law major there? If there isn't, I suppose he could take history or anthro, and then when he rips his LSAT's in half, he'll go to a good law school.

Edited December 12, 2010 by methodwriter85

[PrivateTim]

You're forgetting that JJ doesn't talk to hockey players, save for his brother Matt and Matt's boyfriend, Wade. JJ's a sweet kid, but also just a little bit prissy. I'd like it to have turned out that JJ's unpopular not because he's short, but because the kids at school think he's a stuck-up snob. An interesting twist on the whole "outcast kid" storyline...sometimes kids are outcast because they really don't come off well for one reason or another.

 

Truman Hanks is out, because Truman was born in 1995 like Courtney, and I can't imagine that either JJ or Will would want to hang out with a four-year old. Max Spielberg could be likely, as well as his brother Theo Spielberg- they're about the right age and they're not hockey players.

 

Anyway...USC. Sounds like a good fit for Darius. But is there a pre-law major there? If there isn't, I suppose he could take history or anthro, and then when he rips his LSAT's in half, he'll go to a good law school.

 

Right, I meant Colin actually, not Truman. And I didn't say Wyatt and he would be friends, I said they'd know each other well, but even though Wyatt is hockey and JJ is figure skating, they still would have been in the same schools and gone to the same swim parties, etc as kids long before skating came into the picture. While JJ may not be the social animal Darius is, but I never got the impression he is anti-social either.

 

USC is one of the oldest law schools in the state having been founded in 1896 right about when Boalt Hall (Cal 1894) and Stanfurd (1893) were. It is consistently rated a top 20 school in the nation. Top 100 Law Schools

[methodwriter85]

Colin Hanks isn't really peers with JJ and Will, either- he was born in 1977. You gotta think in terms of mid/late 80's births in terms of their contemporaries, dude. None of Tom Hanks kids are really around their age.

 

And I don't think JJ is anti-social- far from it- he's just got some 'tude about hockey players.

 

Nice info on USC. I think it'll work. Mark, what do you think? Should Darius become a Trojan?

[Hermetically Sealed]

Well, that was a cliffhanger and a half.

[Ivy]

yeah, what he said... not sure if I can hang by my fingernails til the next chapter

[Mark Arbour]

I'll try to get the next one posted relatively soon.

 

Then again, the next one isn't much better.

[Hermetically Sealed]

I am thinking that, either Lark back-stabbed Brad by reporting that he bought the Omega papers or Dan turned him in, or Brandon/Carson came back and tried something. Probably neither, but i can't fully trust Lark, nor do i believe Carson is gone for good. I don't think Cody said his soul was black for just drama.

[Mark M]

WOW!!! LOVE IT MARK!!! SO GOOD!!

 

 

Please don't make me wait another week for another chapter :(

 

Seriously i love all of it. ABC is a bitch, Wades mom is cool, but sly, like a black panther......Psh. ummmm The phyic i just don't like.......never liked him....i don't like phyics to a point.....ummm Matt n wade r hot , Jp....is well losing his thrown as chair of the house... Steph seems like the "housewife" in the whole series lol. I couldn't even think where to place Frank and Isador as House Heads, Isador has pull....but Frank seems....well...non-existant in the running of the house he lives in......like he's just there because he's with Isador......i'd be currios to see what he's up too...with his money/workings.........same with isadors Anyway

 

 

MORE MORE MORE ANYTIME! Plllllease no HMS now.....

 

 

[Canuk]

mark , there is a real bastard streak in you, isn't there..... fancy after a week leaving us there...... good god, man, have you no heart?

Edited December 15, 2010 by Canuk

[GLH]

:nuke: Okay, so it was another awesome chapter... Patiently awaiting chapter 49... Edited December 16, 2010 by GLH

[vami]

You are the man Mark. You hit every emotional button and then left me in shock with a cliffhanger. Now I am counting the days until the next post.

[Hoskins]

BRRIIIAAAANNNN

[rjo]

Why would the police be at the house? Is Alexander behind it? Is Lark not answering the phone a clue? Could Brian be part is this? Last time the police were there was because of Carson. Could someone have attacked Stef? Could the French be after Robbie about the murder all those years ago? Or something about Bitty's death? Mark, we need the next chapter soon!

[PrivateTim]

Why would the police be at the house? Is Alexander behind it? Is Lark not answering the phone a clue? Could Brian be part is this? Last time the police were there was because of Carson. Could someone have attacked Stef? Could the French be after Robbie about the murder all those years ago? Or something about Bitty's death? Mark, we need the next chapter soon!

 

Can't be the French thing, they wouldn't black & whites to a house and they wouldn't know Robbie is there. Usually black and whites respond to calls so it could be someone trespassing or an assault from a trespasser. I suppose it could be about the pot on the grounds, everyone in the world seems to know about it, but I have a hard time believing that would interest the Palo Alto police and with someone as prominent as JP and Stef they would have their ducks in a row. I have an idea it would hard to get a judge to sign off on a search warrant for Escorial in the absence of a major event.

[DragonFire]

I'm stunned.. speechless, flabbergasted even.

 

That is a cliffhanger!

 

:faints:

 

A manly faint of course.

[centexhairysub]

:worship:

 

This is truly one of the best chapters in this story... I loved everything about it until the end... WHAT WERE YOU THINKING...... I MAY HAVE A BREAKDOWN...... HAVE YOU NO SENSE OF DECENCY...

 

Okay, i am calmer now but still need the next chapter quickly before I go off the boil again...

[Mark Arbour]

Sense of decency? Me? Yeah, right.

 

Still, I did post the next chapter pretty fast.

[mmike1969]

 

Excellent chapter Mark! Thanks!

 

But... Playing the suicide card is dangerous since Lark is supposed to be next hiding in Hawaii in Brad's condo and open up a surf shop.... Yeah, NO ONE is going to eventually put two and two together for that one...

 

And wtf is with that phone sex thing??? They DO have a high speed internet connection at the cabin! It's called video calls!

[Canuk]

you did and what a chapter..... nothing like a little voyeurism with one's breakfast!! (breakfast here in Oz, anyway).... glad Lark's not dead.....

[Caedus]

Another good chapter, with a more tantalizing cliffhanger.

 

Brad skirts the boundaries of his relationship again, and I guess it's no big deal, I just would of thought that he would of learned to avoid putting himself in these types of situations by now.

Then again maybe the unspoken rule of a successful relationship is discretion (or lack thereof).

 

 

Very interested in what will happen with Brad and Lark next chapter...

Edited December 15, 2010 by Caedus