What is CTYI?

Asuka

Unfortunately, no one can be told what CTYI is. You have to see it for yourself.

</morpheus voice>

Ok, so in this thread you can be descriptive, constructive, sentimental or whatever, but STAY ON TOPIC. The purpose of this thread is so that we dont get these 'WTF is CTYI?' topics every 10 minutes any more. However, as an interesting side effect, I just know we're going to end up getting what CTYI means to various people, so i might as well just put it in the topic description

To summarise, DO post stuff involving:

A) Questions (if youre not a CTYIer and want stuff explained)
Factual Descriptions (of CTYI)
C) What CTYI really is (because factual descriptions make it sound like nerd camp)
D) What CTYI means to you (if you want to get all sentimental and weepy etc - although i dont advise it )
E) What you would like CTYI to be (changes you would like made etc)

Do NOT post stuff involving:

A) Father Ted quotes
Off-topic stuff
C) 'Nerd camp! Geeks!' style posts
D) Father Ted quotes
E) Personal flames/stories/obscure memories
F) Father Ted quotes

/me waits for the inevitable torrent of Father Ted quotes...

A

Crash

ok then. CTYI = Centre for Talented Youth Of Ireland (seeing as how our friendly neighbourhood dictator forgot to mention that )

It is held in DCU for 2 sessions, each consisting of 3 weeks each, during which you do a course and have a sh!tload of fun.

So there.

Neil

lordsippa

Doesn't banning Father Ted quotes defeat the purpose of a thread explaining CTYI?

Well... at least Radiohead quotes are allowed...

Basically CTYI is for people who are like all of us.
It's summarised quite well in the following line:
"Everything... in its right place..."

Elvish

CTYI is a nerd camp in a way. Let me explain, if the common meaning of nerd is used: "intelligent person, no friends etc." then CTYI is a camp for intelligent people with no friends. Before I went i thought it would be a nerd camp, which it is, sort of. But when a large number of these so called 'nerds' come together and live together for a period of time it ceases to be a nerd camp and becomes a grouping of people with a common interest. Which is, from past experience, one of the best experience of your life. Let's face it, anyone who goes to CTYI can be safely classed as a nerd (The no friends bit depends on the person). But i couldn't honestly care, and i don't know anyone who should. I know this might have strayed from the main point a slight bit but i say these things to show people that CTYI is not a "nerd camp".

-Rob

Victor

Well, my sister informed me today that my niece will be doing some CTYI stuff soon. She did some sort of tests (someone please inform me here) and got 85% in maths and 13% in language. This disappointed her until it was explained that the tests were for 11 year olds - she's 8. She gets utterly bored with school, tends to go drawing during maths exams, as she has done it all before and doesn't see why she should have to do them again.

smiles

Originally posted by Victor
Well, my sister informed me today that my niece will be doing some CTYI stuff soon. She did some sort of tests (someone please inform me here) and got 85% in maths and 13% in language.

She probably did a junior SAT, and in which case she'll be able to do Weekend courses, and some summer courses, they tend to be very varied and seem to be a lot of fun, I didnt do anything in CTYI until I was 12, and once she turns 12 I think she wont have to take the SAT for college leavers... someone who's done the junior bit care to comment?

Well check the CTYI website at: http://www.dcu.ie/ctyi

This disappointed her until it was explained that the tests were for 11 year olds - she's 8. She gets utterly bored with school, tends to go drawing during maths exams, as she has done it all before and doesn't see why she should have to do them again.

Well thats quite typical of lot of people who go there, try and get her interested in more advanced maths if thats what she wants, but CTYI will challenge her to say the least and will introduce her to lots of kids with similar interest.

On the other points in the thread, CTYI is technically nerd camp, but thankfully i've made some of the best friends i ever could there and it was a brilliant oppertuinity to sample lots of interesting stuff without people being nasty

<< Fio >>

Victor

Without wanting to categorise people, who are the mentors and who are the sudents here?

Victor

And while I'm at it what does it mean when you are to angry to complete the puzzles on the CYTI site?

qwidgybo

it seems to me that the main purposes of ctyi are:

1)to give an academic challenge to those who might not otherwise get one,

2)to show those with intelligence that there's more to it than just doing well in school exams,

and
3)to show them that there are lots of other people in their situation.


and adam,i think i speak for all of us when i say that the ted quotes were always going to be confined to the one thread.

sisob

For me CTYI showed me that i was a worthwhile person and that I could make friends. Before CTYI it took me months to make friends and i only had 2 or 3 - and only in school.

But when you go somewhere where poeple are intelligent and friendly and don't shun you - It brought me out of my shell.

There are very few people who knew me before CTYI and now but the difference is just laughable. I'm not self-concious, i dont aspire to "popularity".

Also CTYIer's (those of ctyi) are not afraid of open affection. I learned to tell people how i felt about them - to be honest and caring - and of course the wonders of hugging.

;-) I think that is enough sentimental waffle to show that it means a lot to me more than i could ever describe.

smiles

Originally posted by Victor
Without wanting to categorise people, who are the mentors and who are the sudents here?

What do you mean by mentors? as in people who are in charge and run it? Very very occasionally an RA (Residential Assistance - college student) migh say hi, but thats about it...

as in people too old to go back? well there's a few of us now, Me, Adam, Sven (i think), Kate....

I'm not quite sure what you mean...

<< Fio >>

Asuka

We dont run it if thats what you mean. This board is unofficial, and purely for people to keep in touch (and its serving its purpose quite well).

A

Crash

Sven might just be able to sneak in (if he asks sheila)

Marks too old.

Fio.

Adam.

Man U Babe. (can't remember her real name)

Thats all that i can think of offhand.

Teleute

People who say that Disneyworld is the happiest place on Earth have never been to CTYI. I first went there in 1999, during my Junior Cert (and yes, I mean during). I met people who introduced me to new ways of life, without putting any pressure on me to join them - testament to this is that I'm one of the few true CTYIers (ie. people who can quote Discworld and Monty Python, sing the whole of American Pie right through, and derive the three equations of linear motion) who is still Catholic. That's not to say a few of the weird ideas haven't rubbed off on me, but I'm accepted in all my normalcy.

I found friends who understood me. For the first time in my life, I wasn't just that weird girl in the corner... People asked me for advice. I was called Miss Smiley - and I don't think most of the people in my year had ever SEEN me smile! When I went back into transition year, one day my guidance counsellor said to me that for the first time EVER she had seen me display emotion. I met a guy who meant a lot to me. I made friends I'm still in contact with.

CTYI is the most open place in the world. You can hardly go five minutes without getting hugged. CTYI 00 was one of the top 3 things ever to happen to me...and CTYI 99 is in the top 5. There are in-jokes and people understand each other and help each other... Everyone is comfortable.

I have to go now - mother is coming to get me. But I may come back and add more to this sometime soon. I'm too old to go back as a student, but I'm more of an RA now...I WANT that job, and I'm going to get it next summer.

Eeek, gotta go!

*hugs to everyone*

Eimear

smiles

Originally posted by Teleute
I met people who introduced me to new ways of life, without putting any pressure on me to join them - testament to this is that I'm one of the few true CTYIers (ie. people who can quote Discworld and Monty Python, sing the whole of American Pie right through, and derive the three equations of linear motion) who is still Catholic. That's not to say a few of the weird ideas haven't rubbed off on me, but I'm accepted in all my normalcy.

hey I can do all those things! and I am a Catholic. so there. :P

I found friends who understood me. For the first time in my life, I wasn't just that weird girl in the corner... People asked me for advice. I was called Miss Smiley - and I don't think most of the people in my year had ever SEEN me smile! When I went back into transition year, one day my guidance counsellor said to me that for the first time EVER she had seen me display emotion. I met a guy who meant a lot to me. I made friends I'm still in contact with.

Damn true, I mean come on, people called me "Hugger Girl"

I have to go now - mother is coming to get me. But I may come back and add more to this sometime soon. I'm too old to go back as a student, but I'm more of an RA now...I WANT that job, and I'm going to get it next summer.

hehe! Sean (Site director) guy told me to ring him next summer! (he asked me if i was coming back and i said i was too old, and he said i mean as an RA ) :P yay!

<< Fio >>

Saruman

How long has CTYI been around? I have only now head of it on the boards. I have been part of other groups similar in the encouragment and friendship department though thats not the function.. Was just volunteer work at a non profit org but that was the best time of my life.. back in 1993! Anyway i finished up school in 99, did my leaving and never heard of CTYI unless it went under a different name before then?

Anyway would have been nice to know of it when i was in school.. might have made a difference to my study or lack of as the case may be. With the exception of Maths i was an excellent student but just never studied and so only comfortably passed my leaving but did not get the marks i COULD have got.. oh well Nice to know something like this exists! If im ever a father (eek) then i have a place to consider.

smiles

Originally posted by Saruman
How long has CTYI been around?

I think it's been there from 1992... i'm not 100% sure, check on the website....

Anyway i finished up school in 99, did my leaving and never heard of CTYI unless it went under a different name before then?

every secondary school in the country gets leaflets about the "Talent Search" which lets people take the test (american SATs) to see if they can get in... just alot of them dont bother to pass the information on to the students!

Anyway would have been nice to know of it when i was in school.. might have made a difference to my study or lack of as the case may be.

it has made a differnce in social areas, and a little bit in education (like i never knew i loved Economics until i did it there (well Financial Markets was the course)... you never know!

<< Fio >>

Victor

My brother mentioned them doing stuf fin CIT in I think 1992/93 (not sure if it was actually CTYI)

smiles

Originally posted by Victor
My brother mentioned them doing stuf fin CIT in I think 1992/93 (not sure if it was actually CTYI)

That would have been CTY, the American version, started in John Hopkins i think.... but the Irish one has the exact same entry requirements etc, indeed some americans come to the irish one Which is kinda cool..

<< Fio >>

alaskagirl

ooooooooh yeeeeeaah. AMERicans a CTYI. I went to american CTY (actually, it was baby cty) in 1999. And thats pretty much the only reason i ever found out about CTYI. I was mucking anout on the net after cty and feeling sorry for myself and ran across the CTYI site.... lucky me!!!!!!!!

Crash

Originally posted by smiles


every secondary school in the country gets leaflets about the "Talent Search" which lets people take the test (american SATs) to see if they can get in... just alot of them dont bother to pass the information on to the students!

<< Fio >>

I know, i never would have heard bout CTYI if it wasnt for Hugh having gone to it the previous year!!

Stupid cheap ass school doesnt offer to sign people up for the
YSE either.

Teleute

every secondary school in the country gets leaflets about the "Talent Search" which lets people take the test (american SATs) to see if they can get in... just alot of them dont bother to pass the information on to the students!


I know, i never would have heard bout CTYI if it wasnt for Hugh having gone to it the previous year!!

The most recent information available in my school is 1994 Talent Search. They have one poster, that no one knows anything about. I'm the only student from my school, to my knowledge, ever to attend CTYI.

And fio, I didn't say I was the ONLY catholic - just one of very few. True, eh?

azezil

To summarise, DO post stuff involving:


A) Questions (if youre not a CTYIer and want stuff explained)
Factual Descriptions (of CTYI)
C) What CTYI really is (because factual descriptions make it sound like nerd camp)
D) What CTYI means to you (if you want to get all sentimental and weepy etc - although i dont advise it )
E) What you would like CTYI to be (changes you would like made etc)

Not a frequent reader of this forum, actually i can probably count the amount of times i bothered to look on one hand! but i don't see any of the above been covered, what i do see is:

sexuality - surely more suited to humanities?
Can somebody pleeeeeasssse give me a big online hug? - pointless spam
Enterprise !! - there is a sci-fi forum
WWII bombings - relivance?
saturdays - bearly passable on afterhours
Poll: Hugs - dear god a one of the mods posted this!
Gems from the bible - humanities/ humor
How much time does mark/sisob get online? - beyond belief

So out of the current topics on this forum there are none actually on topic.

Not complaining or anything, but is this forum really necessary if there isn't even one topic related to CTYI?

smiles

Originally posted by azezil

Not a frequent reader of this forum, actually i can probably count the amount of times i bothered to look on one hand! but i don't see any of the above been covered

[...]

So out of the current topics on this forum there are none actually on topic.

Not complaining or anything, but is this forum really necessary if there isn't even one topic related to CTYI?

This isn't a forum to discuss CTYI, this is a forum for CTYI people to discuss things.

Every thread that is there (including _my_ hugs one) is completely relevant for the people who read this. You were not at CTYI, and so nothing here really applies to you, if we have disussions that would fit in other forums its because we want to have them with people we know.

<< Fio >>

Typedef

C) What CTYI really is (because factual descriptions make it sound like nerd camp)

Yeah and people would really get the wrong impression if they thought that. I mean what's nerdy about a load of 12-16 year olds getting together and studying college level courses during the summer/@ weekends when they could be fraternising with the prolateriate?

To say that a whole load of youngsters who aren't old enough to do well anything, but who on the main manage to score in or around the 'top 2%' on a few test doesn't make you a nerd..... it makes you 'talented', and women who have seen pictures of me can attest to my talent .


Akira.....
Tetsuo.........
argghhhhhhhhhh

Typedef

Originally posted by Teleute


The most recent information available in my school is 1994 Talent Search. They have one poster, that no one knows anything about. I'm the only student from my school, to my knowledge, ever to attend CTYI.

And fio, I didn't say I was the ONLY catholic - just one of very few. True, eh?

I was born into a Catholic family, though neither of my parents practiced nor believed in any kind of omnipotent superbeing that originated the universe.

<quickly edited don't read other people's posts, you will just find information and then have to go back and edit your own posts, dang>
Anyhoo, I should think that anyone who is 'talented' enough to get onto the course should also be smart enough to not just arbitrarily believe in god. Remember the burdon of evidence lies with the people trying to pove their point, me I would say I'm agnostic, but I'm not. I'm atheist.

QED.

CriminallyInsane

Wow i wish i'd found this board sooner. I took the sats(and did quite well), but i never went to one of the courses cos they were a bit *expensive* and there wasn't one i really liked. I'd like to go now but from reading these posts i think i'm too old. is 16 too old? Could someone tell me?

smiles

I'm afraid you can still go when you are 16. but as soon as you turn 17 its no go

<< Fio >>

lordsippa

I can no return. I am 17 at end of May.

But I WILL be RA (if they let me, and the chances of that?).

Anyway, this board started out with topics about things that were quite common CTYI things. like cats vs. dogs. no-one brought in should beastiality be legalised yet though... After a while, you just run out of things to talk about from CTYI, and then it becomes a board for people who know each other through there to socialise. it's like if there was a board for freemasons to chat on or something. we're like that. we're just a group of people with one common bond through which friendship has prospered.

And then there's fizzytings and countless other CTYI communities.

alaskagirl

i dont want to be elitist (remember the mensa thread?) but geez if youre just going to come here to give out, whats the point? as has been said before, its a place FOR ctyiers to talk. OOh, and wouldnt it be funny if there was a forum to talk ABOUT ctyiers? people could say all sorts of things.

i.e. " oh, my friend wont shut up about it. how annoying"


but anyways, just that sticky was about ctyi itsself (originally, and i guess its getting pretty full) because people kept wandering in wondering what ctyi *WAS*. and then we would all have to explain it over and over again. ok i am off track, arent i? well......

Asuka

Originally posted by azezil
So out of the current topics on this forum there are none actually on topic.

Not complaining or anything, but is this forum really necessary if there isn't even one topic related to CTYI?

Glad to see that on the rare occasions when you do look at this forum you take the time to figure it out before you start a rant...

Allow me to quote myself:

This board is unofficial, and purely for people to keep in touch

It is a community board azezil, created for a community, and visited by a community. We have no problem with people attaching themselves to the community, but I do have a problem with people coming here without a clue and flaming it.

Get it?

A