There's this girl that I like, and we met last year. She's a friend of mine and I'd like to ask her out but I don't know what to say to her. My parents say that I should "keep my head in those books" but it's ironic because I HAVE to in order to keep up with her. Her book smarts match my own.

I recently found out that she's going to a different high school than me. I applied for the magnet program, but I don't know my results yet. If they WERE to come back positive, I don't know if it'd be a good idea or not whether to go into the program because of all the stess and strain of school work. 

 It also just so happens that she's going into one of the GOOD schools.....

Any advice?

Well, I'm not sure what the "Magnet program" is, but if it is something that will look good on college applications, I would definitely try for that. Anything that will get you ahead in school, as well as in the job market afterward, is definitely worth checking out.

Now, as for your girl... Well if you like her you should just talk to her! It seems you're already doing that, so that's good. What is she interested in? What are you interested in? If you have any commonalities, you should go participate in those activities together. Ask her to a movie you'll both enjoy. If she's into playing video games, take her to a tournament (Or host one yourself). Maybe you can even invite her over to study. I'm not sure how old you are, or if you have any means of income, but if you do have money, offer to take her out bowling or to get some coffee or something.

Despite what Stephen Hawking says, girls actually aren't all that difficult to figure out. They're just people, after all.

Good luck.

Lazlo Falconi : Well the magnet program DOES help improve college stuff like that but it provides strain on the brain and if you do terrible during the first part, you cannot leave.

Also I'm only 13 years old, so I doubt I'd be able to take her to a movie anytime soon.

Ahh, that certainly does change things. 

Well, let's split your question into two separate articles. The first one is: "Well the magnet program DOES help improve college stuff like that but it provides strain on the brain and if you do terrible during the first part, you cannot leave." Which may need to be split into two itself. The second then would be, "Also I'm only 13 years old, so I doubt I'd be able to take her to a movie anytime soon."

Okay on to the first. If the magnet program strains your brain, that is a very good thing. Based on the research of Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, we know that the brain is like a muscle, and the more it is used, the stronger it gets. If you do mentally strenuous tasks, you will be able to think faster, have a better recall of events, and generally be "smarter". Although you may feel very taxed and exhausted at first, you will undoubtedly reap the benefits in the long term. And it helps you in college in two ways, the first being that it looks good on your transcripts, the second being that, as I stated, you will have a superior capacity for retaining new information, as well as an expanded knowledge of the basic subjects you learned in high school.

About not being able to leave if you do terrible... Well I highly doubt that's true. If you're going to school in America, they can not, and will not keep you in advanced classes if your marks are slipping. This is part of the No Child Left Behind Act. They will move you back to general classes if things aren't working out for you. In other countries, I don't know how it works, but I would assume there is a similar system, because the grades of children in these programs determine the level of funding the school receives for these programs, so obviously it would be in the school's best interest to get you out if you were failing miserably. But since they say you can not leave, this may be because, like I said, even if you start off on the wrong foot, eventually by using your brain it will become stronger.

Now, the girl problems... Honestly I don't know what to do about that one. It has been quite a while since I was 13, and I wasn't exactly a ladies man back then. Sorry I can't help you out with that prickly mess.

warmaker : Rightly said....What I will just add is that every thing has got its own time, and it is always better to do things at right time. You know if you really invest yourself in school you will really get ahead....now it ok when you see a girl ....I can understand...what you really feel for her...in particular....but the best is to consider her as a pal and talk to her when she's in front of you or around you....if she's gone to another school ...think..."Its ok....maybe some other time I will meet her" .....then you accept this fact and move on....You should be able to balance your emotion to be able to concentrate on ya studies...

warmaker : I guess you're right. But the thing is, the girl that I like IS also going to that magnet school. My zoned school (the one I'm otherwise forced to go to being the closest) focuses on the things I don't have on my "top priorities list" like politics. 

catfight09 : Well, that's good if she goes to that school.  You can enjoy a school that focuses on your needs and you get to talk to the girl while you're at it.

Best of both worlds, bro.