I've looked through the board, and feel that it would be a good idea to point out the various options that are open to students wishing to learn as much as possible about the ways of the Jedi. Remember that it is better to be an intelligent, wise student who learns much, rather than a Padawan that learns little. The amount of your own personal learning depends on how much you put into it, and the choices that you make.
The first option is to train alone. Personally, I believe that all students should go through this period to begin with for at least a few weeks. Sometimes less, sometimes more. Begin the self-training phase of your learnings by reading all the lectures (You are now, ja?) as well as the other postings around the board. There is much to be learned from others, even if it does not seem so on first glance. This is also a lesson in patience and self control. All too often I see young students who are in a rush to be trained personally...sometimes, however, this is not always the best thing...you must take time on your own to truly decide which branch of the Force you wish to follow...Light, Shadow, or Dark.
The second is to be trained without a title. This is the second step, which I am also highly in favor of. I have regular Email and chat communications with a number of students who are not my Padawan or Apprentices...but I do answer their questions, and help to guide them. It is a branch off of the self-teaching phase, because you are still teaching yourself, but you are gaining the help of a Master or Knight. This process does do other things however...in addition to helping you to continue your studies, you will build up a repoire with the Master. When he or she is ready to take a Padawan, they will already know of you, and will likely have kept up to date on your postings, etc. By this, you better your chances at getting a Master...also, you enhance your own personal training. Soon, the Force Academy will institute a training system, where we will appoint trainers to work with students, in an effort to increase the education levels across the board. When this comes into effect, it is heavily recommended...it is a great starting point for students who are looking for a personalized education into the ways of the Force.
The third is to become an apprentice. There have been some questions raised about the number of apprentices, what makes an apprentice, etc. Personally, I define "apprentice" as a student that is specially taken to be trained under a high degree of intensity, as one of many. An apprentice is is no way the same as a Padawan. The reason for this is that apprentices get a lower degree of attention from the Master, and is thus less "connected". Personally, I do take apprentices...but only in special cases. My Padawan, Serena, was promoted to Knight, but had her title also changed from Padawan to Apprentice, so that I may continue to teach her, without violating the rules of her training. For me, Apprentices are to be taken with the utmost care, because it is the same as having a child...albeit one of many. When I consider taking an apprentice, I will generally spend a great deal of time studying the student, and gauging their connection with the Force, as well as proficiency in other areas. Apprentices are multi-directional...you may be an apprentice before you are a Padawan, and you may be a Padawan before you are an apprentice. But to those students who are considering becoming an apprentice to a Master, do your research, and make sure that it's what you want. One thing that you may wish to do is ask how many apprentices the Master already has...that way, you can better gauge how much personal attention you will be able to recieve. Personally, I feel that maximum number of apprentices that any Master at the present time should have is 4...there is simply no need for more...but that's an issue open to personal interpretation.
The Fourth area is becoming a Padawan. To be a Padawan is a special thing...it is defined by a student being officially named as a Master's Padawan Learner, and recieving the highest quality of personal instruction available. The steps above are the best way to become a Padawan...learn on your own, then email a Master with any questions you may have, or you may want to introduce yourself. The phrase "The Master will find the student, when the student is ready" is especially true here. Masters do not generally answer to "I wish to be a Padawan" postings. In my case, weeks or Months of research go into finding a proper student.
The best advice that I can give is to learn as much as you can from the board, post wisely, and make sure to have a good time with everyone else. Regardless of who your Master is, how much you learn really does depend on you. We're all part of a great board, and it's important that we all gain the most from it!