@ak2018 Yeah, I need to talk to my dad about it. My mom has a habit of guilt tripping and it’s not making me feel too great about the whole situation right now. 
@neptuna My parents have a habit of doing that too. I can’t imagine what I’m going to tell that next year when plan to take the SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests, and a summer class. This will all cost a lot of money.
@ak2018 I can’t believe the College Board calls itself a nonprofit organization. I’ll probably end up spending over $600 on AP exams by the time I graduate, and even more with SAT subject tests. I might get a job this summer or the next summer, though.
@ak2018 You have a point! Where does all this exam money go if College Board claims to be a “non-profit organization”. It surely does not take that many people to make an exam.
Also track is going pretty well. Tryouts were yesterday and I honestly felt like throwing up a little after running the mille. I didn’t help that it was 30 degrees and we saw some flurries falling. We practiced from 3-4pm, the shortest practice we’ll probably have, and by the time we came in, if you had touched my hands you would’ve thought I was dead or dying. I ran pretty well, but not that well. My times could definitely improve and they need to as we are expected to run 400-meters in under 1 minute. If I’m unable to do that, I’ll likely do shot put, like I did in middle school. I’ve also been watching my diet and I’ve gotta say I’m doing pretty well.
@Lbelle43 @premednyy Are you guys talking about your main NHS? We don’t get nominated until our junior year for that, this year I could only get nominated for the National Latin Honor Society. I think I may be over-thinking things a bit though, hopefully getting into the language honor societies is easier than the main one. I really need to step-up my game on my community service. orz
@averagebean You’re in Canada, right? I think most schools in the US have them. They’re just honorary groups if you meet certain academic criteria, with some community service stuff.
@neptuna I feel you. :\ AP exams are $96 at my school (I was wrong in that other post from the AP exam cost thread, in case any of you see me contradicting myself :P), and even though I am only taking one this year, my sister is too, so the cost is double. Its really going to suck next year, when between my sister and I the cost will be around $400. If I can get a job this summer, I think I will try to save up the money myself.
Bluhh I just checked the UCONN forum since results for the class of 2016 came out recently, and they are a mixed bag. There were out-of-state people with 3.3 GPA’s being accepted with scholarships and people with 3.7-3.9 being rejected. :-S Maybe their schools had huge GPA inflation or something, but this does not bode well for me, being in-state with a 3.671. I wish I could go on Naviance to see admissions stats for my school, but we don’t start using it until junior year.
@ak2018 I trained for track & field at an athletic academy in Asia a few years ago and since we trained endurance with the 400m and 800m often, my coaches gave me quite a few useful tips. My time was around 56.59 seconds for the 400m in grade 9 for reference. I don’t run the 400 anymore because I hate it looll. I’m more of a field events person now.
For your diet, I definitely recommend a high carb, low fat, moderate protein diet (mainly grains, fruits and veggies). The carbohydrates will help fuel your energy (especially for the 400 because it’s a mix between a sprint and a run) and the protein will help with muscle building (you’ll need it in your calves).
If you want to do 400m, it’s not just your diet but your workout and training regimen. Be sure to stick to it outside of practices. Have you heard of the beep test or pacer test? Do that at least 3 times a week until failure or whichever level your reach. I guarantee you your time will improve by a lot. I GUARANTEE IT. Weight training is also beneficial. I recommend squats, lunges, leg targeted workouts.
I apologize for the length but as you can tell, I am a HUGE athletics and fitness junkie aha. But seriously. Training with the beep test will do you wonders. Do it.
@averagebean Thank you so much for this! I also was more a field events person in middle school. My fastest time back then was 1:08. My home diet mainly consists of rice and vegetables, along with apple juice. Other than that, everything else I eat at school. Ironically. I did the pacer test right before track tryouts yesterday, which probably explains why I felt really tired and overworked. PE was my last class of the day, which I had from 12:30pm - 2:10pm. We ran the pacer, which I apparently got a 45 on because I rested when I shouldn’t have, even though I thought we were allowed to back in middle school. My top score in the pacer this year was 50.We usually do the pacer every 1 1/2 months.
@ak2018 Yeah, doing the beep test right before track tryouts would be very exhausting. Here, we have the option to skip our fitness tests if we have sports try outs the day of. However, it won’t matter as much if you’re reasonably fit AND if you refueled right after with lots and lots of carbs.
I’m guessing the US version of the pacer test is different. I recommend doing the Australian one or the one used for Marines as the pacing is faster. It goes from level 0, 0.1, 0.2 until 16.0. My personal score is a 10.5 currently which is not the greatest but then again, good enough for me haha.
Rice and vegetables are good but I would limit the apple juice intake as there usually is usually processed sugar (whether if it says it’s natural or not) inside and you want the sugars from whole fruit along with the vitamins.
Good luck! I’m sure you’ll be able to get your time under a minute for the 400 within a month or so if you stick to your diet and training regime. This stuff takes time and 1:08 is a great base time to start improvement.
@averagebean I wouldn’t say I’m reasonably fit and I only had 30 minutes to go from PE to tryouts. That gave me enough time refill my water bottle, talk to some friends, and wait for tryouts to start. I’m going to be honest, I didn’t have lunch that day either, or at least an adequate lunch. I had the last lunch shift of the day and there was literally nothing I liked that was left. So I just settled for some Sour Cream and Oinion chips, I know not that healthy, and a Capri Sun. I wasn’t as hungry for the rest of the day. I didn’t have anything to eat to refuel after. I hate having the last lunch shift every other day as there is almost no food left. Oh and my fastest time now, unfortunately, is 1:28.
@ak2018 SMH. For your own health, I really recommend not to do that ever again. However, start training and eating well from Monday (yes my friend, indulge in your deepest delights this weekend) because psychologically, many people keep to their plans when they start on a Monday. I personally prefer it as well. Always pack extra energy bars (coach’s advice) for days like that.
@averagebean I actually rarely ever do that at school, only did that 3 times before this. Unfortunately, it was just one of those days. I would’ve gotten a chicken sub as that was the most healthy appetizer they had that day, other than a pizza. I probably wasn’t that hungry as I had a really big breakfast that day. I wish I didn’t have the last lunch though. By the time I get to the cafeteria, I’m always at the end of the line. The only way to get there faster is to cut in line or run through everyone to get there. Unfortunately, my family and I don’t have the ability to make or pack lunch for us as it would cost a lot more per week. I also have a problem when it comes to hydration. I solved it by bringing a water bottle with me to class.
I remember taking the beep test in middle school. We did it twice every quarter and I’d feel dead for the rest of the day. Thankfully we don’t do it anymore.
@WishStar12 You’re a lucky person. I’m in the Sports Performance program at school so we do it every week to ensure we’re still in shape and making progress.
@ak2018 Aw, that sucks. Gotta work with what you got though. Run as fast as you can to the front of the line ayyy
HA crazy how different sports have to eat/train. Currently starting my bulk to put on 35 pounds 
@ak2018 I do track and my 400m is 55s. A good strategy that I use is before you run, make sure you are hydrated (drink wateer even if you think you are good)! Also, if you are tired, ignore it, because you have to push yourself.
Anyone have a job? I just got one at my local movie theater
@NYUhopeful1 Me too! I’ve been working at amc theaters for the past 5 months. You’re gonna love it, just remember to balance school and work. For me, I only work weekends, 9-4, except for today since i had to take the sat. :))
@neptuna You have a point! Where does all this exam money go if College Board claims to be a “non-profit organization”. It surely does not take that many people to make an exam.
Sorry I accidentally tagged myself.
@apple1893 I thought drinking right before a race would give you cramps ;/