Planning ECs for Junior Year - are 100hr weeks normal?

[kuma16]

@Lindagaf

That’s a ridiculous schedule.

Cut the test prep. I’m a test prep tutor. 1., no one needs to do five hours a week to prep for the SAT or ACT, and 2., more and more colleges are test optional. The majority of US colleges are test optional for the coming cycle, and yes, they really mean it. Tests are not that important and many colleges have already said they will be optional for next year too. All these came colleges are not requiring SAT 2’s. Forget those.

I haven’t studied much for any of my tests, which is why I need to study more than usually necessary.

@Lindagaf

I’m glad you enjoy all you do, but if your goal is Elite U or bust, you’re prioritizing the wrong things. Grades are king. Does that mean exclude enjoyable stuff from your life? No. A burnt out, unhappy kid who never sleeps, eats or sees friends doesn’t make for a good applicant.

My goal is Elite U and significant merit scholarships.

@Lindagaf

Why do you need to find a research position? Don’t do that. Almost no college will care that you did “research” in high school. ETA: Not including Science Research Programs or similar.

I’m genuinely interested in this research, and it’s a great way to explore my academic interest.

@Lindagaf

Delegate some of your volunteer activities to someone else in the volunteer program that you created. If it’s truly a program, it shouldn’t be difficult to do that.

I have. For my website and volunteer program, I’m listing the max time necessary. I’ll likely have weeks where I don’t do that much but others where I will.

@Lindagaf

Why are you doing TOEFL prep?

See #15.

@Lindagaf

You want to teach English too? Seriously, stop finding new ways to keep yourself busy.

This is part of my volunteer program. And I’m not doing things just for the sake of being busy.

@Lindagaf

Does your website need that much time per week? Do you need to spend so much time at Japanese school or skating? What will happen if you shave off a couple of hours a week somewhere between those things? Agree that maybe mock trial is expendable, but it doesn’t have to be.

Yes, yes, and more flexibility with skating. I’m going to try doing mock trial for the pre-season, and if that’s not sustainable, I’ll drop it/reconsider.

@Lindagaf

TBH, it sounds as though you are trying to fill every space in the activity section of the Common App. That isn’t necessary. It’s ok to be busy, but being busy for,the sake of being busy is counterproductive.

I’m not - if I were, I would choose much easier activities than the ones I’m doing.