This is a main reason I’m considering dropping mock trial. I know that top tier schools don’t give much merit, so I’m looking at outside merit scholarships.
These are for scholarships from my dual citizen country. I don’t understand why they don’t think living in the US my entire life isn’t enough evidence that I’m fluent. However, one of the scholarships I’m aiming for is a full ride for all four years, so if that’s what it takes, I’m willing to do it.
That is a fair point. Who knows at this point - I will try to allow myself more grace with test prep
I am really grateful for all of your suggestions. I’m definitely interested in the suggestions, AND these are difficult decisions to make. I’m definitely taking them all into consideration. I’m going to see how the first few months go with this schedule, and if I find it unsustainable, cut or reduce some extracurriculars. Thank you very much
To say this isn’t a hotly contested topic in the college admissions community is a gross understatement. I’ve heard countless people on both sides of the argument, all with various credentials that make it very difficult to see what is “right” or “wrong”. I think what makes this even more challenging is that there isn’t really a “right” or “wrong” way to approach college admissions. It’s very individual, and you’ll never know how another philosophy would’ve worked unless you go to college twice.
To the best of my knowledge, I am putting in the right effort and right thinking into this process. I also acknowledge that my philosophy always has room to change and I am willing to change my mind. To imply that I have a narrow mindset and am not taking college admissions seriously is simply not true. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be on CC asking for advice - I would be doing it on my own.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could point me towards pieces of evidence that support your claim. From my personal experience, I’ve seen both - the well-rounded student and the student with a spike - get into elite colleges.
I am trying my absolute best and trying to learn as I go. Tearing people down like this isn’t helping anyone.
My kids are involved with figure skating though not on a high level. I’m mostly familiar with USFS skating but what level are you on? Why don’t you think you can skate in college if you attend a college with a team. There are intercollegiate skating teams that compete from pre pre through senior level. However the teams are not necessarily only about competing.
My college daughter skates for fun and fitness and has been on a performance team skating during hockey games as well as one or two yearly college recitals (mostly attended by parents but they have fun). There are typically 3 regional competitions a year - her school goes to 2 but only those who elect to go. They have a rink on campus and have freestyle time 8 - 10 hours a week. I can also tell you many admissions people commented that my daughter’s.
My entering 11th grade also skates just for fun and fitness for the most part - no interest in testing. However she is on the high school team to skate with friends. My kids are the opposite though - group skating is a big favorite part of skating for them. The high school and intercollegiate skating are pretty low key and fun.
I guess the question is how are you handling all these activities, keeping up with school and grades, and having family time. If you can good but it sounds like way too much. Sometimes as much as we want doing it all isn’t good.
I am competing competitively at the junior level for solo dance and for Theatre on Ice, with goals for nationals and international competitions. I don’t think I can skate in college because my family cannot afford to continue paying for skating while also paying for college. Otherwise, I would love to join a collegiate team!
I also do high school figure skating (founder and captain at my school) which has been a lot of fun!
I guess I’m still not sure because school hasn’t started for me yet. I’ll definitely have a clearer picture of how I’m doing within a month or two.
I think everything that could have been said in this thread has been said. The majority of people are trying to explain how difficult this schedule will be. You definitely understand that because you know exactly what it will take. If you feel like you’re doing what’s best for you, then go ahead with the schedule. There will be no “pieces of evidence” that point you in the right direction. You are not the same as anyone else, so people’s opinions are the best you’re going to get.
You’re obviously smart and ambitious, so props to you if you think you can handle the schedule. The fact is that you will get less than 6 hours of sleep a night, and this will be very hard on you mentally/physically. If you think that it’s worth it because you love everything you do equally, then keep doing what you’re doing. We don’t know you or your limits, so it’s best not to ruminate on thoughts like “Should I? Should I not?” You are your best judge, in this case.
I also empathize with you. I, too, had an extremely difficult schedule because of dance (classical ballet with a super prestigious company outside of school). I feel like I handled my schedule very well. The only difference for me was that I realized I didn’t love doing it anymore, so it wasn’t worth the hours. I don’t think it is the same situation for you, so keep sticking to things you’re passionate about.
Yes, ^ that. Choices.
I’m not here to tear you down. Remember, I do see you’re aware and trying to juggle. But there are points in our lives where we face tough decisions. How we set our path forward is as important as the pleasures of the present. It’s important to be informed as well as possible, call it, “Eyes wide open.” Not go on assumptions or hearsay.
It’s different when one is thinking “top 20.” If you have happy, affordable (true) safeties, it can be much easier.
I have my own experience in this arena, working for a competitive U. And I’m a parent. When D2, a fine and strong musician, asked about dropping one impressive orchestra, (roughly 10 hours per week plus practice,) I gave her much the same advice and the decision was entirely hers.
A kid doesn’t, imo/ime, need to do it all. That’s not what gets you into a T20.
My daughter’s college does intercollegiate skating competitions only because the synchro skaters tend to be part of a different program and join the college skating team mostly for the ice time though some like to do solos in fun recitals. I think ice dance goes under collegiate not intercollegiate skating. However if it is anything like the intercollegiate comps they are fun not that serious like the high school comps. Most of the girls at my daughter’s college don’t take weekly privates anymore at least during the school year. They use old choreography or figure out their own routines and use whatever skating costumes they already own for solos plus a team jacket/black leggings for team events. It may not allow you to keep up a high competitive level but there is no need to stop skating for fun, fitness and friendship while in college. My oldest was a cofounder of her high school skating team. I’ve been going for 5 years now and it is amazing to have watched the program grow.
Re: figure skating. USFSA’s Solo Ice Dance Series season was cancelled this year, but is supposed to be back for 2021, your senior year. Are you doing the U.S. series or another country’s one? Which international competitions are you looking at? So many have been cancelled and the ISU is still refining the competitive season schedule.
How is your skating testing going - are you testing out to senior level? (For other readers, the U.S. has seven different single/pair test options, up to 48-ish tests that can be taken and passed.) Or are you strictly competing? Competitions keep being pushed back.
Many figure skating families totally get the “skate until college, then the funds go to college” dilemma. So your planning and questions are classic skating/school balance ones.
I’m competing junior in the solo dance series next year and junior in theatre of ice. My team has won national and international medals, and we’re working towards winning the international competition in my senior year. There are talks of solo dance going international but likely not during my time.
I’m testing out to senior for MIF and pattern dance (not good enough at singles to test to senior there).
I definitely don’t want to give up skating altogether when college comes - I just know that I will be responsible for the funds so I won’t be able to skate as much. Skating is unfortunately a very expensive sport ;(
I’m so glad to have found a skating community in CC! I’ve been looking for one but haven’t seen many, if you could point me towards a couple skating forums that would be awesome!
Sounds like a solid skating strategy. Good for you!
Remember test dates are unpredictable and will be for the immediate future. Depending on when your college applications are due, get your senior tests ready and/or done as much as possible by September 2021 for two reasons - 1) you can put these on your college applications, and 2) peaking for testing will be harder in senior year because you will be so busy with school, college applications and the competitive season being back on (hopefully).
You might want to schedule testing your senior pattern dances after the 2021 NSDS finals in mid-September (if you qualify) so you don’t ruin your eligibility. So testing the rest of your senior/international dances in late September/early October frees up the rest of your senior year for school work/college applications/competitions.
It would probably be helpful to have solid essay drafts of your top school choices done during summer 2021.
(As for forums, you can skim Goldenskate and FSUniverse to see what’s up in the international skating world, but perhaps not posting. It gets a bit snarky, to put it mildly.)
Thank you for your advice! I was asking if there were any CC forums on figure skaters going through the college app process. I’ve definitely seen skating-specific forums such as Goldenskate and FSUniverse and have strategically refrained from posting
Drop Mock Trial and Japanese School. I’m sure you love them but something has to give. Presumably you’ve been doing Japanese School for quite a while, so that you’re now just polishing skills. Same thing for Mock Trial. I’m sure you love both of them but you have to prioritize and these two are the most “non necessary” (in the way skating is “necessary”).
Also, don’t take the SATII. Unless you need external validation in your native language (ie., you want the colleges to know that you know English, Z Language, and a Foreign Language learned at school) these will not bring any advantage. Ok, you’ll lose the money, but it’s not that much. If you feel really bad you can probably earn it back in one day at a part-time job you could have over the Winter break :). That would free up more time for what matters AND will yield money (TOEFL and PSAT).
You don’t need to prepare for the TOEFL. Check out what the rubrics are for the writing, familiarize yourself with the format = total 1 hour, once. That’s it.
Also, aim for a high score on the PSAT - aiming for a 1550 SAT in the Fall of Junior Year is too much stress, even if aiming for 1500+ for Spring junior year may be a goal. So, prepare for the PSAT, including by taking the SAT without that crazy score pressure, but mostly work on the PSAT. There are several big scholarships that come from being top 1% on the PSAT so it’ll be time well-spent. Also, it’s easier than the SAT so you don’t need the same amount of time to prep. Be aware it’s in October though, so you don’t have much time to be ready. You can prep for the SAT in the Winter and take it in March.
Top 20 universities don’t really have merit scholarships. Since you’ll need merit to attend college, run the NPC and cross out any university that doesn’t match your parents’ budget. If you don’t know what that is, now’s the time to ask.
Doing all this should allow you to cut about 15 hours a week from your schedule. It’d still be insanely demanding but at least you’d have a shot of doing well, not being stretched thin, and having enough sleep.
(Keep in mind that 100 hours is the upper end of what Finance/IB people do, and the reason for the very high turn out in that profession because most can’t stand it. You want to start college in good enough shape to be able to give it your all, not completely rinsed out from a crazy HS schedule).
@MYOS1634 Thank you for your feedback! That’s very helpful to put things into perspective. I’m continuing Japanese school so I can graduate, and I’m strongly considering dropping mock trial.
I won’t stress too much about the TOEFL or SAT-II. I’m pretty prepared for the TOEFL so I won’t waste my time doing practice problems when I could be focusing on other things. I’m going to focus more of my energy on preparing for the SAT, because I agree, it’ll be much more worthwhile to spend my time on that.
