How do you people who have stellar grades, exam scores, and impressive ECs manage it all? I’m currently a junior in only 4 AP classes (Physics 1, Chemistry, Lang., APUSH) and with 4 ECs (editor of Key Club, historian of UN Club, NHS member, HOSA member), and I already feel swamped.
I’m not too concerned with making it to Ivy League and other really top schools, but I do like to entertain the idea every now and then. I do have the SAT going for me (2290), but I’m looking to make myself a lot more interesting. I just feel like I have no time to, especially with my difficult AP classes and time consuming, unimpressive, and not to mention boring ECs.
For people who are accomplishing what I’m wishing to accomplish, how are you doing it?
I definitely don’t qualify for Ivy Leagues but I do pretty well in school and have good ECs…Hmmm I think a lot of it has to do with knowing your strengths and putting that knowledge to use when deciding on your schedule. For example, I could have taken H Pre Calc, but with my 3 APs, dedicated work ethic (I never just throw hw together, I always spend time on it and try to understand the material and think of questions), and time consuming ECs, I knew that taking on another advanced class would be too much. Also, I do well in math but in an advanced setting that probably would have been my hardest class, and I wouldn’t have been able to focus as much on my APs. Plus… I didn’t want one advanced class that I would have struggled to keep an A in, to bring down 3 other potential As.
Also…I’m not advising this but I lose a lot of sleep over school and ECs. I’m used to it by now but some days are rough. One of my faults is trying to accomplish more than I am able to in a day, so be sure to set realistic goals. I also like to set a goal grade for tests and the quarter (after I have gauged how difficult the material is and how well I understand it).
But don’t worry about making yourself more “interesting.” Just pursue what you are interested in, whether or not you have any experience in it. For instance, I joined band never having played an instrument and I couldn’t read music. I actually quit field hockey to join band! But now I’m in every band activity I can be in and I absolutely love it. I know it’s hard to find ur niche in HS, but in order to do so, try a lot of new things! Ots easy to feel overwhelmed, as a senior I feel overwhelmed with school, ECs, and apps 24/7, but if you love your ECs and like most of your classes (there are some necessary evils you have to take though) then it won’t feel too much like work!
Ots easy to feel overwhelmed, as a senior I feel overwhelmed with school, ECs, and apps 24/7, but if you love your ECs and like most of your classes (there are some necessary evils you have to take though) then it won’t feel too much like work!