This is what I do with my high achiever students to manage their busy schedules.
Make a detailed schedule of tasks they do in the next two weeks, down to each class period and each 30 minutes out of school.
Color code the items on the list in categories of mandatory (classes, food, sleep, chore, commute, etc.), need (tutoring, practice, hangout with friends, etc.), want (watch tiktok for an hour), or any other meaningful way to group the activities.
Code the activities for how relaxing to stressful they are, i.e. with a number scale. Also code the activities for how productive/beneficial they are. Of course these scales are subjective. Usually the more stressful tasks are also highly beneficial.
Apply some math skill to quantify how stressful each day seems to be, as well as how productive each day is. Then try to shuffle things around (if possible), see if it’s possible to drop the stress level without reducing productivity.
After analyzing your schedule for the next two weeks, it’s likely to see what activities are relatively stressful with low productivity. From there you can decide if there’s anything you’d like to remove from or add to your schedule.
In reality, most of the students who did this eventually decided not to drop anything. I think going over their schedule and labeling things make them aware of why they do what they do, also validating their hard work and acknowledging their burden. For some reasons I don’t know, this exercise seems to reduce some stress for the high achievers.
I would not drop an EC to study for the SAT. Keep the EC and if he can’t get a high score just apply test optional.
My kids took several AP’s junior year, 3 season varsity sports, choir, worked part time, and took the act and sat several times (6 total). Honestly prepping for the tests took little time compared to the rest, tutor for an hour once a week, then a practice exam.
does 1 hour/week work? do you recommend your sat tutor ? thanks!
It did work, he’s a local guy but a lot of students use him from our high school, found him through word of mouth. It’s usually pretty easy to find a tutor since students utilize them for a short time.
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