I graduated 6 years ago, so my experience is somewhat relevant here.

I had a significant amount of free time in college as a political science major. I was involved in a few extracurriculars and had a very part-time job, but the overall time constraints were quite light compared to high school. I came from a competitive IB high school and I have always loved to write, so the assignments were a breeze. I also earned many credits from the IB program so my path to the degree was accelerated. I only picked up a minor but could have easily done a dual degree (and looking back, I wish I had).

However, had I been in a math or science-focused major, it almost certainly would have been more demanding.

Anonymous wrote:College depends on the major. Chemistry or electrical engineering students for example will have more demanding college study than liberal arts or HS. It is the nature of the beast.

+1. Pre-med required courses can also be competitive if that is something your child is attempting.

Coming from a competitive high school, I found my ivy to be easy. However, I did notice many people struggle who I thought would not -- and later figured out it had more to adjusting to the "real life" demands college puts on you. If all your time in hs is spent trying to succeed academically, sometimes there's not enough time spent learning how to deal with self-esteem issues (especially if you're now in an environment where everyone else is just as smart as you are). It's good to learn how to balance life and have fun while you are in hs, so you can draw upon those skills in college.

OP here. Well, this is all good news. Something to look forward to! Thanks. Sounds like DS will be fine if we can just get over all these hurdles in the next couple years. Thanks. His job and ECs are not big time sucks (he did add one EC this year partly as an "application boost," but it is a sport, so he is getting exercise and learning a skill he can enjoy as an adult). He does not seem overwhelmed, but it is just so different from my carefree hs experience. I won't mind if undergrad is a bit of a respite since he has the rest of is life to work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is at one of those privates where 3-4 hours of homework per night is the norm. Alumni at college who come back to visit the students almost all say that college is easier and far less stressful. And this is kids at Ivies and other top 25s.

Honestly, why would anyone do this to their kid?!?! 3 to 4 hours a night? That's horrific.

Hah. I had more like five hours a night.

Anonymous wrote:DC is at one of those privates where 3-4 hours of homework per night is the norm. Alumni at college who come back to visit the students almost all say that college is easier and far less stressful. And this is kids at Ivies and other top 25s.

Honestly, why would anyone do this to their kid?!?! 3 to 4 hours a night? That's horrific.

OP,
Can he quit his job?

College depends on the major. Chemistry or electrical engineering students for example will have more demanding college study than liberal arts or HS. It is the nature of the beast.

My twins have found college much more relaxing and less stressful than their competitive high school.

I am from a small town public highschool, and I thought college at an ivy was a breeze. I wouldn't put my kid in a pressure cooker HS just to prepare them for college.

My friends and I from a big three thought college was a breeze compared to high school. We just had so much more time and we were very well prepared.

None of us were athletes or work study, though, both of which can suck up a lot of time.

DC is at one of those privates where 3-4 hours of homework per night is the norm. Alumni at college who come back to visit the students almost all say that college is easier and far less stressful. And this is kids at Ivies and other top 25s.

OP -- Based on your post, I think for your child college will be more fun and easier, but junior year in HS is just tough on most everyone. We often note that our DC has spent 1 1/2 hours per day on average commuting to /from HS most years. In college he may spend some of that time walking between classes if they are far apart, but that's some free exercise time, socializing with a friend walking time, etc. Not having classes all day long every day will free up time.

However, I really hope that your junior isn't doing any EC's just to look good on college apps and is only doing those he also genuinely enjoys. If not, it's not worth it IMHO. We worried for years that our DC didn't do enough EC's compared to many kids, but he did what he felt he had time for and liked. He liked school itself, and by limiting his EC's he had more time to do school work and that probably helped him stand out more in his applications with strong recommendations, etc. As we near the end of 4 years and look back, having a couple of steady ECs -- arguably less than that as one of then sometimes counted as an elective course -- added up nicely. Since they were EC's he enjoyed, they fit with his interests as reflected in other parts of his application.

Anonymous wrote:Probably depends on the major. Difficult majors can be all consuming. And easy majors where you might have to think seriously about grad school for landing a decent job, you need to do really well because your competition is in same boat with easy classes and will need to stand out on admissions tests and applications. No free lunches.

How about just a healthy life?

Probably depends on the major. Difficult majors can be all consuming. And easy majors where you might have to think seriously about grad school for landing a decent job, you need to do really well because your competition is in same boat with easy classes and will need to stand out on admissions tests and applications. No free lunches.

My hs junior has so many competing demands on his time over and above his academic courses (ECs, job, standardized test prep, etc). I know thus is true for many. He balances it well enough, but I feel sorry for him. I am wondering, do the kids who are working so hard now find college a bit of a relief when tey get there? No more sitting in class 6 or 7 hours a day, no more long commute, no more pursuing ecs just for the college app, starting to take just the classes that most interest you... Hoping that will be the case, anyway.