College Advice: Time Management I'd like to talk about two things that are very near and dear to my heart and if handled correctly, can change both your high school and college experiences for the better. These two things are extracurricular activities and time management. Extracurricular activities are a necessity for some and a burden for others. Many people love to pursue countless interests outside of school, while others dread hearing from their college counselor or parents that they should engage in more activities. There is no right or wrong answer, but most colleges and businesses have openly stated that they look for a certain "well roundedness," and extracurricular activities are possible solutions. First, let me say this. I am not by any means saying you should do something simply because it looks good on paper and will impress people. I'm also not saying that shouldn't be done. That is up to you. I, based on personal experience, recommend that you follow your own interests when choosing an extracurricular. What is the definition of an extracurricular activity? It is anything and virtually everything you do outside of actual schoolwork. Some of the most obvious ones include sports, the arts, community service, and employment. These are three of the most prominent categories, but not all of them. One thing I found interesting when applying to colleges is that most people (myself included), don't realize how many supplementary activities they actually do. Now here comes the tricky part. In many cases, you will have many interests and many possible activities. It is extremely important that you don't overextend yourself. If you spread yourself too thin, you run the risk of doing many things poorly instead of a few things well. While I suggest talking it over with your parents and teachers for guidance, I strongly recommend trying to manage your time yourself. It is a great skill and it is never too early to practice. This becomes even more important in college as everything becomes more demanding. Most people find that their college extracurricular activities require much more time than in high school and therefore you will have to make choices. If you already have the proper decision-making and time management skills, college life will be that much easier and enjoyable. Try making daily, weekly, and monthly charts that will help you see your commitments. This will allow you to pencil in your plans and make adjustments accordingly. Even if you don't feel that busy now, it is a good idea to get used to managing your activities. If you can effectively do this, you are one step closer to being a successful college student. Robert Rowe Princeton University class of 2007