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I recently browsed the Princeton Alumni Weekly and found this article (http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_new/PAW01-02/16-0605/features.html) terrifying. I was struck by the quote about the valedictorian:

"Pierce is finally getting some rest in her senior year, sleeping about five hours a night."

I planned on working reasonably hard at college- but not THIS hard. Another study in the same magazine reflected that over half of Princeton students have to schedule in time for their friends or otherwise they wouldn't have the chance.

What do you all, as parents, make of this? What are your expectations for your children in a competitive college environment? Is this what life at college is like nowadays? In other words, reassure us college-bound students that we won't have to kill ourselves to do well!

By Alphamom (Alphamom) on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 10:37 pm: Edit

This is why college research and visits are so important to find a good match where challenges are not synonymous with "killing" yourself. I have met students(let's see, there was one?) who take this rigorous, stressful academic scheduling in stride. This is what they do well and with few ill effects. If this is not your idea of a life, you need to find a school with kids of a similar mindset. I'm curious about how much more difficult classes are at a college like Princeton.

By Marite (Marite) on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 10:50 pm: Edit

The take-home message in that article:

"Pierce is anything but typical — even at Princeton."

You don't have to kill yourself to do well.

By Momrath (Momrath) on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 11:47 pm: Edit

Sleeping about 5 hours a night sounds about right for my son, but believe me, it's not because of suicidal studying! :>)

By Aparent4 (Aparent4) on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 11:54 pm: Edit

My s at Princeton definitely likes his sleep and social life. At all of these schools you're going to find that kid who takes 8 courses a semester and will win a Rhodes scholarship. That's not most of them! Most are very involved with ECs as well as coursework. At Princeton students do often plan ahead to have lunch or go to parties. That appears to be because they enjoy getting together.

By Poetsheart (Poetsheart) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 01:16 am: Edit

Lilly Pierce is absolutely otherworldly. That kind of student comes around only once in a great while. If she doesn't burn herself out (she's like the Hale-Bopp comet!), she may do world altering things. Big Blue, please don't try to measure yourself by such a quantum scale yardstick. This girl's not the "norman Princeton student" by any means.

By Fendergirl (Fendergirl) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 01:29 am: Edit

i study very much at school, and believe me, i've definately pulled my fair share of all nighters! but that is insane.

By Mimk6 (Mimk6) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 02:26 am: Edit

My daughter spent a few days at Princeton being hosted by a student. They went miniature golfing in the evening, she went to the eating clubs with them another evening and saw some kind of evening entertainment. I got the strong impression that those kids had a life outside the classroom. The ones I met seemed happy and did not look like they were a step away from keeling over from exhaustion. I'm not saying they didn't study hard -- just that it looked like they were enjoying the Princeton life. I think this girl is the exception not the rule.

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 08:39 am: Edit

My brother in law went to Princeton (he is only 25, so didn't graduate that long ago). He said he worked harder in HS than at Princeton -- he seemed to have plenty of time for ECs and socializing, and then went to Harvard B-school, so I assume he did pretty well at Princeton.

By Songman (Songman) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 11:35 am: Edit

It is what it takes to be valedictorian!

By Alongfortheride (Alongfortheride) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 11:54 am: Edit

I am left feeling a little sad for her. So young and it sounds like she doesn't have the time to be dazzled by a sunset, lured by the sunshine, or even to enjoy an impromptu get-together with friends - if it doesn't coincide with her schedule. So much of what makes life good is made up of those things. I hope that she can someday look up from her studies and pushing herself to perfection and see that. I truly believe that God put those little things here for us - and they are good.

By Blossom (Blossom) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 12:00 pm: Edit

Sounds like undiagnosed OCD, but as long as she's happy and not hurting anyone else....

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 - 08:08 pm: Edit

The key words are "Pierce is anything but typical". She is an exceptional person and would be at any school at that level of activity and intensity.

My son goes to a rigorous prep school that tells visitors looking into the school that the homework load is intense. The time they feel that kid should be spending on work is about 4 times what my son spends. Now he is a true underachiever academically, and a lazy bum to boot, but he is not in trouble on the academic end and has learned the material very well as his subject and AP tests indicate. It really depends on the kid what a healthy level of studying is and it may not be what the typical kid in that school does.

By Bluealien01 (Bluealien01) on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 - 08:06 am: Edit

That's exactly what I need to do...endanger my physical health. (sarcasm) I've already endangered my emotional health (truth).