How busy is too busy?

Bing Chen is not stressed out. Really. Never mind that the 17-year-old senior is student body vice president, first-chair trombone in the wind ensemble and captain of the varsity tennis team at Aliso Niguel High School in Laguna Niguel, Calif.

Or that he’s also president of the Junior Statesmen of America, president of his Sunday Chinese school and a board member with the American Cancer Society—all while juggling five AP classes. Sure, Chen has to rack his brain to remember all the extracurriculars he’s doing these days, but he seems to believe it when he says, “I really don’t spread myself thin at all.”

Well, OK, maybe a little thin.

But Chen’s schedule, which keeps him running from 6:20 a.m. to midnight most weekdays, is the norm these days for plenty of high-achieving high school students. Why? After-class commitments, from candy striping to cross-country track, are great ways to explore personal passions, earn recognition and make a difference. And you’ve probably already figured out the side benefit: that piling on the extracurriculars bulks up your résumé, turning you into the fabulously well-rounded student college admissions officers want to see.

Some people, like Chen, even thrive on the constant action. “I love everything I do,” he says. “If you love everything you do, you don’t feel stressed.”

Even for students who’d be happy to take a breather, old habits die hard. So a lot of too-busy seniors graduate and become too-busy freshmen, perpetuating a cycle that concerns Voncile White, Ph.D., dean of first-year students at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass.

“I just finished a stint of reading admission files, and after a while, you begin to see that people have just stuffed their résumés with things that make them look like they’re really busy,” she says. “They arrive at college totally stressed. And they think they have to keep this up.”

Making the transition
Of course, loading up on extracurriculars at college can seem like the easiest way to meet people and stave off homesickness. It can also be the path of least resistance. If you edited your high school newspaper, chances are you’ll try to score a spot on your college paper simply because it’s what you know.

Used to being big fish in their high school ponds, some freshmen arrive on campus convinced that they can do everything. “There’s a sense,” says White, “that by the time the students arrive here, they should be in charge of everything.”

College, however, isn’t simply an amped-up version of your high school experience. Treat it that way, warns Betty Milburn, Ph.D., associate director of counseling at Texas A&M in College Station, and you may get in over your head.

“Typically, [freshmen] don’t understand how much study is needed because so many haven’t had to really study in high school,” she says. Then there’s the 24-7 social life to get used to, plus the on-your-own duties like doing laundry, running errands, paying bills
and shopping for groceries. Working a part-time job or an internship adds another piece to the time-management puzzle and shopping for groceries. Working a part-time job or an internship adds another piece to the time-management puzzle.

Not that you can’t join the Judo Club or the Society for Creative Anachronism if that’s what you’re really into. But Milburn recommends that freshmen take on just one or two extracurriculars, at least first semester. In other words, she says, “ease into it.”

Taking it easy
Choosing just one thing to do from the smorgasbord of activities at your university can be daunting—especially for the chronically overextended. But following these guidelines will help you make good choices so that you avoid stress, keep your priorities straight and actually do what matters most to you.

Narrow your options. Before you ever get to college, figure out what you want to get out of your extracurriculars: A social life? A résumé builder? A way to contribute? A workout? “I would advise [freshmen] to pick one organization that they really, really love,” says White. “If you like acting, join the Shakespeare Society. If you really want to be involved with the residents, look at being one of the house council people or an RA.”

Make a firm decision. Once you’ve signed on to the African American Association and the a cappella choir, don’t let anyone talk you into adding something you’re not psyched about.

Find flexible responsibilities. As a freshman at Wheaton College, in Wheaton, Ill., last year, Amy Taetzsch was elected her school’s freshman representative. She was already part of the symphonic band, a comedy improv troupe and a religious study group. Her saving grace? She’s in charge of how much time she puts in. “Because my job is not specifically defined, I can do as little or as much as I want.” So when she’s swamped with homework or other activities, she can lay off a little on her behind-the-scenes leadership.

Emphasize academics. News flash: You’re not paying the big bucks to play intramural rugby. “The goal,” says Milburn, “is academics first and foremost. Once you understand what you have to do to make the grades that are acceptable to you, then you can add more of the extracurriculars.” Because slipping grades tend to be a sign that you’re overextended, keep tabs on how you’re doing academically and be willing to put your extras on the back burner until you get a handle on your studies.

Finding balance
Some students, like Chen, are natural-born jugglers; others, says White, “don’t hit the wall until they’re sophomores.” The trick is figuring out how much you can handle before you reach your limit.
Watch out for these warning signs that you’ve gotten too busy:
You’re having trouble meeting deadlines.
You feel tired most of the time, but can’t ever seem to get to bed as early as you want to.
You’re getting headaches more often than usual.
You can’t find the time to eat a real meal.
You feel cranky and irritable a lot of the time.
Your day planner is packed, with no room for even a 30-minute unscheduled stop, like lunch with a friend.

Saying no isn’t always easy, but putting the kibosh on some of your activities will ultimately help you be more of a star at the things you really want to do.

Even an ultra-ambitious guy like Chen (he wants to go to Stanford University and hopes to be the first minority president of the United States) has learned to keep his hectic schedule in hand. “I make sure I don’t burn myself out by having a strong social life. I go to the movies all the time. I go to tons of dances. I hang out with my friends,” he says. He even squeezes in a daily after-school nap.

At some point, of course, crazy-busy just becomes plain crazy, but Chen doesn’t think he’s there yet. “Am I an optimist? Yes. I know my limitations, but I strive for the sky.”

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Even small colleges usually have dozens of clubs, societies and organizations on the menu. Here are some of the more unusual ones at campuses across the country.

Knit-wits, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Penn. Once a week, members gather to knit and chat, trade yarn and patterns, even give novices lessons in purling and dropping stitches. According to their Web site, “Rebellious souls who wish to crochet, quilt or embroider are also welcome.”

Lunch Pals Sled Club, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colo. According to president Graham Pierce, students in the club unleash their “unconventional creativity” by digging through trash to find materials to build primitive, homemade sleds. Then they do lunch.

AdreNUline Circus, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. After prepping at weekly circus classes and juggling practice, members of Northwestern’s only circus troupe set up gigs to perform and “provide circus consultation” at events on campus.

Antique Mechanics Club, University of California, Davis. One of the few clubs around with its own “boneyard,” members focus on collecting, restoring and displaying vintage agricultural machines. Bonus: They get to ride cool old tractors.

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