To Carnegie or not to Carnegie?
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: USC
To Carnegie or not to Carnegie?
I know this is the Corner and all, but I figure most of the people who know me best are from the Corner so I decided to post this here. But please don't just come here and post spam. Go somewhere else if anything.
As some of you know, our school's H. Orchestra was invited to the New York Somethingsomethingsomething Festival at Carnegie Hall on the 26th of June to the 2nd of July 2005. The concert itself is on the 30th I think. I figure this is a once in a lifetime chance no matter where I sit in the orchestra so of course, I want to go. My first issue is not that big, it's money. The director says it'll cost $1400US for everything. Kind of a lot for 7 days, 6 nights. 200 bucks a day. But again, money is no issue. I just think it's super duper expensive considering a group on campus is going to Korea for 2 weeks with everything included also for $1600. But I guess New York City is just that expensive. Looking on the bright side, it is one hell of a trip and I will be able to see some of you
's if I go.
The main problem is my academic stuff. If I go, I will have missed the summer school cut by 3 days. You can miss a total of 8 hours before you are dropped with an F. I will have missed 20 hours so summer school is at school is a nono. But I need this US History class to free up a period so I won't have to overload myself with 7 classes. But it looks like if I want to take US History I will need to go to the one offered by the school.
Everyone is saying "Oh just take 7 classes." It isn't as easy as it looks. Have to get up at 6:15 in the morning and on Tuesdays and Thursdays get up at 5:30. Add 2-3 AP classes, water polo, swimming, cello, community service, it is asking for disaster. I for one need a lot of sleep. I've had about the same amount of sleep for the past 5-6 years. About 8-10 hours a day. Especially with water polo. I got sick 2 times this season because I don't think I got enough sleep. It is really easy to get sick. And I get back at 6pm and even later on game days. Leaves me an hour or two to do homework if I want any decent sleep. If anything, I know I don't want to do 7 periods. It is my last resort.
2nd option is to not take Orchestra. Seems kind of pointless though. But this may be the most probable option I will take if I have to drop a class.
3rd option is to quit water polo. sorry, but no. I've gone this far, you think I'm going to back down now? I'm not going to take 7 classes and do water polo. It is just too draining. I know this kind of contradicts the academic importance thing, but I'm getting a 4.0. Next year will not be as easy. Junior year will be hectic no matter how many classes I take, it is just the level of hecticity (haha) it will be at. 4 years of water polo looks good on the college resume too.
all of this seems kind of lame. I have to give up so much for one performance in Carnegie Hall. I haven't made my decision yet so any help will be greatly appreciated. I know it's all about what I want and what I desire, but is it worth it risking my academic career for one performance?
Competition is getting harder for college so anything extra I can get will be that much better. Academically, my head is telling me to not go. Life experiencely, my head is telling me to
summer school and suck it up and go.
Cliff notes for the lazy guys:
Should I go to Carnegie Hall?
Costs $1400 dollars
and I will either have to drop orchestra or water polo, or take 7 classes which I do not want.
George
As some of you know, our school's H. Orchestra was invited to the New York Somethingsomethingsomething Festival at Carnegie Hall on the 26th of June to the 2nd of July 2005. The concert itself is on the 30th I think. I figure this is a once in a lifetime chance no matter where I sit in the orchestra so of course, I want to go. My first issue is not that big, it's money. The director says it'll cost $1400US for everything. Kind of a lot for 7 days, 6 nights. 200 bucks a day. But again, money is no issue. I just think it's super duper expensive considering a group on campus is going to Korea for 2 weeks with everything included also for $1600. But I guess New York City is just that expensive. Looking on the bright side, it is one hell of a trip and I will be able to see some of you
's if I go. The main problem is my academic stuff. If I go, I will have missed the summer school cut by 3 days. You can miss a total of 8 hours before you are dropped with an F. I will have missed 20 hours so summer school is at school is a nono. But I need this US History class to free up a period so I won't have to overload myself with 7 classes. But it looks like if I want to take US History I will need to go to the one offered by the school.
Everyone is saying "Oh just take 7 classes." It isn't as easy as it looks. Have to get up at 6:15 in the morning and on Tuesdays and Thursdays get up at 5:30. Add 2-3 AP classes, water polo, swimming, cello, community service, it is asking for disaster. I for one need a lot of sleep. I've had about the same amount of sleep for the past 5-6 years. About 8-10 hours a day. Especially with water polo. I got sick 2 times this season because I don't think I got enough sleep. It is really easy to get sick. And I get back at 6pm and even later on game days. Leaves me an hour or two to do homework if I want any decent sleep. If anything, I know I don't want to do 7 periods. It is my last resort.
2nd option is to not take Orchestra. Seems kind of pointless though. But this may be the most probable option I will take if I have to drop a class.
3rd option is to quit water polo. sorry, but no. I've gone this far, you think I'm going to back down now? I'm not going to take 7 classes and do water polo. It is just too draining. I know this kind of contradicts the academic importance thing, but I'm getting a 4.0. Next year will not be as easy. Junior year will be hectic no matter how many classes I take, it is just the level of hecticity (haha) it will be at. 4 years of water polo looks good on the college resume too.
all of this seems kind of lame. I have to give up so much for one performance in Carnegie Hall. I haven't made my decision yet so any help will be greatly appreciated. I know it's all about what I want and what I desire, but is it worth it risking my academic career for one performance?
Competition is getting harder for college so anything extra I can get will be that much better. Academically, my head is telling me to not go. Life experiencely, my head is telling me to
summer school and suck it up and go. Cliff notes for the lazy guys:
Should I go to Carnegie Hall?
Costs $1400 dollars
and I will either have to drop orchestra or water polo, or take 7 classes which I do not want.
George
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 93,305
Likes: 820
From: Nowhere
George - have you talked to anyone in the school about this? I mean administrators or your probable History teacher? I think if you lay out this scenario for them, they'd do what they can to help. They may be willing to help you work something out regarding the summer course; most teachers are willing to work things out with extremely intelligent and dedicated students like yourself. And this isn't a family vacation or anything - it is, as you said, a once in a lifetime shot to play at CMH. Your director may be of some assistence, too.
As for the cost; $1400 for a week in manhatten seems pretty reasonable.
As for the cost; $1400 for a week in manhatten seems pretty reasonable.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 88,444
Likes: 21
From: Pt. A to Pt. B via VTEC!!
Try to think how you will feel about missing this opportunity (or Water Polo for that matter) 30-40 years from now when you are and old 
like some of us here 
... I try to go through life avoiding regrets later in life... Ultimately, YOU should make the decision, but arm yourself with as much information as possible.
The bookkeeper in my says do a cost-benefit factor on going vs not going
like some of us here ... I try to go through life avoiding regrets later in life... Ultimately, YOU should make the decision, but arm yourself with as much information as possible.The bookkeeper in my says do a cost-benefit factor on going vs not going
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 19,257
Likes: 19
From: San Diego, CA
George, in the future, pls put the cliff notes on top so that I don't have to read the whole thing, only to realize it's there. 
Seriously though, I'd say do what Jeff suggested. Talk to the teacher, I'm sure they'll be able to do something about it. Like Mikey said, you don't want to regret this decision later in life.
Hey, check out Google ads!
Seriously though, I'd say do what Jeff suggested. Talk to the teacher, I'm sure they'll be able to do something about it. Like Mikey said, you don't want to regret this decision later in life.
Hey, check out Google ads!
Community Organizer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 188
From: seattle
George you're getting good advice here. I'm sure you can get something worked out with your teachers/admins.
It will be the experience of a lifetime. I'll even send you $20 so you can get a sandwich and soda.
It will be the experience of a lifetime. I'll even send you $20 so you can get a sandwich and soda.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 28,318
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From: This is not my house!
George you're getting some good advice in here from people who obviously care.
I'm going out on a limb here and reading in to what your wrote that you really want to go. If that's true, go.
Do what Mike says (cost benefit), then do what Jeff says (talk to teachers). Then do what Chazmo says.
Does 4 years of WP look as good on a resume as 3 years of WP and playing at Carnegie Hall? I don't know but doubt it and BTW... who gives a flying feck.
George take it from me... you don't regret the things you do nearly so much as the things you DON'T do.
Long story made short: I was invited to the Olympic team tryout and didn't go. I had all the good and logical reasons... including academics. I have never in my life regretted anything nearly so much as that.
Mike's on the right track with his question of "how you will feel 30-40 years from now if you miss it", but, you can't know.
I'm going out on a limb here and reading in to what your wrote that you really want to go. If that's true, go.
Do what Mike says (cost benefit), then do what Jeff says (talk to teachers). Then do what Chazmo says.
Does 4 years of WP look as good on a resume as 3 years of WP and playing at Carnegie Hall? I don't know but doubt it and BTW... who gives a flying feck.
George take it from me... you don't regret the things you do nearly so much as the things you DON'T do.
Long story made short: I was invited to the Olympic team tryout and didn't go. I had all the good and logical reasons... including academics. I have never in my life regretted anything nearly so much as that.
Mike's on the right track with his question of "how you will feel 30-40 years from now if you miss it", but, you can't know.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Has this received the minimum # of posts so that it may be 'd :accordingly:?
Sorry George, I couldn't resist...
I have to ask you something George...
What is the point of your taking these AP courses and community service and water polo and maintaining a 4.0? I have to assume that it is to get accepted into an excellent college with possibly (or definitely) a scholarship, right? It sounds like you have worked hard your entire scholastic career to make this goal a reality, right? I think that the question of what to do could best be answered by asking yet another question: which decision best supports your goal? Which one will have the best impact? At first thought, I would say to nix the NY trip, as it is something you can do later in life, albeit without the friends you have now. The experience could be better or worse, you'll never know. Then again, a trip to NY may impress a scholarship board or a counselor from an Ivy league school. It may show that you have taken steps to broaden your horizon and experience new things by traveling to the cornucopia of culture that is New York. The bottom line is that if the trip is important to you, you should go, but only if it will not jeopardize everything you've already worked so hard for. The same goes for the compromises you will have to make in order to take the trip. Will dropping polo or orchestra have a negative impact on your goal? Though I'm sure it would be difficult for most, would taking 7 classes be too much for you? I think you're more intelligent than a lot of people that I know, George, but take this 1.75gpa high school graduates advice... simplify this dillema as much as possible. I think you'll find the answer is easier to find than previously thought.
And don't listen to these 's. After all, they just sit around on the internet all day...
'd :accordingly:?Sorry George, I couldn't resist...
I have to ask you something George...
What is the point of your taking these AP courses and community service and water polo and maintaining a 4.0? I have to assume that it is to get accepted into an excellent college with possibly (or definitely) a scholarship, right? It sounds like you have worked hard your entire scholastic career to make this goal a reality, right? I think that the question of what to do could best be answered by asking yet another question: which decision best supports your goal? Which one will have the best impact? At first thought, I would say to nix the NY trip, as it is something you can do later in life, albeit without the friends you have now. The experience could be better or worse, you'll never know. Then again, a trip to NY may impress a scholarship board or a counselor from an Ivy league school. It may show that you have taken steps to broaden your horizon and experience new things by traveling to the cornucopia of culture that is New York. The bottom line is that if the trip is important to you, you should go, but only if it will not jeopardize everything you've already worked so hard for. The same goes for the compromises you will have to make in order to take the trip. Will dropping polo or orchestra have a negative impact on your goal? Though I'm sure it would be difficult for most, would taking 7 classes be too much for you? I think you're more intelligent than a lot of people that I know, George, but take this 1.75gpa high school graduates advice... simplify this dillema as much as possible. I think you'll find the answer is easier to find than previously thought.
And don't listen to these
's. After all, they just sit around on the internet all day...
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,897
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From: Cherry Hill, NJ
I say go for Carnegie Hall.
Your teachers should be able to figure out a way for you to make up the history class, but as others have said, even if it means giving up water polo, you'll probably regret it if you don't go.
I guess I'm also curious as to whether you plan on getting a college scholarship based on water polo, music, or academics? Does giving up Carnegie Hall or water polo affect what you intend to do once you go to college?
Your teachers should be able to figure out a way for you to make up the history class, but as others have said, even if it means giving up water polo, you'll probably regret it if you don't go.
I guess I'm also curious as to whether you plan on getting a college scholarship based on water polo, music, or academics? Does giving up Carnegie Hall or water polo affect what you intend to do once you go to college?