Here’s the full video where I discuss the same content in detail: Finding Time For USACO With A Busy High School Schedule
Most high schoolers preparing for USACO also have a ton of other commitments – whether that be juggling multiple AP classes, clubs, or other extracurricular activities. As a result, it might feel overwhelming to also have to find time to practice USACO on top of an already busy schedule. Hi, I’m Riya, and in this blog I wanted to share everything that I did to practice for USACO on top of everything else, eventually qualifying for USACO camp three times and getting into MIT.
Finding Quality Practice Time
When preparing for the USACO, emphasis should always be placed on quality rather than quantity in practice.
As a junior managing five AP classes, I often returned home after an exhausting eight-hour school day, attempting to practice for the USACO in those limited hours after school. Unfortunately, I discovered that despite spending a considerable amount of daily time practicing, my progress remained limited. Moreover, I encountered challenges in solving problems that I could have typically handled at other times.
Conversely, during periods when I wasn't fatigued from school and possessed a strong mental focus, my progress was significantly more substantial, achieved with minimal time investment. It is crucial to locate moments during the week when mental energy and capacity align to practice the USACO most effectively. So, where can this time be found?
Undoubtedly, practicing immediately after school, when mentally drained from academic classes and extracurricular commitments, is not the optimal period. Instead, weekends present an ideal window for focused USACO preparation, devoid of academic or club obligations. If weekend activities, such as volunteering, persist, consider relocating them to weekdays. Often, these activities demand less mental bandwidth, making after-school hours more conducive for these tasks rather than USACO practice.
Allocating Morning Time to USACO
If, after moving around your extracurriculars, you still find that you don’t have much time to practice on the weekends (or there’s no way to move your extracurriculars to the weekdays), consider allocating one or two hours in the morning to USACO.
Personally, I was able to add morning practice into my routine by sleeping earlier every day and waking up a few hours before school started. This way, I could prepare in the mornings when I was focused and high-energy, rather than after class when I was exhausted. I could go to school without maximum focus or mental energy, but I couldn’t do the same for USACO.
Now, it’s important that you’re getting enough sleep if you want to prepare in the mornings. If you’re not sleeping a full 8-9 hours each night, your focus and mental bandwidth will inevitably be lower. If you do not like sleeping early, another way of allocating time is to take a nap after school. Then, once you wake up, you’ll have a clear mind and mental energy to practice for USACO.
Misconceptions
Don’t interpret this blog post as saying that you should only practice for USACO when you’re in perfect mental condition! There will be times where you’ll inevitably feel drained during the time in which you’re supposed to practice for USACO, and that’s okay. The message I’m trying to get across is that you should aim to maximize the amount of time you practice USACO when you’re not feeling drained.
If you’re having a bad day or not feeling fully energetic, still put in time to practice and solve a couple problems. In the end, keeping a consistent schedule is more important than making sure that you’re only practicing at maximum mental capacity.
The message that I do want to get across is that if you find that you’re consistently feeling tired whenever you’re practicing, something needs to change.
Maximizing Quality and Quantity
While it’s definitely true that quality practice is more important than quantity, you’ll always be better off maximizing both quality and quantity. The important thing to note here is to learn to say no to things. If, for example, you have a leadership opportunity at some extracurricular organization, but you don’t think it would be a significant addition to your college application, then it’s not worth taking. You could spend all the extra time that you just freed up practicing for USACO, or strengthening other activities.
Personally, I was president of my computer science club in high school. I was also participating in a Girls Who Code club, where I was also voted to be president. Instead of taking the position, I ended up swapping positions with the vice president. I figured that being president of two of these clubs would not significantly boost my application over just being president of one of the clubs, and thus stepping down from one of the roles would free up a lot of time for USACO practice.
In sum, do not be afraid to say no to commitments that don’t get you where you need to be (this is just good life advice in general too).
Conclusion
Overall, effective USACO preparation within a busy high school schedule demands a focus on quality practice. Adapting practice times to weekends and early mornings while balancing mental stamina proved instrumental. Adjusting commitments underscored the essence of focused, quality practice alongside mindful decisions. It's a challenging yet rewarding journey, one that emphasizes the importance of strategic time management and commitment choices in achieving success amidst a packed schedule.