National Youth Sports Safety Month on April, 2024: What are my chances of getting into Columbia Universtiy?

April, 2024 is National Youth Sports Safety Month 2024. Kid Sport Safety‎ Learn about kid sport safety. Tips, facts, and information.

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What are my chances of getting into Columbia Universtiy?

Sara, You have the GPA and SAT score to be at a school like Columbia. Although, I am not sure how you would know you are a National Merit Finalist, since they have not even announced the semifinalists yet. In any case, I am sure you realize that Columbia accepts less than 10% of applicants, most of whom will have scores and grades similar to yours. So, I would say apply to Columbia, but keep a better fit/ safety school in your back pocket! Also, I think you could have taken a few more AP classes, to show you are willing and able to stretch yourself. It would give Adcoms additional confidence that you can handle a full time college class load at a competitive school such as Columbia. Right now it looks like you are cruising with As. Also, you did not say if your GC will state that you took the most rigorous courseload at your school. Okay, good luck with admissions.

Good luck,

Question about weight lifting?

Question about weight lifting?

You can start training right away by doing push-ups, pull-ups, lunges, sit-ups, and any heavy chores around your home. Diet: Try to have some protein three times a day, even if it is only a glass of milk. Eat Mom's veggies.

Lifting weights will not hinder growth. This is just an unfortunate myth that keeps being repeated.

Doctors recommend strength training for youth. It improves athletic performance and helps prevent injury. Various medical websites have articles on this. For example, see the following statement linked from the Cleveland Clinic:

“Despite the previously held belief that strength training was unsafe and ineffective for children, health organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) now "support children's participation in appropriately designed and competently supervised strength training programs."

While you won’t stunt your growth lifting weights, it is a demanding activity that has a risk of injury. You can virtually eliminate the chance of injury by getting instruction in proper lifting technique. If you don’t have a coach to instruct you, get this book

Here are recommended exercises for a whole body workout. Do these exercise 2-3 times per week on nonconsecutive days.

Squat or dead lift (start light, e.g. empty bar)

Bench press or inclined bench

Pull-ups or barbell bent-over rowing

Overhead press

Back extensions or leg curl

Your favorite Ab exercise

Here are video demonstrations of many exercises

Safe Lifting

1.Get instruction

2.Do stretching after the workout not before. If you do any stretching before, it should be gentle.

3.Warm-up 5-10 minutes of light aerobic activity.

4.Practice proper form and warm-up: Do 12-15 reps of each exercise at about half the workout weight.

5.Starting a new exercise or out of shape: Pick a weight for each exercise that you can do a few sets of 10 reps without strain or undue fatigue.

6.Make regular small increases in weight lifted to improve. E.g. 2.5 or 5 lb. per week on exercises like squat, dead lift, bench press, overhead press, and bent-row. If you do other exercises that work smaller muscles, where not much weight can be lifted, e.g. curls, dumbbell laterals, -- increase the weight lifted when you are able.

7.Don’t lift a weight that you cannot complete at least 5 reps with good form.

8.End a set when fatigue prevents good form. Rest.

9.Spotters or safety catch are needed for bench press and squat.

Find a workout buddy or workout with your Dad. Good Luck.

So, what should I do at this point? I need some SERIOUS life advice.?

So, what should I do at this point? I need some SERIOUS life advice.?

You sound wise/intelligent well beyond your years.

Obviously, you have to take into consideration the worth of random advice from complete strangers but I'll try to at least touch on each of your issues -- mostly to acknowledge and commiserate... Sorry, but I doubt I can provide any real advice.

I actually did the same thing for a couple summers and loved it immensely (refurbishing trails in the national parks and also some clearing). My sport was wrestling, however I also went out for everything else (football, baseball, track), mostly to stay in the best shape possible. I guess wresting is more individual -- I never felt any "deep" connection to any of the teams... we of course worked together, but to me it was all about excelling at personal challenges. More to your point -- I think the coaches could see this and I had no trouble making any team, so I'm not sure you have that much to worry about. I suppose you have to ask yourself what is it you really want out of all this? It sounds to me like the companionship of the team is a pretty important factor for you. Perhaps you should take the initiative and go talk to the coach(s) and let them know of your hopes/concerns.

As for the injury, if you have the discipline to NOT aggravate your injury then why not show up for work and just do what you can? The point is to be hyper conservative and be very sure not to push yourself too hard while you are recovering.

Ah, family. Mine was pretty dysfunctional. I'm sorry that I don't have much to say about your parental situation, other than to agree that your dad's "betrayal" was pretty significant. It would take a lot for me to (if ever, completely) trust him again. On the other hand the job situation nowadays is pretty bad. One has to assume he's actually been making the effort, but it can REALLY eat away at a persons self-confidence to constantly get rejected. It's not clear to me what you are saying about your mom -- her bouts of depression seem pretty understandable given her situation. What are you doing to help her? Anyway, sorry that the rosy glasses have been stripped away.

What should you do now? Well, as harsh as it sounds: grow up. You sound more advanced than you peers, and perhaps that is part of your problem since you likely don't have people of equivalent maturity with whom to dialog on a regular basis. Thus you either will have to become more self reliant (as I did) or put in the effort and seek out those (likely older) people around you who can offer counsel... you will find that in many cases you will still be making up your own mind, they being more "sounding boards" for your ideas.

Like I said, not much in the way of advice, but if you need someone to talk to feel free to contact me (message via my profile).

Also on this date Monday, April 1, 2024...