Some say that young people today are overscheduled, but I didn’t realise how bad it had gotten until someone showed me the sample student timetable posted by the maths department at Imperial College. Some highlights:
- The student spends up to 6 hours on music practice on some days.
- Working on problem sheets starts only at 11 pm, and lasts for an hour, and only on Mondays and Tuesdays (and maybe Wednesdays, when “study time” is planned).
- Monday and Tuesday are also the only days on which lunch is planned.
- Two hours of “self-help” are planned on Thursdays, perhaps a therapy group to cope with the stress and lack of sleep.
On the weekend (schedule available here) she spends hours on French assignments, but again doesn’t get around to doing her problem sheets until 11 pm on Sunday night. Five straight hours of orchestra rehearsals, though.
Common Infirmities 