With an an acceptance rate of only 7.6 percent , getting into a school like the University of Chicago may seem like a longshot, but with all of the things Nick Hinman, senior, is involved with, the University of Chicago seems pretty within reach.

With college on the mind, Hinman finds himself participating in NHS, math team, volunteers at the library, does band, Scholars Bowl, tennis, and PCA, all while working two jobs at QuikTrip and for his family’s restaurant.

Hinman has been taking all the necessary precautions since freshman year to make sure he’s eligible for any school he could dream of attending. “It really has been mattering since eighth grade.”

Besides just being dedicated to his academics, Hinman also has quite the musical background. He has been playing classical guitar for seven years and plays the saxophone.

Even though he has no experience playing drums, he works as drum major for the band, or “the guy waving his arms like a crazy person,” he said.

Even though he “genuinely enjoys” everything he takes part in, Scholars Bowl is probably the thing he enjoys most because “it’s one of the more low stakes” things he does.

Tennis is another thing that helps Hinman to  wind down.