I'm thinking of trying Triphasic

I'm 16, a sophomore in high school, and want to try an alternative sleep pattern. Because of school, I haven't been able to start one yet this year, but winter break is coming up (two weeks off this year!) I'm thinking that the two weeks will be enough to get used to the new sleep pattern, and afterwards, it shouldn't interfere with school too much. I'm out of the house from 8am to about 4:30pm, so I could take a nap from 6:45-7:45, another one from 4:30 to 6, and the third from 10:45-12. Do you guys see any problems with this? Am I too young? Are any of the naps too long/far apart? Anything I should know? Thanks in advance,
~Alan

From what I've read, tri-phasic is one of the harder polyphasic sleep patterns to successfully pull off. I'm not expert, so don't rely on this, but I think a core nap with varied amount of naps depending on its length, or "Everyman" might be easier to adjust to. However, you'd probably have to find time during the day to nap. Also, I think that since there is not much long term study, and you are still growing at 16, you might not want to try polyphasic in general.

I've read about the Everyman schedule, and it sounds like it wouldn't be easy to do with an eight hour break in the middle. I was thinking I'd try to start it off in the two week break, and if it doesn't work, I could switch back to normal sleeping pretty easily. If it works, I could be part of the long term study, which would be pretty neat, especially in someone my age. No matter what it does, it shouldn't affect my schoolwork at all, because I rarely have homework and I'm easily pulling A's. Would this be a really bad idea?

I just think you might be underestimating the challenge that this is going to present. Even uberman, which has the shortest (from what I've heard) adaptation seems like at two weeks you are still giving it a lot of effort. With Triphasic, even if it works, by the end of two weeks you'll probably be a zombie...

Just my 2 cents.

I'm on a triphasic schedule, but I switched to this schedule from uberman, so I couldn't speak to whatever difficulty the transition from mono/biphasic sleep to triphasic might be. I can tell you that no matter what sleep schedule you switch to, the first week of ANY new schedule will be hell.

For my part, the triphasic schedule I'm on seemed to have all of a week's transition from uberman. I recommend it for sure, if only for the convenience of only having to sleep three times a day (compared to the six under uberman).

You have a whole forum for support and advice though, so whatever you choose, come back and let us know. Some of us are up in the middle of night and might be on when you need quick advice (or a reminder of WHY you're doing this schedule...lord knows I did when I switched from monophasic).

EDIT: ...and having just re-read your original post, I see that you're 16. You might want to hold off until you're a little older. Not that there's a lot of research either way, but among all the things I've read (both on and offline) about polyphasic sleep, there was mention that doing it too young might hurt your physical development. That's your choice to make though, and either way you'll have the support of a lot of people on the forum (myself included).

Thanks guys. I'm going to ask some doctors I know about it, as well as a few science and health teachers. If I do end up doing it, I'll start a new thread documenting the experience. I'm not worried about stunting physical growth (I'm already taller than both of my parents, so I don't need to be any bigger), but if it's supposed to slow my brain development, I definitely don't want to do it.

I suggest you take up a bi-phasic sleeping schedule. If you're sophomore, you will have more years of college so you want a schedule that does not interfere with schedule. Welcome to the world of the bi-phasic!!
In my final year of school, i was 17 when I started bi-phasic schedule. Like you, I got home at about 4:15-4:30, and I went straight to sleep. At first, this will be difficult, but as you get better at taking a sleep at obscure hours, the easier you will find it. I slept until 7:30. I woke up, had dinner, then went back to bed at 4AM, to wake at 7AM. This is a typical schedule that could work for you.
Like tendomentis said, any schedule is difficult to adjust to, but it can be rewarding. Just think of this, I had a hard day at school, come home, sleep for 3 hours, wake, then I feel refreshed and ready to start homework, even allowing myself to have a break between 12AM and 1AM for some vital computer gaming time. Total hours of study: 7 (I never studied 7 hours though because I mucked around alot)
Compare that to one of my friends who is on a monophasic schedule. Gets home exhausted, can't be fucked doing anything but sitting on the couch, might do some computer gaming or whatever, has dinner, it's now 7 or 8 o'clock, brings out the homework, studies until 11PM, goes to sleep. No fun, no rest, no breaks. Total hours of study: 4 hours max.

Also, on a side note, be careful of doctors that try to tell you that your sleeping schedule is bad because you are not getting eight hours of sleep. Remind them that presumes you are on a monophasic schedule where different rules apply.

It's not how many hours you sleep, but how often....

Also, I just remembered something that might mess things up a bit. Until April, I'll be working right after school Tursdays and Fridays from 4:30 until about 6, leaving a potential 10hr. gap between naps! Would an Everyman schedule with one, say, 3 hr. core sleep and two shorter naps work? Maybe from 6:45 - 7:45, 6:15-7:30, and then 12:00-2:00

Haha, I hadn't even thought about a biphasic schedule - I guess it was too simple. That might work too. I'll probably spend a lot of time thinking about weather I should do it, and if I do, which one and when...