Freezing temperatures in the northeast have many of us dreaming of warmer days. High school students (especially sophomores and juniors), it’s time to figure out how you will spend your summer vacation!
My Summer Philosophy:
Let me upfront about this: your childhood summers are limited. While I encourage you to be productive over the summer, I also want you to prioritize fun and enjoyment. If you are thoughtful about your choices, you will spend your summers making memories AND enhancing your college prospects. Here are some options:
Get a job.
Earn money while gaining real world experience. Whether you are bussing tables, babysitting, answering phones or scooping ice cream, admissions officers are impressed by a candidate with a strong work ethic. Even the most mundane-sounding job can be fun once you bond with your coworkers. And the lessons you learn from your months sweeping hair at the salon may turn into amazing material for your college essays.
Camp kid? Go to camp.
If you’ve been attending camp for many years and you have an opportunity to be a counselor or sports specialist or pottery teacher, go for it! Admissions officers admire candidates who return to their summer camps to gain leadership skills and deepen their connections to peers and mentors.
Attend a pre-college program.
There are endless opportunities for students to live on college campuses and take courses on topics ranging from public health to astrophysics. Meeting kids from around the country (or even the world), developing relationships with professors, and experiencing dorm life are all compelling reasons to spend a week or three at a pre-college program. Just don’t expect admissions perks if you attend a certain college’s summer program. Choose this option if you want to explore your academic passions and deepen your academic interests.
Find an internship.
Depending on your area of interest, there may be opportunities for you to intern at a lab or law office or local theatre company. Speak to your guidance counselor, your parents and other adults you know and trust to find out more.
Travel.
Don’t turn down an opportunity to travel with your family or an organized group of teens. From exposure to different languages, cultures, and climates to the bonds you form with your fellow travelers, these experiences will contribute to your personal growth and may provide material for admissions essays.
Prep for college.
Summer can be the ideal time to prepare for the SATS or ACTs, either by self-studying, working with a tutor, or taking a prep class. The Common Application opens August 1, making the last weeks of summer a great time to get a jump start on your Activities Section, supplements and, of course, your main essay.
Mix it up.
With nine or ten weeks off each summer, students can accomplish multiple goals while still enjoying plenty of rest and relaxation. Want advice on how to spend your summer? Book a call and let’s see how I can help.
