Summer is the best time of the year for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors to set their College Application apart from the competition. Engaging yourself in advanced summer activities that are meaningful to you will help you build and perfect your College Application, and it might even give you the perfect college essay topic. Summer activities can show Admissions Officers the personal characteristics that they look for in a prospective student, like self-motivation or academic curiosity. Here are some ideas on the wide range of summer activities out there that you could do to directly improve your application.
College Classes: Taking college classes over the summer is an easy and effective way to boost your College Application. Excelling in a college class over the summer will show Admissions Officers that you are:
If you are interested in taking college classes over the summer, take a few minutes to browse through the offered summer classes at your local college or university. Most institutions offer summer courses to local high school students who are looking to excel in a particular subject. As an added bonus, college classes can also get you college credit while you are still in high school.
Summer Programs: Admissions Officers love to see summer programs on College Applications. Doing a summer program at a college or university, especially at one you are interested in applying to, can greatly improve your College Application. At the same time, you’ll get to experience what it’s like to live as a college student at that college, which can help you decide if you want to apply in the future. Some programs are more general in course content, while others are specialized and specific. Both are valuable to Admissions Officers. Many programs also offer financial aid. As you choose a summer program to apply to, especially if you are a rising junior or senior, consider a specialized program that genuinely peaks your academic interest. Here are some general options to get you started: the Telluride Association Summer Program (TASP), Harvard summer programs, Yale Young Global Scholars, and the Stanford Summer Session.
Internships and Jobs: Although it might not seem as flashy as a summer program, getting a job that you stick with over the summer shows Admissions Officers that you are responsible, dedicated, and committed to hard work — a valuable skill set for your Application. Because of this, the type of job is less important to Admissions Officers than holding onto and finishing that job. If you can, find a job that lines up with your academic interest for the biggest impact on your College Application. As an added bonus, having a summer job allows you to make some money to either save for college or spend however you please.
Internships, especially those in your area of interest, demonstrate to colleges that you are committed to developing specific skills and pursuing career opportunities. Although internships for high school students are rare and competitive, accomplishing an internship over the summer will greatly differentiate your application. Talk to friends, family, teachers, and community members about possible internship opportunities, and if you don’t find anything, many companies may be open to making an internship or shadow opportunity specifically for you.
Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteering over the summer is a great way to communicate to Admissions Officers that you are dedicated to making a difference in your community. Matching a volunteer opportunity to your academic interest will maximize your summer volunteering. For example, if you are interested in the environment and environmental issues, join or, better yet, organize a clean-up group in your local park. More ideas could be volunteering for local non-profits, like a library or museum, or meaningful political campaigns. Volunteering can be a fun, creative, and interesting way to show Admissions Officers why you stand out.
Summer activities, like the ones above, are among the best ways to make your College Application stand out. But by no means are these the only activities you can or should do. Above all else, be creative with what you do over the summer. Don’t choose an activity just because you think it will look good on your application. Admissions Officers can easily tell when that’s the case. Explore and find something that genuinely interests you. As long as it is genuinely meaningful to you, it does not matter what the activity exactly is.
Don’t let your summer pass you by. Many of the activities above, like summer programs, classes, and jobs require applications that often have early deadlines. Formulate your summer plan at the end of your fall semester, with applications submitted by the end of winter break, if deadlines permit. Also, starting the habit of making a productive summer in high school will help you optimize your summers in college.
The more prestigious the college or university that you want to apply to is, the more meaningful your summer activities will need to be. With these activities pointing you in the right direction, you’ve already accomplished the first step in the process of familiarizing yourself with a wide range of summer opportunities. Take the time now to formulate a summer action plan so that you can optimize your College Application. As a reminder, the goal is to first find activities that are enriching to you that will then be useful in the application process. Meaningful summer activities often provide fantastic college essay topics. Ultimately, it’s most important to explore your areas of interest and make use of your time in a way that’s meaningful to you.