Colleges and universities want to see what kids choose to do when they have a substantial amount of free time. They want to enroll students who will engage in their academic experience and be involved participants in their classrooms and campus communities.
As the college application process continues to evolve and get more competitive, I encourage all rising 8th through 12th-grade students to make this summer purposeful, explore things they’re passionate about, and also dabble in some new experiences (while still reserving plenty of time for Netflix binges and beach days!).
In this blog, we’ll explore ten summer activities your student can do to help their future college applications stand out.
1. Rising seniors can finalize their college list and start on essays and supplemental questions
The summer is an excellent time for rising seniors to focus on the college application process, especially for those who wish to avoid added stress in the fall.
It’s important for rising seniors to finalize their college list over the summer so they are prepared for the application process and can map out all of the deadlines and requirements for each school.
The summer also provides a time to brainstorm, reflect, and spend time writing the Common App essay. Students have more time over the summer, without the demands of school and extracurricular activities.
Supplemental questions can also be written in the summer. Many schools will ask students 3-4 supplemental questions and this can be incredibly time-consuming. One of the most commonly asked supplemental essay questions is, “Why do you think you would be a good fit at our university?” During summer break, students have more time to research colleges to be able to thoroughly answer some of those supplementals.
Need help completing your Common App and editing your essays? That’s what our college consultants are here for.
2. Start researching and visiting colleges this summer
Choosing a college is a journey, not a destination. The earlier you start exploring, the smoother the ride! Rising 8th through 11th graders can get a head start by:
- Researching online: College websites and resources like College Board offer a wealth of information on programs, campus life, and admissions.
- Connecting with alumni: Talk to past graduates to get their firsthand experiences.
- Taking virtual or self-guided tours: Many colleges offer online tours or allow self-exploration of their campuses.
- Scheduling official visits (when possible): Don’t just rely on brochures and websites! Whether it’s a local school you can explore in an afternoon or your dream college across the country, a campus visit is an investment in your future. Call the admissions office or easily book your tour online to experience the energy, see the facilities, and ask questions directly. Ideally, aim for tours during the academic year to experience a vibrant campus buzz and interact with students and faculty. But if this is the only time you can carve out on your schedule, take your tours in the summer!
Remember: It’s just as important to remove schools from your list as it is to add them. College visits and research will help you discover your preferences in terms of location, size, academic offerings, and campus culture.
3. Start working on SAT/ACT Prep
Although many colleges remain test-optional, students who apply with strong SAT or ACT scores often have a greater advantage over students who don’t have scores to show.
Starting to prepare this summer can be as simple as signing up to receive a vocab question of the day through email or an app. Rising juniors and seniors who plan to take a test soon can study with a test prep book, schedule weekly group study sessions with friends, or for the most effective method- sign up for one-on-one test prep tutoring.
One of the first steps to prepare for the ACT or SAT is to see where you stand. You can easily do this by taking a mock test and getting your baseline score.
Educational Connections offers proctored, virtual ACT mock tests on Saturdays at 9 AM ET. You can look at our schedule and register HERE. You can take your free mock SAT through College Board’s BlueBook app. After taking a mock test, you’ll get a customized score report breaking down the areas you did well in and the areas where you should focus on improving.
Next, put testing and registration dates on your calendar to help you feel more organized and to ensure you won’t miss those SAT or ACT registration deadlines.
4. Create or update your high school resume
Your resume should highlight your most significant achievements and experiences during your high school career. In creating a high school resume, you can develop a thematic approach to your applications.
Colleges look for consistency over the four years of high school. If the resume lists a multitude of activities, a spattering of extracurriculars, or a few hours of community service here and there— you aren’t communicating consistency.
Instead, try to focus on the activities that you have had consistent involvement throughout high school. It’s not about the numbers, but rather the level of involvement that matters.
For example, Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts have multiple years associated with them and can illustrate a student’s leadership and achievements. Other consistent activities include sports, volunteering at the same shelter each summer, and even working at the same ice cream shop every summer.
5. Take a summer class and explore an area of intended study
You can take high school courses online or register for a community college course. Not only could these courses help you academically and prepare you for high school honors or AP courses, but they might help you improve your overall GPA. This can help you to show colleges that you are dedicated to learning new things or improving your academic resume.
One of our students, who is interested in studying horticulture in college, is planning to take a college-level class and work at a nursery this summer.
A summer class can help to determine if you’re going in the right direction, as far as your intended major is concerned.
6. Find a summer job or create your own
Any type of work experience, whether it is scooping ice cream or working as a camp counselor, shows commitment and dedication and can put some money in your pocket.
If you don’t have a job, you could try to find an internship in the field of study you’re interested in. Or do some job shadows. Ask your parents/friends if you can talk with them about their job and how they got it. This might help you understand the level of education you will need and other opportunities that might be out there, rather than only the traditional ones.
Interested in business? How about creating your own small business? We have a student who loves to fly fish and is now selling his own handmade fly lures. He designs, creates, and sells them. This is a great example of taking something you’re passionate about and turning it into an entrepreneurial experience that you can highlight on your college application.
If all else fails this summer, find some time to volunteer for a cause that you’re interested in. If you’re passionate about the cause, the volunteer work will be easy and you’ll be more likely to make an impression.
7. Enroll in an on-campus summer program
Many colleges offer pre-college, summer camps, or summer programs. They present a perfect opportunity to explore your field of interest in greater depth, develop relevant skills, meet like-minded students, and give you a feel for life on a college campus. Many of these programs have academic classes during the day and social events at night.
Most competitive colleges offer at least one pre-college program in which students can interact with faculty and potentially earn college credit.
While it’s probably too late to enroll in one of these on-campus programs this summer, now is the time for younger students to start researching opportunities for next summer.
8. Spend ample time reading
Every student should have a summer reading list. Just because you are not in school during the break, doesn’t mean your brain should go to sleep. Reading will help you retain knowledge, build your vocabulary, and improve your speed.
Reading over the summer can also help limit the summer slide.
It helps build your writing skills, which is important for SAT/ACT testing, college essays, and supplemental questions.
Reading a variety of books over the summer can also help in college applications/interviews as students are often asked, “what are you reading and why?”
9. Try something new this summer
Finding a new hobby or interest can be life-changing! Don’t be afraid to try new things this summer break.
Explore your city, do something cultural, play a new instrument, start a blog about something you’re passionate about… step outside the box. It might lead to an amazing, life-altering experience.
10. Clean up social media
College admissions officials can easily look at your public social media accounts. Your digital presence can give admissions officers another window into your personal life. Colleges want high-character teens. If your social media indicates otherwise, it could ruin your chances at admission.
In 2017, Harvard University rescinded admission offers to ten incoming first-year students after finding out they were sharing hateful memes in a private Facebook group chat. Two years later, Harvard retracted its admission offer to a noteworthy student who had previously made racist remarks in private chats and Google Docs.
Think about it this way: if you wouldn’t say something to an admissions officer in person, then don’t put it on your public social media! This summer, take some time to scan through all of your social media accounts to ensure there are no risqué posts, inappropriate memes, references to alcohol, or comments that could be interpreted as controversial.
Not sure where to start?
A lot of thought should go into the college application process, and it should start well before your senior year of high school. If you want to get a head start this summer, or if you’re feeling overwhelmed, or like you waited too long to get started on your journey to college, our college consulting team can help!
We have programs for students in 8th – 12th grades. Parents- please schedule a free consultation with our College Consulting Program Managers here and explore our one-on-one programs by clicking the button below: