Although some high school students use summer just to chill and spend time with their friends, others find their days filled with summer school, academic enrichment, sports camps, summer reading, SAT prep, jobs, and/or community service. What’s really needed is a balanced approach—take part in some meaningful activity but also make time just to be a teenager.
For underclassmen, “meaningful activities” might include a few weeks of academic enrichment or volunteer work. Pursue an area that truly interests you rather than an activity that you think will look good on a resume. You just might find yourself developing a true passion for a subject or an activity. Hours spent reading for pleasure will pay off handsomely in higher test scores later in your high school career.
Rising juniors may want to begin the college search process by touring local college campuses and by considering the qualities that make a particular college a good fit for them. The summer before junior year is also a good time to focus your interests on one or two areas that you’ll continue through the rest of high school. Use summer leisure time to practice and develop your test skills, especially in Critical Reading and Writing. Then focus on PSAT/SAT Math prep in the fall.
There are more college-related chores for members of the class of 2013. Step up your visits to college campuses, and spend some time with narrative college guides such as Fiske or The Insiders’ Guide to Colleges. Contact the admissions office at colleges that have made your short list and be sure to get on their radar. You’ll want to be invited to local meetings and to make them aware of your interest. Refine your college list, making sure that you’ve included several “possibles” and “likelies” as well as a few “reach” colleges. Download applications for these schools, paying particular attention to essay topics. Summer is the ideal time to work on an essay that will truly reveal what’s special about you. You can access the Common Application any time after August 1st at commonapp.org.
Honestly evaluate your test profile as compared to students who have been accepted at your targeted colleges. Plan on doing some serious test prep this summer if you’ll need higher scores to be a more competitive applicant. Take a hard look at your academic profile and activity resume and make sure that they reflect the person you are and the potential you have to contribute to a college community. If your resume and profile are not strong enough, think about how you can use this summer and the coming fall to enhance your appeal as a prospective student.
