Many of you have
asked what students should do over the summer in order to strengthen their profile
for college applications. This is an
excellent question! What you do with your summer – and how you articulate that to the colleges – can be an extremely
valuable aspect of a student’s overall “package.” There are a few important
points to understand as you proceed:
- What is highly
recommended for you to do with your summer is something with meaning,
intent and interest! Some of the excellent options include:
- Work! Holding down a job shows responsibility and
is a great way to build your resume, especially if you can progress in
the position. (By the way, working
as a Camp Counselor IS a job,
and an excellent one at that.)
- Take classes. Yes, you can take classes through a variety
of summer programs on college campuses but you can also take online
courses, FLVS high school courses, or enroll for one or two classes at Palm
Beach State College.
- Volunteer. You can make a difference in your local
community or even travel to participate in a service opportunity, such as
Habitat for Humanity.
- Travel. Travel can be fun as well as a learning
experience. You can plan a range
of destinations, including visits to college campuses that you may be
interested in learning more about.
- Camp. Students who have a strong desire to
continue attending their beloved summer camp can absolutely still do so
as part of a meaningful summer experience.
- Enrichment Programs. These can range from academic interests to
recreational ones; can take place on college campuses or the side of a
mountain. There are several links at the bottom of this letter which will
provide a wide range of options and types of programs. Just follow the
link(s) for specific details about each program, including application
requirements, deadlines and costs.
Note that there are MANY other programs out there in addition to
these so feel free to continue exploring. Some of these programs have already
opened their application process for summer of 2017 and others won’t
begin until December or January.
Please do not wait to explore your interest!
- Don’t forget that a little down time is a good thing! It is ok to spend some time with
friends, go to the beach and sleep in; however, if these things become
your entire summer you have lost a valuable opportunity.
- Just because a summer program has a high sticker price does not
mean it is the best summer option.
Colleges are well aware that those amazing summer programs are not
an option for everyone due to the cost or other obligations, so they are
not required or even recommended for admission. However, note that if attending
one of these valuable programs is of interest to you but cost is a
concern, some of them do offer scholarships or other discounts.
- Keep in mind that whatever you do, take notes or keep some kind of
journal or record of your experiences.
This could lead to a truly meaningful and interesting college
essay.
Follow these links to documents that include descriptions and
links to specific summer programs:
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