As the school year ends and the summer begins, it’s probably a bit late to think about what you are going to do this summer. At this point, if you don’t have a plan, chances are that it will be hard to find something particularly meaningful to do. That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t still try to find something, because it is far too easy to waste away the summer months. I don’t know how many students I’ve known who spend the summer staying up way too late at night and getting up way too late in the morning (or afternoon!).
That having been said, what IS a useful thing to do in the summer, particularly in terms of college admissions? The answer depends a lot on age and circumstances, but I have a common theme that applies to everyone. I recently started working with a student who just finished ninth grade. I don’t usually have clients that young, but her circumstances are a bit unusual, so she started the whole college process early. However, one of the questions her parents asked me was, “What should she be doing this summer?” I think they were shocked by my answer: have fun. It is an answer I would give to almost anyone, regardless of their age.
Summer vacation is, in many ways, a huge opportunity for students. There are so many academic and sports programs available and so many unique opportunities to travel that I think some students, and their families, feel that every moment of the summer needs to be scheduled. If this applies to you, I urge you rethink summer. All those programs, and volunteer opportunities, and travel, are great things to do, but you need to make sure that you are doing them for the right reason, and the right reason is NOT college admissions. It is fun.
I don’t mean that you should waste your time binge watching Netflix. Honestly, after a day or two, how much fun is that, really? After a week, you should be entirely stir crazy and be begging to get out of the house. As I said above, don’t turn into one of those kids who gets up at 2PM, turns on the TV and/or computer, and stays up until 4AM. It isn’t healthy, and it really isn’t fun. But, don’t run to the opposite extreme either. I think that parents sometimes forget how much pressure schools put on students, especially because there is more pressure now than ever before. Kids, even more than adults, need mental breaks.
That doesn’t mean that I’m against summer enrichment programs. I’ve worked at some, and many of them are great. But, it has to be something the student WANTS to do, or it just feels like punishment. Indeed, summer school often sounds like punishment (and sometimes is). Parents, if you are thinking about an academic program for your son or daughter, involve them in it, and make sure they have a say in the courses they’ll be taking, or they won’t get anything out of it, even if you think it will look good on their resume. Sport camps are great, but the athlete should enjoy the sport. If you’re a great runner, but you hate running, don’t go to a track camp. Might it help with college admissions? Well, in theory yes. But, in practice, if a college coach sees that you’re a great runner, but that you hate it, you’re unlikely to be a recruiting priority. Volunteering is the same; if you volunteer doing something you hate, chances are it’s not going to be a good fit for your future goals, and you’d be better off finding something else.
I should probably also mention summer jobs. I have mixed feelings about them. In one sense, I think that they are good opportunities for students to learn practical skills about life in the real world. “Who is this FICA, and why are they taking my money?” is a pretty valuable question for a sixteen year old. At the same time, I rarely think that students get as much out of summer jobs as they do out of other experiences, and focusing too much on making what is usually minimum wage can take away from other opportunities. Of course, I know a student who put herself through her senior year of her private high school when her father lost his job and couldn’t afford to pay her tuition. Who knew that the deli counter at the supermarket paid so well? In short, there are lots of reasons to work in the summer, but also some good reasons not to. A lot obviously depends on financial circumstances, but if they are not a concern, I might think twice about summer jobs, at least in terms of college admissions.
I’ll have more on summer possibilities next week, keeping in mind the essential component of fun. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me and I’ll be happy to help you plan your summer during one of my free half-hour consultations.
Mr. K
Y O U M I G H T A L S O L I K E :
College visits can be fun if you do them right. Take advantage of the summertime and plan a few stops with these tips to help you get started.