So next year you'll be a high school junior or senior, and you want to take the right steps to make sure you stay ahead of the pack? Relax; let me guide you.
Class of 2008, Rising Seniors: Big things ahead. Senior year. College apps. Scholarship apps. School-wide, local, state and national recognition. SAT. SAT II's. And of course, a social life. Well this summer is critical for you...there's a lot of time and you are expected to use it wisely. So this summer you need to get a jump start on all of that and do your best to get some solid experiences before applying to college (these experiences impress college admissions officers on paper and through the personal growth you show in your essays).
Start with a summer program. Summer programs include academic enrichment programs, science camps (Summer Science Training Program at the Univ. of Florida), sports training (AAU tournaments), international diplomacy conferences (UNA-USA), business leadership programs (Leadership in the Business World) and plenty of other options. Summer programs are an opportunity for you to explore your true passions that are sometimes not offered at your school or in the classroom. It will teach you a lot about life and your possible future career. For the sake of college apps, this shows depth in your personality. I participated in “Leadership in the Business World” at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. We lived on campus for a month, meeting business leaders and working feverishly to put together the most impressive business plans. I met sixty of the brightest kids from around the world (summer programs are a great chance to network) and got a taste of college life. So whatever your interest is, follow that. You can find summer programs right for you by using internet search engines, asking your guidance counselors or through word of mouth.
Sometimes the dates or tuition fees for summer programs just don’t fit your situation. If a program costs five grand, runs for ten weeks or just doesn’t work for you, don’t worry. You can create your own summer activity. A popular choice is to go on a mission trip to countries like Costa Rica or Guatemala, teaching English to children or assisting in health efforts. Some students get in touch with local science researchers at universities or independent labs to assist with experiments and data analysis. By demonstrating independent thought and a high level of scholarly ability, you will truly be an impressive college candidate. If science is not your interest but commerce is, consider an internship for a local bank or advertising firm. You can learn the basics about the business world and economics, while gaining some invaluable personal experiences. Consider traveling with an orchestra, teaching local youth how to play the piano or giving free community guitar lessons if music is your passion. If you don’t do a summer program, it would be wise to do research, intern somewhere or participate in significant community service. Working a summer job also demonstrates a strong work ethic and diligent attitude. If you get stumped, just ask yourself what you like to do and think about how that can be a productive activity. You can do any or all of these things based on your schedule but make sure that this experience is meaningful to you!
Class of 2009, Rising Juniors: If you will be a junior next year, this summer is still a great chance for summer programs (read above). You don’t need to worry about college apps or senior activities in the fall, which makes this an even better time to do a summer program as you will have more free time this summer. Work a summer job, volunteer and/or participate in a summer program. Begin studying for the SATs; if you finish them by winter of junior year you will have a burden off of your shoulders and might impress college admissions committees with your early mastery of the SAT. Be sure to have fun and use your time effectively!
