What you do in the summer is somewhat of a controversial topic. Some students and their families believe that students need time off from school and that the summer is a time for fun and may include attending or working in camps. Other students and their families find that the summer is an opportunity to do something different that can be added to your résumé. There needs to be a way to do both, to have fun and to engage in challenging activities. Some colleges place a heavy emphasis on summer experiences and others do not.
Working during the year or during the summer is a good way to earn money for college, to get your feet wet in the “real world,” and to build vital life skills such as working with others. Colleges typically view work experience positively as long as it doesn’t interfere in your school work and your grades don’t drop as a result.
If you love to go to camp or to travel during the summer, go to camp or travel the summer after ninth grade and possibly after tenth grade. It would be wise to plan for the summer after eleventh grade for a challenging summer experience. Many parents think a challenging summer experience costs a lot of money, such as a pre-college academic program, which many colleges offer. These programs can cost several thousand dollars. They are not always viewed so positively because they can be expensive, so it is unfair to those who cannot afford to participate. Ask yourself, What are some worthwhile summer opportunities and how much do they cost? There are many opportunities available and many of them are totally free! Talk to your guidance counselor, family members, and friends to brainstorm for worthwhile summer experiences.
TIP: Having a part-time job while in high school can be a wonderful experience that is valued by colleges, as long as it doesn’t negatively impact your grades. Challenging summer experiences don’t have to cost a lot of money.
An internship (usually unpaid for high school students) is a great way to learn about a field of interest. Paid internships and formal internships are very hard to come by for high school students. You may want to investigate an informal internship, set up by contacting people you or family members know, or people in your local community. If you are interested in interior design, for example, call a local interior designer and ask if you can shadow him or her for a month or even during the school year. If you are interested in becoming a teacher, ask if you can work in an after-school program or become a mother’s helper during the summer. I know of one resourceful young man who ran into a famous clothing designer while on vacation. He recognized the designer and said he was a big fan of hers. He then proceeded to draw and send her his designs and sent a bouquet of flowers to her room. The next day, she offered him a summer internship! He was definitely in the right place at the right time, but once the opportunity presented itself to him, he recognized it and grabbed it. The possibilities are endless!
Here are a few places you can volunteer in the summer (or during the year):
- Volunteer in a local hospital
- Volunteer in an animal shelter
- Work in a soup kitchen
- Volunteer in a library reading program
- Assist a teacher who is teaching English as a Second Language
- Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
- Assist in environmental cleanups and/or park beautification programs
- Visit the elderly in nursing homes
- Work with special needs children
- Become a Big Brother/Big Sister
- Shadow an engineer, architect, or doctor
You can check national or local Web sites for internships or places to volunteer. A Better Community, www.abettercommunity.com, sponsored by ABC and “Extreme Home Makeover” is one national Web site to look for opportunities. Other Web sites include www.thevolunteerfamily.org and the federal government’s www.studentjobs.gov. It is suggested that you devote at least one summer during high school to a challenging experience of your choice. These opportunities can also provide you with an interesting college essay.
The following Web sites, rated by a high school junior (*-****), can be used to find jobs:
Groovejob.com (***)
- Job search by locations
- Job search, internship search, volunteer search
- Contains an FAQ section
- Easy to navigate
Teens4hire.org (***)
- Create a free membership
- Search jobs
- Apply online
- Contains an About Us section
- Offers a blog spot
- Contains helpful articles (tips for writing a résumé, qualities employers want)
Gotajob.com (****)
- Contains helpful articles
- Offers tips and advice on getting a job
- Teaches how to write a cover letter
- Provides a list of some employers
Our Admissions Counselors on Summer Activities
“Summer activities such as internships or jobs are a great way to develop an interest, build your résumé and earn some money. Remember to take some personal time to relax and have fun, too!”–Cheryl Brown, Director of Undergraduate Admission, Binghamton University, State University of New York
“We find that the students who are going to be most successful at a big school like Indiana University are going to be highly involved in their high school and community throughout the year. Indiana University offers a number of summer programs for high school students who want to explore all that IU has to offer. Some programs include the Young Women’s Institute and the Junior Executive Institute in the Kelley School of Business, the High School Journalism Institute, and the Midsummer Theatre Program. Students who are involved in one of our summer programs will stay in the residence halls, meet other prospective students, and experience what life is like at IU.”–Lauren Kay, Assistant Director, Indiana University
“Summer activities can help round out a student’s academic résumé. For example, study abroad or travel abroad can help demonstrate the student’s interests in areas beyond the U.S. Research can be a terrific way to practically apply what has been learned in the classroom and advance a student’s knowledge of a particular area beyond what their high school can provide. Volunteer work shows compassion and strong core values, which can help build up a campus community. Even a summer job at the grocery store can show industry and determination, even entrepreneurship. The important thing is to highlight the intrinsic value of what a student did during the summer, and how it relates to the interests of the university to which they are applying.”–Raymond Lutzky, Director of Outreach, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
“Summer activities are important in developing a total picture of the applicant; activities may include employment during the summer or other times of the year.”–Nancy Maly, Director of Admission, Grinnell College
“Summer activities are nice and [pre-college programs] are often money makers for colleges. But here’s the question for the applicant. What did you learn about yourself? Why did you participate in such a program? How did others benefit from being in your company? What do you have to offer now that you completed stated program? Sometimes, it’s nice for applicants to go to summer camp and enjoy being a teenager.”–Mitchell Thompson, Dean of Students, Scarsdale High School, Former Associate Dean of Admissions and Records, The Cooper Union
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