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"What summer activities will strengthen my chances for college admissions?" a student asked me recently. While summer is a time for relaxing and hanging out with friends, most students have plenty of time for other activities. Knowing that the summer before a student's senior year can be an important one, I told him there were five summer activities I would suggest.
1. COMMUNITY SERVICE - If there is one quality schools like to see in a college applicant, it is the student who gives time and commitment for the good of the community. Teenagers are sometimes considered self-centered and this is an opportunity to prove otherwise.
Many skills can be acquired through community service. Nonprofit organizations are frequently looking for students in the summer and this is a good place to start. You might also consider environmental groups, political organizations, or sports associations that need volunteer coaches and referees. College scholarships are often based on community service and volunteering helps to strengthen your college admissions opportunities. 2. GET A JOB OR BE AN ENTREPRENEUR AND CREATE ONE- A job shows a lot about a student and there is always room on your college applications to talk about employment of any kind. Schools know that there are many important skills a student gains from a job. You are showing them that you are responsible and dependable. In many cases, you are also learning leadership skills which will always strengthen your chances for college admissions. Colleges are looking for self-starters and what better way to show them that you are one than to create a job? If you are good with children, form a play group for neighborhood pre-schoolers and give parents a break for a few hours every day. Maybe computers are more your thing. Offer individual assistance to people in your area that could use some help with learning the basics of using their computer. ENROLL IN A TEST PREP CLASS - What better time to get prepared to retake the SAT and ACT than this summer? It is hard to fit this in during the school year and most students will be taking the tests in the fall of their senior year. At many colleges, test scores are important and they certainly can strengthen your college applications and college admissions chances. 4. PURSUE AN INTERNSHIP - Think of an area that interests you or one that you would like to find out more about. Contact companies, hospitals, or law offices that might be willing to let you shadow someone or be a gofer so you can see what different careers really do entail. Whether paid or unpaid, it will strengthen your college admissions chances and provide some great experience. 5. READ OR PURSUE AN ACADEMIC INTEREST - The value of reading can never be overestimated. Contact the English department of the college you plan to attend and ask if there are any books they might suggest. Take a course at a community college that will give you three hours of college credit before you begin school in the fall. Consider a residential college program on a university campus. So get busy on some of these activities and improve your chances for college admissions.
Susie Watts is an independent college counselor and educational consultant and the founder of College Direction in Denver, CO. To receive the College Direction monthly college planning newsletter, go to http://www.collegedirection.org. Susie assists students with the college search, applications and essays, and college planning throughout the college admissions process.
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