As the weather gets warmer each year, students dream of relaxing and taking a break from their studies when the summer months arrive. While taking advantage of the summer as a time to relax and recharge is essential, it’s also a superb opportunity for students to get work experience, pursue their interests, hobbies, and talents, expand their knowledge, and enhance their chances of getting into a top university.
Continue reading for ideas on how students can maximize their summer and select the best option.
Go to University
Many higher education institutions offer pre-college summer programs. These are short-term on-campus programs that can last from one to eight weeks.
They provide students firsthand experience taking university classes, living in campus dormitories, and eating in dining halls. Some are open enrollment—meaning anyone can sign up—and others have a more competitive admissions process.
Many offer courses from various disciplines, are taught by university professors, and sometimes provide the opportunity to earn credit. It's also a great way to test a potential college major or career. Depending on the institution and location, attending may be very costly.
Additionally, it's important to note that participating in a pre-college program does not guarantee admission to that university (if applied during Grade 12). It is a fantastic way to discover university life and provides an enriching learning experience.
Take an online course
If trekking worldwide isn't an option, students can fulfill their academic curiosity in the comfort of their homes. Online courses are convenient, and students can choose from a wide range of courses, some of which are free.
EdX, founded by Harvard and MIT in 2012, offers high-quality courses from the world's best universities for learners everywhere (partnered with over 120 institutions). EdX and Coursera offer free university courses taped or streamed from universities.
In many subjects, from robotics to American poetry, students can participate in real-time or watch past lectures from Stanford, Harvard, Oxford professors, etc.
Enter scholarship contests or competitions
This is an excellent way for students to push themselves and earn money for college. However, please be aware of scholarship scams. It would help if you never had to pay a processing fee to win money.
Research
There are many research programs for students, from intensive and very competitive to less intensive and more focused on learning.
These programs will usually pair students with a mentor who will usually define the research project. Once students have figured out their areas of interest, they may also find and reach out to a professor about potential opportunities or seek a mentor for their independent research.
Summer research can have a valuable impact, immediate and future, on a student's personal and professional life. Still, the task may take work. If it is truly a passion, it will be prevalent on a student's college applications and thus commended by university admission representatives.
Get a job or internship
Both are respectable ways to spend summer. There are even paid internships if students look hard enough or start early. Universities are impressed when students have jobs, whether working for the family business or just for fun.
A student's work history demonstrates their initiative and responsibility. An internship is a structured opportunity to work (usually unpaid) for a set amount of time at a company, lab, or non-profit organization. These can be very competitive for high school students, but opportunities are out there!
Job shadow
Job shadowing involves observing or doing small tasks in a professional setting to understand what is involved in a particular field. It's an excellent way for students to gain informal on-the-job training and career development.
When seeking opportunities, it's typically more accessible for students to start with people they know- relatives or close family friends. For instance, if a student's parent has a close friend who works at an electrical engineering company.
They may ask if they can help with filing or sit in a planning meeting. This will allow them to understand the industry better while experiencing the professional atmosphere.
Community service
This is when a student works (unpaid) to help the general public or their community. Usually, students who do community service do so as volunteers, meaning they choose to help because they want to do so.
Community service can have numerous positive effects on students, such as helping them develop soft skills, making contacts, and improving the quality of life of others. There are many ways that students can volunteer, such as joining a non-profit organization, working with a church group, or choosing a cause and creating their service project.
Committing to helping others over a long period provides personal development and fulfillment. Universities seek students who will contribute to campus life; community service is an excellent way to demonstrate this positive attribute.
Test prep
For rising Grade 11 and Grade 12 students, summer is a great time to explore SAT vs. ACT, self-study, and ramp up their study schedule. Pick up a test prep book, take an online prep course (Khan Academy–FREE), or find a test prep tutor to help them manage their time.
Test prep keeps their brains active and engaged. It is important to note that spending their entire summer solely preparing for college admission tests will be less impactful in strengthening their university applications. However, interspersing some test prep between regular summer activities can help students attain their goal scores.
Start a business
Students can create a business (independently or with friends) that offers a service in their community. I've heard of students starting babysitter's clubs, walking dogs for the neighborhood, teaching music lessons, tutoring, or even teaching older people how to use technology.
For larger-scale ideas, some companies/organizations help students create start-ups from scratch. For example, a program at MIT called LaunchX allows students to develop start-ups over the summer. Entrepreneurship is respected and dynamic and demonstrates a "go-getter" attitude that universities appreciate and value.
If this interests students, they should find a mentor or begin to Google away. They may even be able to create the next award-winning application – the sky is the limit.
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