For many of us, summer is a welcome pause from the demands of the school year. But for college-bound students, summer is also a tremendous opportunity to grow—academically, personally and professionally. Fortunately, there are countless ways for students to prepare themselves for college without overworking themselves. When they review admissions applications, admissions officers often review everything. This includes grades and test scores, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and resumes. In short, they look to the admission materials to paint them a complete picture of your student. Summer can be a critical way to make your student’s picture stand out.
Summer offers several options students can choose from. From academic immersion experiences, sports campus, service or employment—or a combination—they’ve got several options. I’d also suggest that there are no poor choices, so long as they do something other than watch YouTube and play video games. Further, the best options for your students needn’t be overly expensive. Colleges care more about the quality of their experiences than what they cost. As parents, we can help by encouraging our students to look at summer planning strategically. Let’s take a look at common summer options your student can choose to enrich their summer and make themselves more competitive in the admissions process.
One strong option for summer is academic exploration. Summer gives students time to dive deeper into the subjects that genuinely interest them. They might take a community college course, enroll in an online certification program, or participate in a pre-college academic experience. In addition, some may conduct independent research. My wife coordinates many such summer experiences in her job with the Navy, and the students she works with are often very successful in their admissions journey. Even free or low-cost online courses can demonstrate to admissions officers their intellectual curiosity and initiative.
For example, a student interested in engineering might take an introductory coding course. A future journalism major could start a blog, interview community members, or write for a local publication. A student interested in healthcare might volunteer at a hospital or shadow medical professionals. The key is aligning the activity to your student’s developing interests.
College are universities also value summer employment quite highly. Some students have no choice but to work during the summer; for others, it’s an option. But for both groups, summer employment can—if approached and explained properly—increase the chances for students to distinguish themselves from the crowd. Part-time jobs teach responsibility, communication skills, time management, and perseverance. Whether a student works in retail, babysits, lifeguards, or helps in a family business, successful summer employment demonstrates maturity and work ethic. Many admissions professionals recognize that balancing work responsibilities alongside academics often reveals significant character strengths.
Volunteer service can be a powerful component of a student’s application when approached authentically. Discourage your student from simply accumulating clock hours to check a box. What they should do is first seek causes that matter to them, work to have an impact in that position, and document what they do. A student passionate about literacy might tutor children, and talk about how a student they tutored rose two grade levels in reading. A student interested in early childhood education could tutor younger children. Someone concerned about environmental issues might organize community clean-up efforts. Consistent effort over time that makes a difference is better than brief involvement in multiple projects.
This is where I make my annual plea for students to push during the summer to achieve specific leadership goals. These include earning Eagle status in scouts, earning the Gold Award for Girl Scouts, or similar achievements. But not every leadership opportunity carries an official title. Students can demonstrate initiative by creating opportunities themselves. Organizing a neighborhood fundraiser, starting a small business, launching a podcast, developing an app, or creating educational content online all showcase creativity and self-motivation. Colleges appreciate students who identify opportunities and take action independently.
Beyond these activities, summer is also an excellent time for students to prepare for the practical side of the college admissions process. Rising seniors may draft their college essays, research colleges, prepare for interviews, or visit college campuses. Starting early reduces stress during the busy fall semester and allows students to produce stronger applications.
Another important part of preparation is how they speak about their summer activities within their admissions materials. A student interested in business might emphasize some of the financial and marketing aspects of their summer experience, even if that summer experience was theater. On the other hand, a student interested in psychology can talk about how the impact of their summer literacy volunteer work was measured using standardized tests and what they learned from that measurement process. The more that students show a clear connection between their college aspirations and their summer experiences, the better.
Most important, parents should help their students maintain balance. Help your student enjoy their summer beyond their productive activities. As an admissions officer, I never looked for perfection among the applicants. Instead, I looked to get to know the student and gain a feel for their potential and how they’ll best fit at my university. Your student will benefit most when their summer activities reflect genuine interests and healthy personal growth.
Parents can play a critical role by helping students reflect on questions such as:
The answers to these questions often lead to stronger experiences—and ultimately stronger college applications—than chasing prestige alone.
Strategic summer planning is not about manufacturing the ideal applicant (‘cuz there ain’t one!) It is about helping students explore their interests, develop real-world skills, and build experiences that tell the story of who the y aspire to be. And when they do that successfully, they’ll find the right college match.
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