College Office: Summer Considerations for Juniors
What options are there for summer?
There are a wide variety of options for students to explore in the summer before their senior year. These include academic programs on college campuses, leadership or outdoor adventure programs, volunteer programs, or job opportunities; settings may be local, domestic or international. If you’re looking for a structured program, this is a good place to start: TeenInk
- Campus programs: Most colleges and many boarding schools offer programs in the summer typically involving some coursework (perhaps two to three classes) combined with enrichment activities. Students live in dormitories and programs range from two to eight weeks in length. Some are general in their course offerings; some are more specific (e.g. architecture or theatre).
- Outdoor programs: Many organizations offer outdoor adventure programs ranging from hiking to rafting to cycling and more. Two popular options are Outward Bound and NOLS courses. Some have a leadership component, while others may include coursework like field ecology, marine biology, etc.
- Travel abroad: Many programs are available for students who wish to travel overseas. Some involve coursework on a campus, focus on language study, or are “touristy” in nature, while others may incorporate activities like cycling or community service.
- Volunteer service: A number of organizations, nationally and internationally, look for service volunteers in the summer. Many students also use summer to pursue local community service opportunities.
- Work/Internships: Some students obtain a job in the summer for the experience and/or for financial reasons. Others may seek out an internship in a professional area of interest. There can be great value in experiencing the working world—and increasingly, colleges seem to appreciate it when a student has the experience of working a basic summer or part-time job.
Do colleges care about these summer plans?
Almost every college application has a question which asks students how they have spent their summers, often asking how they have grown from the experience. For both jobs and programs, colleges also want to know the time commitment devoted to the task by the applicant.
Can these opportunities influence admissions?
Like extracurricular experiences, summer activities can enhance an application, thus making an applicant more appealing. A summer program will not be the one deciding factor in a candidate’s application, though it is one of the many subtle influences in a file which can make an applicant seem stronger and more desirable. Colleges want students to be productive and take a step outside their high school experience. You don’t have to pay a lot for experiences—the most meaningful growth, and the experiences that resonate most strongly with college admission offices—often comes from activities that are self-initiated and close to home.
Do some options look “better” to colleges?
Generally these experiences are weighed equally by schools and are viewed positively in contrast to the applicants who do nothing productive with their summers. The extraordinary summer experience is noted and will make an applicant stand out—for example, initiating an impressive local community service project or excelling in a competitive summer academic program, or being promoted at a local job. The value of a summer experience is really about impact and the new perspective or initiative the experience has influenced. Colleges will always look for “authenticity” and personal initiative in assessing all extracurricular activities.
What about specific interests?
Students with specific academic interests such as music, art, theatre, architecture, engineering, etc., may want to consider summer programs in these areas. These choices may help to develop skills or a portfolio and may help clarify areas/majors of interest. Also, obtaining letters of recommendation from professors who teach these summer programs may be helpful.
Does going to a summer program at a college help you gain admission?
This depends on the school, but typically not. Some schools give a very slight advantage to applicants who attended their summer program, while others may offer no advantage. It should certainly not be the sole reason to attend a specific school. In fact, in the arts, where competition for talent may be very competitive, there are anecdotes that suggest that sometimes a department at a college may come to know a student “too well” (faults and all) during a summer program. This could actually become a disadvantage when compared to an equally qualified student who is “unknown”.
What about just working?
A job can be an excellent way for a student to spend a summer. Gaining job experience and learning responsibility are important lessons valued by colleges. Employers may also provide letters of recommendation that highlight different perspectives on a student’s skills and abilities. It’s even better if the job is related to an area of interest.
But is a job alone enough?
Yes, though we occasionally recommend that students also consider community service or a volunteer opportunity to supplement work experience. A job may also be combined with a local academic experience, for example, taking a week-long philosophy or language enrichment class.
Is there an application process?
It varies. For some summer programs, you simply enroll and send in the tuition and fees. For others, there may be a minimal application to complete. For still others, the process is quite competitive and may involve several essays or submitting a portfolio of work.
And deadlines?
Again, the answer to this question varies. Some summer programs have many spaces and fill them on a rolling basis. Others have deadlines which occur in the spring. Still others (often very competitive programs) are due in the winter.
What about cost?
Some of the programs on campuses and overseas are extremely expensive, though there is financial aid available for families who qualify. Other programs are moderately priced, and a few may be free for the students who are admitted.
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