How to plan for summer.
As a New Englander, I firmly believe that it’s never too early to start planning for summer. The second that first snowflake hits the ground, I’m making my summer book list. I can’t say this is the absolute best use of my time, but If you’re a freshman, sophomore, or junior in high school, dreaming about summer can be really productive.
We always remind students that the most important thing you can do to broaden your college options is to earn the best grades you can in the most challenging courses that you’re able to handle. But the other pieces—your extracurriculars, test scores, and summer activities—help to tell a story about who you are as a learner and as a person. When we’re working with students on their summer plans, our mantra is: get a job, have fun, and be you.
Get a job: this is the single most important piece of advice we give our students about summer. Summer is great (literally the best, nothing better, don’t @ me skiers), and you deserve to enjoy it. But having a job communicates to admissions officers more than you might think. A teenager with a job is learning lessons about responsibility and the value of earning money, along with important life skills. If you work at a summer camp, it signals to colleges that you are likely to be patient and caring. A restaurant job reflects a willingness to get your hands dirty and work on a team. A job in sales or customer service indicates that you’re honing your listening and problem-solving skills.
In other words, your job doesn’t need to be glamorous. And as you’re folding your five millionth pair of Gap jeans, you’ll feel better knowing that it demonstrates to colleges that you are a responsible person who understands the value of work (and crisp creases).
Have fun: No, working at the Gap is not fun. But no one expects you to give up fun and adventure altogether in the summer. Remember, you’re still a kid! You should be accumulating experiences and enjoying this time. Have an opportunity to go to a baseball clinic? A surfing class? A camping trip? Is it your goal to read all of Jane Austen or fish every day? Do it! How you choose to spend your free time also tells a story about who you are.
Be you: Tackling a research project, engaging in community service, or taking a summer course just because it “looks good on a college application” isn’t the best way to plan your summer activities. If you love kids and soccer, why not volunteer to coach or ref in your local Special Olympics or Unified Sports program instead of organizing a clothing drive? If your primary love is music, think about substituting that summer course on computer programming for an online Intro to Music Theory course. We know this may be counter to what friends and family might advise, but it’s important to think about your college application as a story. One that reads like a laundry list of unrelated activities will appear unfocused to an admissions officer. A story about everything isn’t really about anything.
At May First, we believe that every student has a unique and interesting story. Give us a call at 617-851-9975 or send an email to info@yourmayfirst.com and let us help you tell it.
