How High School Students Can Make the Most Out of Summer Break

Whoever coined the phrase, “Lazy days of summer” must not have had high school kids. 

When the kids were little, summer break meant lazy days around the pool, carefree vacations, and non-stop family fun. Now that they’re in (or approaching) high school, education experts agree that teens should make the most out of summer – with more than just fun and games. 

Independent Educational Consultant Barb Leventhal says that summer is the perfect time for high schoolers to focus on personal growth and development and begin preparing for the future. This means setting summer goals and exploring summer academic opportunities, part-time jobs or internships and – if they’re rising seniors – beginning the college prep process. 

“It’s never too early for high school students to begin building their college extracurricular résumés and preparing for the future – in fact it’s best for students to start the summer before their freshman year, and continue throughout their high school journeys,” she said. “Parents can help ensure that their teens maximize productivity while still enjoying a fun-filled summer.”

Summer Fun With a Purpose

All work and no play may not necessarily make Jack a dull boy, but it definitely makes for a lackluster summer. So it’s also important that students engage in personally fulfilling hobbies and social activities. But Leventhal, who specializes in college counseling, says that to properly prepare for the future, it’s imperative that high school students focus on more than just hanging at the beach with friends, chilling at the pool, binge-watching Netflix, and playing video games. 

“While these activities are appropriate in moderation, they’re not considered bona extracurricular activities when it comes to college preparation,” she said. “Students should engage in extracurriculars that foster the traits that colleges typically value: resilience, intellectual curiosity, initiative, responsibility, trustworthiness, leadership, and teamwork. I believe that when kids are engaged in activities that interest them, they have fun!”

Fun – and Beneficial – Summer Activity Ideas for High School Students

Summer Breeze, Summer Reads: Summer break is a great time to kick back and read. In addition to the required reading that’s likely been assigned by your high school, pick up a just-for-fun book (or two) that sparks your creativity, takes you on an imaginary journey, appeals to your natural curiosity – and is something you truly enjoy. You can also listen to audiobooks while working out or relaxing.

If you’re preparing for college, it’s also wise to read about your top-choice schools to learn everything you can about them. Check out campus newspapers and other student and alumni publications, college social media pages and web site profiles, and independent college guides like The Princeton Review: The Best 388 Colleges and the Fiske Guide to Colleges to get a feel for each school on your list and ensure that they’re a good fit.

Summer Academic Camps, Workshops, and Research Opportunities: Summer is a perfect time for high school students to explore academic and career-related interests by participating in activities like college boot camps, academic workshops and camps, and internships (note: link to internship blog once posted). It’s also an opportune time to look into college scholarships, research and grant opportunities, and explore character-building summer programs. 

Summer Jobs for High School Students: Summer jobs are a great way to learn about financial independence and gain invaluable social and professional skills. Jobs that relate to your interests or intended major are even more beneficial, as they provide an opportunity to explore potential career paths. Look for summer jobs on online employment sites and let family, friends, and neighbors know you’re interested in finding work. Also look for ‘we’re hiring’ signs at local businesses. If you’re having trouble finding a great-fit paid job, check into impactful volunteer opportunities to earn those coveted high school volunteer hours and to build your résumé – and your character.

Summer Camps for High School Students: Statics show that more than 14 million children and adults participate in summer camp each year, and a study by the American Camp Association showed that campers experience growth in several developmental areas including positive identity, social skills, physical and thinking skills, and positive values and spirituality. Because college admission officers typically value activities with greater impact, you might consider being a camp counselor rather than a camper. Camp counselors gain leadership skills as well as many of the college-valued traits like initiative, responsibility, teamwork, and trustworthiness. 

Summer College Prep Activities for High School Seniors

If you’re a rising high school senior, it’s time to think about and begin applying to college. Summer is the perfect time to get organized, be proactive and begin researching colleges, working on your college applications and personal statements, creating your college résumé, securing letters of recommendation, and getting a head start on other college prep activities.

Get Started On Your Application: Create your Common Application or Coalition  Application this summer by completing the student and family sections to establish your account so that you’ll have less to do once your busy school year begins.

Create and Update Your Activity Résumé: If you haven’t already, create your activity résumé and continue to update it as you go. Your résumé is a crucial part of your college application, as it helps you stand out from the rest of the applicant pool. It gives you an opportunity to elaborate and tell college admission officers more about you – beyond what’s in your application. It should reflect your interests, significant achievements, and contributions during your high school years, as well as the impact you made within those activities. 

Your activity résumé also comes in handy when you ask teachers, guidance counselors, or other mentors for letters of recommendation. Having an at-a-glance summary of your achievements can help them write a stronger recommendation. You’ll want to ensure that your résumé looks professional, so ask your guidance counselor for examples or check out the variety of résumé generators and templates available online.

Write On: Review the Common Application essay prompts and begin brainstorming ideas and writing your personal statement now. Plan on revising and perfecting your essay numerous times before it’s ready to submit. It’s always a good idea to have an extra set of eyes review your work, so be sure to involve a trusted resource like your parents and, once you return to school, your guidance counselor. Make sure your essay captures who you are and demonstrates self reflection and introspection. For expert guidance and peace of mind, consider working with a professional essay specialist. 

Take the SAT and/or ACT This Summer: If you’ve already taken it and believe there’s room for improvement, take it again. Although some colleges are test optional, most colleges will accept your scores and a good score can give you a competitive edge. Be sure to prepare in advance – even if you’ve taken it before (if you take it again without additional preparation, you’ll likely achieve a similar score). 

Finding Balance

There are a variety of additional summer activities and tasks students can engage in to get organized and prepare for college and the upcoming high school year – while still having an enjoyable summer. Leventhal believes that balance is key.

“Parents and students can also use summer break to identify and apply for scholarships, and to create a list of academic competitions to pursue,” she said. “Create a calendar and plot the deadlines to ensure that you meet them – especially if they are months away. All of these activities can fit into a well-balanced, memorable, and enjoyable summer, and – even better  – students will be setting themselves up for success for the upcoming school year – and beyond.”

Need help finding your student’s best-fit summer activities, working on the Common App or Coalition App, writing the personal statement, or preparing for the SAT or ACT?  Give us a call. Our professional educational consulting team is ready to support your family throughout the college preparation process, from application to submission – and everything in between.