WHAT TO DO OVER SUMMER?
As an aspiring college applicant, the summers of your high school are important. Use this time to do all the following:
Enhance your Academic Profile
Pursue Career Exploration-oriented activities
Support the Community with Volunteer Work
Relax, Enjoy & Recharge for the Year Ahead
Summer is an important time, and use the guide below to make most of this time.
All About Your Summers!
RISING JUNIORS & RISING SENIORS
Before your Junior and Senior years:
Look for summer programs held on the campuses of colleges you’re considering (preferably programs that allow you to earn college credit).
Take either a high school class or a dual enrollment class. Ask your counselor what class is best for you.
Get a paid job or an unpaid internship related to the major you’d like to study in college.
Read at least one book from next year’s reading list.
Begin your serious visits to the colleges you are considering.
Update your scholarship search with your current GPA and class rank.
Work on your scholarship and college application essays during the summer before your senior year.
Prepare for the PSAT, the SAT, and the ACT tests.
Find opportunities to travel—whether it’s volunteering, studying out-of-state or overseas, or vacationing with your family.
A FEW IDEAS FOR ALL STUDENTS!
Summer is an excellent time to try out new things. Use your time wisely for college admissions purposes by taking under consideration the following:
College admissions may look to your summer activities as a way to evidence your interest in your college major.
Summer programs are also a way for you to explore your interests. For instance, you may know you are interested in STEM but it would be useful to know what kind in particular. College Admissions will expect you to be able to say what area of STEM or what question within the area of STEM holds the most interest for you. Even at Colleges where Undecided is a major, there are still questions regarding your interests in the application.
Many colleges offer “pre-College” programs that grant college credit. These programs give you not only experience but a college transcript to hand in at the time of admissions and may even be absorbed by your college towards graduation.
Before you sign up for any summer activity, ask your High School Counselor if your school has any policy about summer school. In some cases, a school may allow you to take a summer course to make up a grade, take additional courses toward graduation, satisfy a prerequisite for an AP course, or apply credits toward high school graduation. On the other hand, some high schools do not participate in any of these programs.
Summer programs vary in experience and price. It is very important to look into the program before making any deposits. I have access to 200+ summer programs and can help you to create a list of programs you are interested in.
SEARCHING SUMMER PROGRAMS:
CLICK HERE to review the list of summer programs available to you and recommended by EduPlan.
You can also search other options with the help of SNOWDAY. It is very useful for searching detailed information on summer programs—activity focus, session dates, location, cost, app deadlines, eligibility, and more.
COUNSELMORE also offers a useful summer program search option. Discuss with Claudine the opportunity to review summer programs via CounselMore.
SUMMER CONTRACTS
Attention Rising Seniors / Juniors: As we approach college admissions process, both students and parents will be required to sign an agreement with EduPlan related to our work together over the summer on your college applications.
PARENTS: Carefully read and send over the signed >>CONTRACT<<.
STUDENTS:>> HERE <<is the link to sign this agreement, where you will let us know which 5 WEEKS you will devote to your application process.
Freshmen and Sophomores: We would like to hear all about your summer plans. Please complete this FORM to indicate which activities you hope to pursue over the summer!
