Academics and School Life College Counseling FAQ

• How should I spend my summers?

How should I spend my summers?

Enroll in summer programs of enrichment.  By the time you are a rising junior, it is appropriate to begin thinking about how your summer can be utilized to define an academic major, more thoroughly explore a career choice, or examine a passion. Enrolling in a summer academic or elective course not available through your high school is but one way to display your intellectual curiosity and scholarship.  Some summer programs are selective in nature, meaning you are required to send transcripts, test results, and letters of recommendation; others are not.  These one- to six-week long programs can range in cost from $1,200 to over $6,000.  The bottom line:

• Simply participating in a college or university program does not, in and of itself, enhance your chances for admission to that school.
• Utilize your summer in discovery, exploration, and community service for the personal growth these activities afford you. How you write about the meaningfulness of any summer experience in your college essays is of greater consequence than their appearance as a line item on your resume.