How to Level Up Your College Application This Summer

If your student has Ivy League dreams, building their college admissions profile is a year-round endeavor. However, just because your student is serious about their future doesn’t mean they can’t have fun in the process. With self-motivation and strategy, your student can turn summer into a valuable opportunity to set themselves apart in the college application process and boost their admissions profile without sacrificing their summer fun.

Read!

Students of all ages should use their summer free time to read in a diversity of genres. They can take advantage of their family vacation by finding a quiet spot on the beach or by the lake to crack open a fiction book, some classic literature, or today’s issue of The New York Times. Reading a variety of materials will help students level up their reading skills for the fall semester, prepare themselves for standardized tests, and enhance their vocabulary for college essays and interviews. While your student may not be an avid reader, encourage them to find something they enjoy and commit to just fifteen minutes a day—every little bit counts!

Practice the art of networking.  

The summer offers ample time to connect with family members, friends, and business or nonprofit leaders in one’s local community. Rising freshmen can take the opportunity to develop their networking skills and gain some valuable insights to carry into their high school journey. Students should take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions such as: What did you enjoy most about high school? What advice would you give your younger self? How did your educational experience shape your career? Questions like these will help students prepare for the year ahead and learn from and connect with members of their community. 

Start a passion project .

The summer after sophomore year is the last opportunity for students to truly use their free time to explore and discover their passions, unencumbered by the pressure of compiling their application materials. Elite colleges care deeply about how students use their free time, as it demonstrates the value they will add to their campus. Taking advantage of the resources within their community will help students consider where their interests truly lie and inspire creativity and motivation for the year ahead. 

Students can use their summer free time to start businesses, found nonprofits, and embark on forward-thinking research. Rising juniors can maximize their poolside reclining or stormy indoor afternoons by researching opportunities to get more involved in their communities, meet a need in their area, and use their unique skills and passions in the process. Summer is a great time to make an impact, enlist community members for advice, and get online to generate excitement for their project. 

Rising seniors, write your personal essay!

As the most comprehensive opportunity for a student to showcase their personality, the college application essay can be a uniquely challenging component of the college application. Students who take initiative to work on their essay during the summer will have more time to hone their supplemental essays and other parts of their applications in the fall. Finishing the personal essay is one of the most important things that a student can do to get a leg up in the admissions process. Additionally, students can keep a journal each day to record the activities they have engaged in and little moments that have brought them joy. Not only will this help them to get more comfortable with their own voice as a writer, but it can provide inspiration for their personal essay.

As your family soaks up the sun and enjoys the additional free time together, remind your student that hard work and fun can go hand in hand. A little bit of intentionality and effort will ensure that they make the most of their summer holiday while also taking steps toward achieving their collegiate goals.