Summer vacation is a great time to relax, recuperate, and have fun. That said, the most meaningful summer breaks are also productive. Wondering how to make summer vacation productive? In addition to having fun, high schoolers should consider getting a job, pursuing an internship, attending a pre-college summer program, or deepening their involvement with their extracurricular activities. Not only will this make their summer vacation more meaningful, but it will also enhance their college applications.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best ways to spend your summer, with a particular emphasis on summer internships for high schoolers, summer jobs for high schoolers, and other summer activities that’ll impress colleges. So if you’re wondering what to do the summer before senior year, the summer before your junior year, or any other summer throughout high school, read
10 Productive ways to spend your summer
Engaging in meaningful and productive summer activities for high schoolers is a great way to enhance your college applications. This is particularly important for students intent on attending prestigious institutions, such as Ivy League colleges. Colleges want to admit passionate and driven students, capable of success, both inside and outside the classroom. Pursuing meaningful projects during the summer shows admissions officers that you are dedicated, ambitious, and willing to use your free time productively.
Do you find yourself asking questions like: How should students spend their summer vacation? What kinds of summer programs for high school students are out there? And what summer activities do colleges like? If this sounds like you, consider some of the options for how to make the most of summer below:
Get an internship
While you’re researching summer internships, keep in mind that companies have to follow certain rules and regulations, so make sure you have the right qualifications. For instance, most companies cannot hire students under 16 years old. If you find an internship that interests you, but that you do not qualify for, bookmark it for another year. You can also reach out to see if the company would arrange a job shadowing opportunity for you.
The best way to find potential summer internships is to reach out to your high school guidance counselor about opportunities that may be available to you. You’ll also want to check in with your parents, teachers, and other trusted adults, such as your friends’ parents, as well. The key to having a successful career — whether you’re in high school or are a seasoned professional — is to network! For more information on the importance of networking, check out our article, Networking Strategies: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success.
Interested in high school summer internships with a national reputation? Looking for summer internships in New York, summer internships in Boston, summer internships in Chicago, or maybe even summer internships at national parks? Check out some of the prestigious high school internships below:
Get an internship
Wondering how to spend a summer vacation? Summer internships are a great way for high school students to gain work experience while bolstering their college applications. What’s more, they demonstrate character and maturity. Summer internships for students can help you explore prospective careers and college majors, while gaining real-world experience, skills, and the chance to build up a professional network in the job industry. Knowing how to write a resume and a cover letter for a summer internship is also great practice! If you need help getting started, check out our Resume Outline for High School Students.
While you’re researching summer internships, keep in mind that companies have to follow certain rules and regulations, so make sure you have the right qualifications. For instance, most companies cannot hire students under 16 years old. If you find an internship that interests you, but that you do not qualify for, bookmark it for another year. You can also reach out to see if the company would arrange a job shadowing opportunity for you.
The best way to find potential summer internships is to reach out to your high school guidance counselor about opportunities that may be available to you. You’ll also want to check in with your parents, teachers, and other trusted adults, such as your friends’ parents, as well. The key to having a successful career — whether you’re in high school or are a seasoned professional — is to network! For more information on the importance of networking, check out our article, Networking Strategies: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success.
Interested in high school summer internships with a national reputation? Looking for summer internships in New York, summer internships in Boston, summer internships in Chicago, or maybe even summer internships at national parks? Check out some of the prestigious high school internships below:
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Volunteer
Colleges want to admit passionate and thoughtful students who are willing to engage in their communities. This is why volunteer experience is one of the best things you can add to your college application. It shows that you are invested in your community and are on a path to self-growth. Volunteering is also a great way to build leadership skills and gain practical job skills. Depending on your experience, you may even be able to ask a supervisor for a letter of recommendation for your college applications.
Completing volunteer hours as a high school student can be accomplished very easily, especially in the summer. This is because most high schoolers have fairly flexible schedules. You can volunteer somewhere for a couple of hours a week and still have plenty of free time to have fun or maybe even have a part-time job.
If you’re interested in volunteering, but aren’t sure where to start, you may want to consider volunteering at some of the following places:
Read more about the importance of volunteer hours and how they can help enhance your college applications.
Volunteer
Colleges want to admit passionate and thoughtful students who are willing to engage in their communities. This is why volunteer experience is one of the best things you can add to your college application. It shows that you are invested in your community and are on a path to self-growth. Volunteering is also a great way to build leadership skills and gain practical job skills. Depending on your experience, you may even be able to ask a supervisor for a letter of recommendation for your college applications.
Completing volunteer hours as a high school student can be accomplished very easily, especially in the summer. This is because most high schoolers have fairly flexible schedules. You can volunteer somewhere for a couple of hours a week and still have plenty of free time to have fun or maybe even have a part-time job.
If you’re interested in volunteering, but aren’t sure where to start, you may want to consider volunteering at some of the following places:
Read more about the importance of volunteer hours and how they can help enhance your college applications.
Get a summer job
The key to knowing how to have a productive summer is to have a clear purpose. Having a summer job can help give you a purpose by saving money for college. It’ll also teach you how to collaborate effectively and work with a team. The best summer jobs for high schoolers will help you gain confidence, while establishing a healthy work ethic. Applying for summer jobs for high school students is also a great way to practice writing a resume and maybe even a cover letter.
Broadly speaking, getting a summer job is the first step towards your independence. Not only are you earning money, but you are building yourself a successful resume for future employment. Having a job helps you navigate social skills, time management, and more responsibility. Depending on your summer experience, you might even consider continuing to work a part-time job for high schoolers during the school year. If you haven’t had a job before, don’t worry! There are plenty of summer jobs for highschool students with no experience.
If you want to know more about the best summer jobs for premed students, the best summer jobs for nursing students, or the best part time jobs for students online, reach out to your high school guidance counselor and teachers for further guidance. And in the meantimes, check out our article, Best Entry-Level Jobs with Useful Work Experience, to learn how to make the most out of your high school summer job.
Take a summer class
If you don’t have the financial resources to take a class, don’t worry! Colleges are just as impressed by independent learning. Spend the summer teaching yourself a new skill or completing a reading list in a topic that interests you!
Take a summer class
Another way to be productive during summer vacation is to enroll in college courses. Local junior colleges offer tons of different programs for high school students during the summer. Not only will these courses look great on your college applications, but most likely, you’ll be able to earn both high school and college credit from them!
If you don’t have the financial resources to take a class, don’t worry! Colleges are just as impressed by independent learning. Spend the summer teaching yourself a new skill or completing a reading list in a topic that interests you!
Enroll in a pre-college program
Pre-college summer programs are a great way to spend your summers, especially if you’re interested in attending a highly-selective institution, such as an Ivy League college. This is because pre-college summer programs are often rigorous and prestigious. As such, they are looked on favorably by college admissions officers.
Keep in mind during your research that pre-college summer programs are incredibly diverse. Some programs focus on the arts, humanities, STEM subjects, and more! From riding your bike across the country to attending The School of New York Times Summer Academy, there are countless opportunities available for eager and motivated high school students. Review this list of pre-college summer programs to see if any opportunities match your interests!
And for even more information on why summer programs are important for college admissions, read our article on Breaking Down Pre-College Summer Programs for further insights.
Travel or study abroad
Being able to study abroad while you are in high school is a worthwhile experience — one that will be sure to impress college admissions officers. This means that you’ll have the opportunity to explore different cultures and perspectives, while furthering your academic studies. Not only will you have a new, life-changing experience, but you’ll be able to explore the world and different cultures, while enhancing your education. These kinds of experiences are perfect for future resumes and your college application because they show that you are independent, motivated, and comfortable in new environments while meeting new people.
Check out some of the following websites for more information on study abroad opportunities for high school students:
Pursue a passion project
Other productive things to do over the summer include pursuing a “passion project.” A passion project is an independently designed project that is completed outside of school. Ideally, passion projects should be fairly ambitious and require extensive planning and self-reflection. A passion project can take on many forms. Depending on your interests and goals, you might choose to:
Ultimately a passion project allows you to challenge yourself, develop new skills, and gain confidence. It’s important to note that college admissions officers love passion projects! For more information on what a passion project is and how to design one, check out our article, The Ultimate Guide to Passion Projects for High Schoolers.
Teach yourself a new skill
Have you always wanted to build a house? Scuba dive? Learn to speak French? Or play a musical instrument? There are countless skills you could explore! And the best part? You can learn a lot of skills on your own, just by surfing the internet and going to the public library. If you find a skill you’re interested in learning, start researching! If you’re interested in learning about something like scuba diving, you’ll need to take formal lessons. But if you want to try your hand at learning an instrument, there are plenty of online tutorials you can watch from the comfort of your own home.
Create an art, music, or writing portfolio
If you are passionate about the arts, you may want to spend your summer vacation creating an art, music, or writing portfolio. This is particularly important for students who want to go to art school or a music conservatory, as they will need to submit a portfolio as a part of their college application. Creating a college music or art portfolio can be an intensive and time-consuming process. Therefore, the sooner you can get started, the better! For more insight on how to build your college art portfolio, click here.
Visit colleges
Visit colleges
And finally, a great way to spend your summers in high school is to visit colleges! Some students even start as soon as their freshman year. Deciding where you want to go to college can be a complicated process. Going on campus tours is a great way to learn more about what you’re looking for in an ideal college experience. It’ll also give you a chance to ask admissions officers, professors, and current students questions. Make sure you use our College Campus Tour Checklist to help you get the most out of your experience!
Key takeaways and moving forward
It’s no secret that college admission is becoming increasingly competitive. This is why it’s important to stand out from other applicants by engaging in thoughtful and meaningful summer experiences. There are lots of summer jobs for high school students with no experience, as well as many other ways to have a productive summer.
Depending on your specific goals, you may choose to brighten your community by volunteering, getting a local job, or continuing your academic studies at a junior college. The bottom line is that you can always be doing more with your time and that this is one of the many things that college admissions officers look for in an applicant. You may also want to spend time studying for the SATs and visiting college campuses. The most important thing is to spend your time wisely while also having fun with your friends and family.
If you still have questions about what you should be doing this summer, check out our article, 25 Summer Activities That Look Good On College Applications.
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