It’s summer and you are enjoying some much needed break from homework. While soaking up the sunshine, eating ice cream, and working, it might be time to start thinking about college!
- Start building your college list. Summer is a wonderful, stress free time to focus on building an epic college list. Check out our post on The Art of Building a College List.
- Participate in enriching summer activities. Focus on something you are passionate about and get involved as a volunteer, intern, or even student. Enrolling in college level courses over the summer can be a great way to explore what you are interested in while preparing for college’s tough academic work load.
- If you are a rising senior, start the college essay. The college essay is perhaps the most daunting part of the entire application process (and the standardized tests). Focus on brainstorming for a good college essay topic and write an outline. Just think, by the fall, you could have your college essay completed!
- Visit colleges. The summer is a great opportunity to see some schools that might be out of reach. Going on summer vacation with the fam? Explore some colleges in the area you are going to be in. The more schools you see, the more you can compare what you like and dislike about each one.
- Build your resume. Resumes are a one sheet record of your education, experiences, activities, and awards that employers, colleges, and internships can glance at. They are a regular part of being an adult. Start by writing down an activities list and the dates you’ve participated in each activity. List them in reverse chronological order starting with the most recent.
- Start the Common Application. Sign up and start adding colleges from your list and completing the Common App. Triple check your spelling and grammar.
- Study for some standardized tests. Take practice exams online for free at College Board and ACT.org. Standardized tests are optional at many schools, but it is good to see if you can get a good score to enhance your application.
Being proactive and tackling these tasks over the summer can help you enjoy your high school experience, giving you more time for friends, sports, and academics!