<p>So I'm interested in applying to the top colleges such as HYPS but I'm worried that they might look down upon how I'm spending my summer.</p>
<p>I have 7 weeks in my summer this year.</p>
<p>I'm taking two online courses that are required for graduation.
I have 1 week of band camp.
Every Saturday this summer for four hours I have All-State band practice.
I'm going to Maui for a week.
Studying for SAT/ACT.
Working on essays.</p>
<p>I see so many kids on here doing internships and the such, but I just don't have time to do all that + I need time to study for SATs. My parents basically told me I'm not allowed to do that because they wanted a vacation this year (we didn't have any time during the school year cause I was busy with school).</p>
<p>Don't consider what kids are doing on this site as standard.
Although generic, my advice is to make the best of your circumstances (which you seem to be doing in your list of activites in context of your limited time). No formula exists to be admitted to HYPABCDEFGHIKL...</p>
<p>you're fine llpitch although it all sounds kinda plain. i'm pretty sure you have a lot of left over time from studying the SAT's, so do something else. as to what to do, i'm not an expert.</p>
<p>What you have seems fine. You might take up an intellectual endeavor (learn a language, study more advanced math, read about philosophy, etc.), if you can, something that might not be an "official" activity, but a good activity nonetheless.</p>