<p>hey everyone,</p>
<p>so i know its kinda late to get started on this but i really need your help. I will be a rising junior and i dont know what to do in my summer. I was planning on applying to the CMU summer diversity program but then i realized that 6 weeks is a LOT of time. I think i would want to do a summer program like this before my senior year... cuz thats when most people do it, right?</p>
<p>so anyway do you guys have any recommendations for what i should do?</p>
<p>To get into a competitive Junior/rising Senior program, having something related to your area of interest this summer wouldn't hurt.....but it doesn't have to be 6 weeks or a fancy college. </p>
<p>Think about your area of interest and then brain storm on potential summer activities: a job, online writing group, volunteer program, travel, a camp, school. Really anything that you can talk about and describe how it contributed to your personal growth. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that most summer programs are businesses (including summer programs a selective colleges, which are NOT taught by college professors). Do they work for you, helping you reach your goal, or do you work for them, fattening their bottom line?</p>
<p>If you're in Michigan and interested in medicine, you could also check out the summer science academy at U of M's medical school - it's 2 weeks and although it's part of the diversity office, they encourage all students interested in medicine/healthcare to apply. </p>
<p>University</a> of Michigan Medical School</p>
<p>I would echo toadstool's advice to watch out for expensive university summer programs, though. In some cases they're just moneymakers for the school and wouldn't really help your college application at all.</p>