<p>Hi,
Right now I'm thinking ahead to summer after my junior year . I'm trying to plan it out in advance what I'm going to do, and I'm trying to find something to do that is productive and would look good on my college application. I've come up with a couple ideas so far, but I'm having trouble deciding what to do. I'd appreciate any input/thoughts you have</p>
<p>1: A college summer program. So far I've really liked the sound of the ones at Harvard and Stanford. I know, I know, all it shows is that your parents can pay for it, but it honestly sounds like such a great experience and I would love to get the chance to take classes at a great college like that. At the same time, I'm not sure if I'd want to be away from home for the entire summer like that.</p>
<p>2: Working for a graphics design company. I'm not entirely sure what I'd do for that, but I've been using photoshop on my own time for years and it would be nice to have something to show for it on my application. I don't plan on majoring in art though, so I don't know how highly the experience would be valued.</p>
<p>3: Working at a vets office. I love helping animals and I've been volunteering at a shelter for years now. I think this is something I would really enjoy. Thats my main extracurricular, I spend a lot of time with it. I know that colleges like to see depth of involvement in one area, so I think that this would help to show my interest in animal welfare. But at the same time, my mom pointed out to me that colleges might not want someone who is so interested in animals, because it might give the impression that I don't care about humans (not true). Another problem with this is that I'm not sure if I can find a place that would hire me (they are usually looking for someone with past work experience even just for cleaning kennels and such)</p>
<p>I ended up spending my entire summer working and swimming (competitively). It was good I suppose, but in the end that's all I have to show on my application, and I wish I had spent some time diversifying that.</p>
<p>I don't really have an opinion, as I don't know if the dedication factor will look better or not. Just my experience, take it as you will</p>
<p>I really tried to keep my summers packed. Two summers ago I went to Japan on an exchange program (a scholorship from YFU). This summer I took college courses to prep me for my senior year AP's and participated in a couple of college programs (howard u. SAP program and Diversity Camp at Misericordia U). Ya it was pretty intense, everything was back-to-back and I held a part-time job on top of all of this!</p>
<p>Just do something that's meaningful to you. Who's to say one thing "looks better" than something else on an application? That assumes all admissions officers think alike. I read an article once that interviewed a bunch of admissions officers. The general consensus was that flipping burgers can be just as impressive as interning at some big company. The important thing is what you get out of it.</p>
<p>It seems like you would enjoy number 3 the most, at least from how you sounded in your post. No offense meant toward your mother, but what she said made absolutely no sense.</p>
<p>Any one of those would look great, but really, make sure you enjoy whatever it is that you're going to do — it is summer vacation, after all. If you do something awesome resume-wise and have fun doing it, the adcoms will notice how passionate you are about it in your essays, interview, etc, and take note.</p>
<p>I went to a leadership camp, volunteered at a science center, maintained a literary and art magazine, sent in most of my work to be published in international magazines (I found out the results last fall... got published in 8 magazines), and went to a debate institute at a university and got first place the summer before junior year. All the while, I did not think a single thing about my resume. I simply did all that stuff because I was enjoying myself (ok maybe not the volunteer thing, but I felt a little obligated to do that because I applied early... haha). Anyways, the thing is to just focus on your interests and running with it. Don't ask yourself "what would look best to colleges" but rather "what do I really want to do." That might sound silly, but I swear what you end up with will be a lot more competitive and unique.</p>
<p>Anyways, my summer was... so hectic to say the least. However, I don't regret it all because I think it was the most productive summer I've ever had and I felt accomplished from it. At the same time, I met up with some old friends and hung out with current ones. </p>
<p>Just make sure you're challenging yourself with things you're interested in while not going overboard. If it's possible, do more than 1 thing (maybe put the summer program and work together). All the options you've listed seem pretty different from each other, so I guess it just comes down to what you think you'll enjoy and base your future on. Have fun!</p>
<p>^If it's some leadership program you have to pay for, then it won't impress adcoms. If it's a scholorship program, or just anything you participated in based on merit then it will look good. I'm sorry but those damn summer leadership camps in D.C. that cost $5,000 are not impressing anyone.</p>
<p>Yes, I second 123321's idea. The Harvard/Stanford thing is a time suck. If you want to take college courses, do it at your local university. This way, you'll still have time to do other things like design company and animal shelter. Your summer would be packed that way, and I think it's a great idea.</p>
<p>I think thats what I'll do. I already work at a shelter, and maybe I'll find a vet I can work at too in addition to the graphics designing...</p>
<p>The nearest college is Northwestern. I think they offer classes but I don't know what they are like, I'll have to figure that out, or it they're any different from the expensive leadership programs that people were talking about</p>
<p>Whatever you do makes sure its of your own merit. Colleges just dont wanna see Daddy shelling out 10k for darling white daughter from jersey to go on a "service trip" abroad. Go with something tangible, something that youcan put on a professional resume. Personally an internship or a good job is the way to go. I dont see why you cant work both the graphics design and vets office concurently, just do 15-20 hours a week at each. I did an intenrhsip with the AFL-CIo for over 20 hours a week while also working 25 hours at a part time job. Yes I was busy but it was great. I racked up a ton of hours and stuff to put on a professional resume I can use after college. That and through my internship I met numerous NYS gov officials as well as powerful labor bosses. Case and point do what you can to make good contacts, summer college or service trips is not the way to go imo. Obviously people are going to disagree with me but this is what I think.</p>
<p>No, I agree. And I could do both the art and vet, the conflict I was running into was if i did the college program in addition, since the ones I was looking into lasted the entire summer and were out of state.</p>
<p>One of the reasons I was really interested in the Harvard SSP program, though, was because of the college prep aspect. They have essay writing classes and such, and there are trips to nearby colleges that I'm interested in. But I suppose I can do that on my own...</p>
<p>Do what you're interested in...Personally, I used my two summers after soph & junior year to find out what I wanted to major in (marine bio @ U Miami and astronomy @ WUSTL) and earned 11 college credits along the way. I also wanted that experience of meeting people/having fun, etc. When I got home, I went to the beach, had a job at night, and volunteered on weekends.</p>
<p>A good way to tell if college sessions are a scam or not is to see whether you get college credit and whether other college students take the same class. Those "leadership seminars" are worthless, really, unless you 100% want THAT experience.</p>