My summer plans, how can they help the admissions process?

Applying to College
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I’m currently a Sophomore in HS, and I’m trying to figure out what to do this summer. College admissions have been on my mind lately, and I want to make sure that what I do this summer, will be beneficial to me in more ways than one.

I plan on taking a physics and business class at my local community college and also working for a local business (who has already told me I can get a job and pretty much set my own hours :D).

But I don’t know if this comes off as doing “too little” in the college admissions game… I’m really aiming at going to my Wash. U. in St. Louis, where my dad’s alumni, and I’m trying to do everything I can to help my chances.

Any thoughts on this?

(Oh, and I’m going into business, IE why I want to take a business class)

Sorry if this isn’t the right forum to post this on, I just wasn’t sure where it would belong otherwise.

Thanks for any input :slight_smile:

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<p>I think your doing pertty good.</p>

<p>When I was applying for colleges, I found out community service was a BIG plus. You might want to do something to give back to the community. But dont be skipping around, when you find something you like stick with it!!</p>

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<p>Ok, thanks for the input :)</p>

<p>Could anyone give me any suggestions on community service? Common places to do it, etc? I live in a "small" town just outside of Phoenix... and Phoenix is a huge sprawling city. For me to get to the shelters, etc, is over an hour drive, so I don't know if I can do a lot of that. Are there any other "common" places that people usually volunteer? For example, could one volunteer, at say, the local library, helping to do whatever? Does that count?</p>

<p>I do need more community service... I've already got over 500 hours.. but it's logged with only <em>one</em> project. (We interview veterans, document their stories, transcribe them, send them to the library of congress... It's the LOC's way of documenting small-town America's history...known as the Heritage Project... anyways... we put together a book, and we're putting on a presentation, so trust me, 500 hours is nothing, especially when you're having fun the entire time :D)</p>

<p>Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :).</p>

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<p>Do something you love to do. I'm not saying you are, but don't do community service projects just to help you for college admissions. What you've been doing with business and the Heritage Project sounds fabulous. I say stick with those kinds of things. Build something new yourself.. do something that YOU'VE created! I think that's the most exciting. Plus you can use your business skills to promote whatever it is you plan on doing ;)</p>

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<p>Well.. what I did over my breaks gave me an awesome essay for the writing... I do mission trips.. this summer was Guatemala... now I can't say it got me into where I want to go because ND didn't respond yet. But I do know I wrote an amazing essay... and that I really enjoyed my summer. Expanding your horizons in whatever way you find will probably look great to them, especially if you are passionate about business and do something business related. Honestly, do what you love.... don't just do things like that for college admissions.. find something that you'll enjoy and if it helps.. that's just a bonus.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I agree with the do what you want thing, I think I would go insane if I purely focused on doing what the adcoms want. Plus, that would probably show, and I don't know if that's what they want in an application... probably not. </p>

<p>Also, when it comes to traveling, I really have a deep passion for it, but I'm not involved in any religious organization, or any organization that could send me abroad for that matter. However, I have been to China for a month and a half.. spent two weeks in Tibet.. and I've been to numerous countries in S. and C. America, as well as France, Germ., Russia, and various other smaller E. European countries.</p>

<p>Do these things count? I don't wan't to say, "oh look at me I'm some priveledged brat who got to go to these places."</p>

<p>I can't even tell people how much my travels to these countries has influenced my personal views, I just want to know how I can tie that into what I'm going to do with college, if I can do anything with it. </p>

<p>I feel like the best thing would be to describe how it has effected me, perhaps?</p>

<p>For example, in Tibet, I still remember how in Lhasa the Chinese have a huge Soviet monument, a MiG Jet, and a big poster with Mao's face on it, right in front of the Potala palace... in the square in front of it. Things like that... Also, seeing armed Chinese soldiers and other military units patrolling the streets of a place that was easily conquered over 50 years ago, and now exists as one of the most peaceful areas on earth...was...interesting to say the least.</p>

<p>It opens your eyes, in my opinion. That's how I want to utilize it, not to just say, oh, oh, I've been here, and here, and here.</p>

<p>Does that type of thing usually work (describing your experiences)?</p>