Summer Activities

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>For anyone that got into Yale, will apply to Yale, or applied to Yale:</p>

<p>What were your summer activities? Classes at local college? Internship? Traveling? Reading? Studying? Did you guys end up writing about it in one of your college essays/plan on writing about it?</p>

2

<p>I am a member of the Class of 2013, and this summer I’m doing an internship (which I did last summer) doing research at the Cornell Med School here in NYC.</p>

3

<p>I’m also a member of the class of 2013. During my last 8 summers, I’ve done residential academic and arts programs, and traveled with my family. I mentioned a couple of the notable ones on the application, and wrote my common app essay on my experience at one of the programs.</p>

4

<p>After freshman year, I worked. After sophomore year, I did a week-long leadership program and volunteered. After junior year, I did TASP. This summer, I’m going to Jordan for 7 weeks on the State Department’s dime.</p>

<p>Let it be known that the net amount of money I spent on all that is - $650. Yes, negative. I made $650. Take that, people who spend thousands of dollars on pre-college programs!</p>

5

<p>^ Unfortunately I’m one of those people.</p>

<p>I did Summer@Brown in 2007, then I did the Northwestern Music Program in 2008. Additionally, I continued my piano stuff and did a few plays/musicals.</p>

6

<p>lookbeyond, are you a NSLI-Yer?</p>

7

<p>eating food, did you not enjoy Summer@Brown in 2007? I loved it when I went! It costs so much, but I’m glad that my parents let me go.</p>

8

<p>Haha, I didn’t mean to bash the thousand-dollar programs themselves; just the mentality that they’re necessary to get into Yale. XD</p>

<p>@ alex<em>no</em>andra: Cha, I’m doing NSLI-Y. I’m so pumped, it’s ridiculous. :D</p>

9

<p>Oh, I agree that some people think that it’s a necessity for Yale, but it doesn’t hurt! ;)</p>

<p>Have fun this summer, lookbeyond!</p>

10

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<p>Quite the contrary! I loved it as well!</p>

11

<p>Krason: there’s no magic formula for summer activities to enhance your Yale app other than to do one that goes in line with your desires and energies or even (gasp) financial need (many high schoolers MUST work to provide revenue for their families). It seems like you’ll have the choice of several options. Choose the best “fit” and make the most of it. Scooping ice cream, library volunteer, summer travel for fun & exploration, packing groceries at Walmart. Whatever. </p>

<p>Certainly, the idea to do a program with the intent to make it an essay subject – that seems backward. Memorable essays are products of the writer’s ability – mundane subject matter is made sparkling by the sparkling writer. Evocative subject matter is made dull by the mediocre writer. You can have the unquestionably most exciting summer ever – but if you’re not a thoughtful, reflective person – your essay will still be mundane.</p>

<p>I frequently point students to this advice:
<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html[/url]”>http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

12

<p>Amen. </p>

<p>Some summer programs may seem like they offer a boost because of particularly high admit rates to selective colleges, but I’m sure you have heard of the difference between causation and correlation and how that affects the relationship. Many of the programs are highly selective themselves. While this may highlight one’s achievement during college admissions, I believe that they are far from important factors. Colleges want to see you being active and productive during the summer, whether it is conducting research, taking college courses, earning money, volunteering, or anything else you can think of. The point is for your summer to really be you.</p>

<p>Also, I don’t know if my post was very clear. I participated in a variety of summer programs focused on different areas of studies that I was very interested in. In the past three summers, I have participated in two science camps, two writing camps, and two piano camps. My parents like sending me away to learn to live quasi-independently and I think that kind of shows what I like to do with my time. Many of my friends have had similarly successful summers participating in local theater programs or working as a counselor at day camps. Summer is a time to have fun and explore venues you can’t during the school year. :)</p>

13

<p>LOL I just did debate camp and volunteering locally. This year I’m going to Michigan 7 week seniors FTW!</p>

14

<p>@lookbeyond</p>

<p>Awesome! I’m doing NSLI-Y too, but in Russia. I’m so excited! I hope you have a good time in Jordan.</p>

15

<p>Whatever you do, do it because you have an interest in it and something that you can enjoy. Whether that be a summer job, a summer program, or a Japanese class. You’ll like it because you got something out of it that you actually liked and Yale will like it because you followed a passion or interest.</p>

16

<p>Halo, Max Payne, reading every single Honor Harrington novel, watching movies, sleeping in…</p>