<p>My son is a junior in HS (class of 2007). We are wondering what is a good way for him to spend the upcoming summer - from a college admission perspective.</p>
<p>I'd say he is above average (in top 10% of a competitive public school). His extra-curricular passion is vocal music. He is in all singing groups of his school, has been in NJ all state chorus, a soloist in All-eastern Chorus etc. He was recently accepted to the summer vocal program offered by National High School Music Institute at Northwestern University.</p>
<p>Here is the thing - he does not want to major in music in college. He wants go in as a libereal arts major with a music as a strong hobby/passion that he'll do for fun. Having said that, will his attending the summer music program give him any advantage in the admissions process? It is a five week residential program that won't leave much time for him this summer for preparing for college applications process / study to retake SATs etc.</p>
<p>His alternative is to attend a local theater program for teens (he enjoys acting as well) and also help run the theater program for younger students.<br>
This will leave enough time to prepare for admissions process, study for SATs, perhaps read a few good books, polish his driving for driver's license etc.</p>
<p>"His alternative is to attend a local theater program for teens (he enjoys acting as well) and also help run the theater program for younger students." </p>
<p>I doubt that his decision on which activity to choose will "make or break" his college acceptance chances. Schools are looking for students who have interests and passions, no matter what they are. From your description, it sounds like the local program will give him an opportunity to develop some leadership and management skills, as well as social skills as he interacts with younger students. </p>
<p>Why not just let him decide what he'd like to do - and not be so concerned about how it'll "look on a resume." The senior year of high school can be stressful enough without adding more to the load. Sounds like he's been working hard at his academics and excels at music - a nice combination!</p>
<p>I would let him go with the local theater program. I don't think attending the more intense summer vocal program would help him get into a school, especially if he isn't planning to major in music. The theater is related in many ways to his music passions, so they blend very nicely. If anything, the attributes required for stage acting are attributes that colleges like to see. Music students sometimes, I feel, seem to "academic" if they don't have other interests offsetting the music and schoolwork.
The theater program also allows him to have a more normal summer, with driving, reading, seeing friends, and getting ready for the fall of senior year.</p>
<p>Senior year academics, for both of my kids, were the most challenging and initense of all their high school years, and the grades really do matter.
He needs to be ready to tackle it.</p>
<p>I think either alternative would be fine. He should do what he likes. I wouldn't worry about SAT prep myself. As to the get a job post. My kid will be doing just that - some freelance and some volunteer computer programming.</p>
<p>Let him do what he wants to do. He shouldn't have to spend his summers trying to get into college--he already does that in school 9-10 months of the year.</p>
<p>He should do what he wants to do without worrying about college, as long as he's doing something that involves personal growth. Mine was thinking about an internship but is now looking for a paying job to start earning spending money. That is an idea I found reinforced after reading this forum.</p>
<p>It is common among students I know to love the arts while growing up and major in something else in college. They've already done music or art most of their lives, and want to branch out in new directions. Most of them have said they don't want to turn their passion and hobby in to a career.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for your input. We let our son choose what he wants to do - he chose the Northwestern program. It is going to be a busy summer for him - but that's his choice!</p>
<p>As far as the college application process goes, we just went through that for the first time this past year with our oldest daughter. Many colleges didnt have their applications ready until the summer was over (or close to it). So dont worry about it. </p>