<p>So this year, ill graduate from HS with a nice long summer after. If I plan on going to a top gradschool, is it safe for me to blow off my summer this year and just relax? Or is it important that i start looking now for internships or research opportunities? Will grad schools really wanna know what i did the summer before i started undergad?</p>
<p>Absolutely no one will care. Ever.</p>
<p>I didn't do anything of significance until my sophomore year of college, and I don't believe I'm at any sort of disadvantage.</p>
<p>Don't worry about grad schools yet, just enjoy your summer. Perhaps thinking about earning some cash though - a little spending money will come in handy next year.</p>
<p>Nobody will ever know. Ever.</p>
<p>Yeah, nobody will care...</p>
<p>I worked every summer and didn't do research until my senior year of undergrad and still in a top program for my field...</p>
<p>No worries...</p>
<p>Work, earn money, don't leach off your parents...best advice I can give ya!</p>
<p>Oh dear. I concur with everyone else -- nobody will know or care.</p>
<p>I spent my summer before college hanging out with friends, wallowing in misery with my high school boyfriend that we would have to be separated, and making a well-organized Excel spreadsheet of Boston restaurants and directions to them on the subway.</p>
<p>Last free summer of your life. Take my word for it. Go travel if you can.</p>
<p>dude, you are so on top of your stuff. you have next 4 years to change your mind, why in a hurry. if i were you, i would go on a roadtrip w/ my hs buddies. you probably not gonna see them as often. or backpack in europe or south america... man, i wish im at ur age...</p>
<p>during that summer for me, i pretty much just played free pool w/ a good friend for 2 hours everyday. (at a lil sports bar.) it was a great summer :-)</p>
<p>I'm in the same situation as you.</p>
<p>...and I'm applying for 2 different programs in my area (nasa and jlab) both of which i have worked at before.</p>
<p>Don't be too worried but if you can get into an internship where you get paid you'll be able to earn some money and get some great experiences. I doubt any colleges will care, but it can still be a good opportunity. Just don't kill yourself over it! Have fun first.</p>
<p>(btw this is an entirely hypocritical post, and I probably wont follow this advice myself :) )</p>
<p>Taking time off won't hurt you, but it can help you. It did/does in my case, because I got to write/say that I have been working in labs since high school.</p>