<p>Hey guys, so I'm planning for my summer before senior year. I was wondering if it's too much or too little and whether it will sway college admissions at all. If I stick to my plan I'll be working at an internship at Harvard Medical School from late June to late August from 9 AM to 3 PM Monday to Friday. I'll be taking "Intro to Psychology" at Harvard Summer School on Tuesdays and Thursdays after work from 6 PM to 8 PM throughout the month of July. I'll also be volunteering on Saturdays at a local hospital in the mornings all summer long.</p>
<p>This will be a jam-packed summer. Should I be working this hard or should I chill out more before senior year starts. If I follow these plans I won't be able to go on vacation with my family. However, if its worth the sacrifice, I'll take on this summer schedule. I'll be going on vacation like crazy throughout senior year.</p>
<p>I'm torn between telling you to have fun and that summer activities really are an important part of college admissions... I don't know.. It's unlikely to make a huge difference either way.</p>
<p>Yeah, that internship is pretty impressive. I don't know, taking a class after work is going to be tough. I would actually drop 1(either job or class). But don't know, up to you. I would be exhausted if I had that schedule.</p>
<p>I think that it would be advisable to let go of either the internship or the class, as stated above. Summer activities are important, but as long as you are doing something to show that you are utilizing the summer, it really won't make too much of a difference. Just the internship or the class alone would be impressive. I would instead let up on the scheduling a bit and try to focus on your applications, perhaps. </p>
<p>Oftentimes people take on way too much and the sad fact of the matter is that it just really doesn't make a difference when it comes time to make admissions decisions. Ultimately, it's probable that the admissions officers won't make a choice based off of one summer's activities.</p>
<p>It sounds like you have a break at the beginning and end of summer. The great thing about summer is that you have opportunities for hands-on learning that you can't fit in to a regular school year schedule.
I think your schedule sounds workable. You could try to do some of the reading for your class during the first break, if you can find out the text in advance.</p>
<p>Colleges are much more impressed with summer programs that don't cost money, or not much. Summer at Brown, Harvard or the like are not seen in the same light as a free, competitive program like TASP or RSI. Taking advanced classes at a local community college also looks better.</p>
<p>if i were you i'd drop the psych class and focus on the internship. if the internship has to do with something you're majoring in, that probably looks more impressive to colleges.</p>
<p>You know what helps admissions? Not doing crap to help the process.. You do not sound like fake plastic to me though... So here are my thoughts. </p>
<p>Like smartie said I would drop the psych and focus on the internship. Every rich kid will do the SSP and it will not make you stand out at all but you are very lucky to be able to intern at HMS. If you do well you can even have your supervisor write a letter of recommendation and that would help a lot.</p>
<p>no i think keep the internship and the class, but drop the volunteering on weekends.... its not unique, and really not necessary, and that way you can chill on weekends.</p>
<p>Volunteering helps the community. If he wants to do that I see no reason why you would tell him to stop. Of course one would say stop volunteering because it is not "unique" and only "uniqueness" will help you get into a top school. There are a few ways to answer that.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Yes individuality will get you into Harvard but you need some traits that are uniform among applicants. Ie. TOP Sat score, good essay, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Does one HONESTLY volunteer to get into a school, if you do please stop. No old age home or clean up group in America wants you to help them so they can send you off to Harvard. You have to volunteer because you feel that you are behooved to do it as a member of the community. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Clearly the above poster does not agree and wants to live his life in accordance with "stereotypical things to do to get into Harvard". Continue to volunteer, it is something that you seem to love and I see no reason to dump it. </p>
<p>Of course idiots will continue to say that it is not necessary but when they live a plastic mold of the stereotypical Crimson then he/she will understand the hard way the Harvard honestly does not give a crap for those made of plastic. </p>
<p>Sorry for my rant there but what the above poster said was kind of moronic, he/she is entitled to his or her opinion, though. </p>
<p>I also see that you are interested in Psych so if you can juggle both I would say do so, contrary to my previous post. Harvard SSP is a great program but it will, by no means, even give an admission officer a second thought about you in the unfortunate turn of events that 90% of people face, rejection. </p>
<p>I hope you have a fun and worthwhile summer and good luck :)</p>