Looking for advice and what my son can do this summer to improve his chances of admission at selective colleges. He does not have overwhelming ECs (working on more for this coming semester) but does have very good academic stats. I had read that the summer programs at colleges, even the selective free programs aren’t necessarily a big help.
Did anyone have a son or daughter who did something over the summer that they think helped in admissions?
I think he should do whatever interests him. If there isn’t anything specific, a job of any type would be good. Only one of my kids went to a highly selective school, and she spent the summer playing her club sport. Other daughter attended our state’s Governors school (no longer exists though) and son went to an expensive college program because it was his ‘passion’. He had a great time and wrote his essay about the experience. I don’t think it matters that much what he does - he should do SOMETHING. Work, volunteer, create a website, etc.
My son spent his summer taking a college course. football practice / team camp, attended Boys State, and did volunteer work. His hard work helped him get accepted ED to his favorite school. A good mix will help.
Thanks for the suggestions!
My daughter wanted to study marine biology in college so did a summer course with Broadreach so she could get some experience and college credits. Gave her great college essay content too. They have a ton of different topics, my son is thinking about doing one of their language programs this summer.
Are any of these programs free?
Do your research. Try gobroadreach.com
@ndemazita
I wouldn’t suggest to him that he do any extracurriculars or summer programs for the purpose of enhancing admissions chances. Instead, just encourage any interests he has in a natural way. Doing things for the sake of getting in can get really unhealthy, I think.
He can work or volunteer and explore his interests that way. If he doesn’t have any grand passions, that is fine, too. Many students enter college undecided and find something they want to pursue later on.
Many colleges are trying to honor the kids who get a summer job, whether serving ice cream or mowing lawns. Maybe your son would enjoy saving pocket money over the summer. Does he like to do music? Community bands often have high schoolers in their concerts in the summer. Community theater? Local access tv? Local hospital? It really depends on the kid. I think as parents, we can ride the wave of their interests and provide support, but we cannot create the wave 
There is a section in college confidential about HS summer programs. Go to the forum home page and then scroll to the bottom. Most deadlines are end of February.
Dd did advanced film production, taught kids how to sing, dance, and act at a children’s musical summer production, worked as a prod assist in a TV production co, got a job to fill up 4 summers
DS did video game development classes, animation classes
Their summer activities really reflect their interests.
I was always told, and believe, that as long as kids are doing something over the summer, anything other than sitting on the couch contemplating their navels, that was fine. Summer is a time to pursue passions that get pushed to the side during the school year, spend time outdoors, earn $$, volunteer, do recreational reading etc. My kids have done things like volunteering at the local zoo, directing a youth community theater show, a career oriented internship, Outward Bound, a club sport and taking a college course over the summer. I doubt any of those things had an impact on their college acceptances but they were good experiences for them.
There are free/cheap summer programs out there. It takes hunting. Once you have a sense of how he would like to spend his time you can search. If you have any colleges in your area, professors can be quite accessible and open to having high school students work with them.
This list is a good starting place for formal programs: http://www.tjhsst.edu/studentservices/career-center/summer.html
My younger D who loves to study foreign languages, took a hieroglyphics class at UChicago over the summer and loved it. She is already taking two foreign languages in HS and so this summer class I think just added to the depth of her interest in languages and it was reflected on her applications.
My older D is a cellist and spent her HS summers at a 5 week cello camp.
Either way, they should do it because they want to, not to bolster them for admissions.
Some of the 2015 parents have seen me say this before, but I’m convinced that if you really wanted your high-achieving, materially comforted suburban child to have a summer experience that would (1) stand out in the eyes of an admissions officer, (2) give him interesting fodder for a college essay, and (3) ensure that he would never, ever take a college education for granted, you’d encourage him to go get a job on the night shift at Waffle House.
Just out of curiosity, I’ve never heard of AMC or AIME scores. What are they? And what schools require them to differentiate the 800 M SAT scores?
Those awesomemath camps and the like are awesome indeed, just not particularly affordable for most folks.
Just so folks who aren’t CC veterans get some grounding here and don’t freak out about of all this, let’s provide a bit of context. As best I could tell from online research, around 25,000 kids are invited to take the AIME. From those, about 500 sit for the USAMO and only six go to the Olympiad (after crushing the USAMO and further separating themselves from a small pack invited to a study camp).
There are similar Olympiad processes for the sciences. I know a little bit about the chem one, where the funnel cuts down to about 1,000 kids advancing to take the national exam, a couple of dozen making it to the study camp, and four traveling to the international competition.
If all one knew about these things is what you read on CC, you’d think that every kid who gets into any top-flight school for STEM is USAMO – at least. That’s hardly the case. It just can’t be based on the numbers. So, if your child is interested in pursuing those things, it’s great, but parents shouldn’t be pushing children who don’t want to be there into them.
OP here. Son has moved away from interest in STEM-just told me very recently that although he does well at math he doesn’t like it at all. Had also looked at music which he enjoys but does not have the requisite background in it (ie classical and jazz) and is now looking at poly sci or history.
FYI he has been working at Sears since he turned 16 so he’ll be doing that over the summer anyway.
Did not see the Summer section on the site before for some reason-thanks for the info!
Op,
Forgot to mention this. Read and have your child read “how to be a HS superstar” by cal Newport if you are looking for ECs to help with selective college admissions
This may not be what people are interested in but our D2 will be participating this summer. It seems to have a lot of programs that allow a student to explore a variety of study options. The cost is reasonable. I doubt it would have any usefulness in improving a college resume but it might help a student decide what they are interested in studying.
http://www.onu.edu/academics/summer_academic_and_honors_institute
The 2015 info will be out in a month.
Our older daughter attended Purdue’s Seminar for Top Engineering Prospects. Kettering University in Michigan also has a good reasonably priced summer program.
Just wanted to say thanks for all the info on this thread. The book @YoHoYoHo suggested looks interesting. Also have to say loved @SomeOldGuy’s suggestion of working the night shift at Waffle House.
I worked at Thom McAn shoe store in college/ Then I worked at Dunkin Donuts after freshman year of college… including Fri / Sat night shifts. It was indeed educational! The next 2 summers I had summer engineering internships and appreciated it far more than those who had never done a grunt job.