I have possibly been reading too much on cc over the past several months and it is possibly making me nuts.
My kid will have a busy summer. There are already tournaments and ID camps on the schedule. I said last year I wanted her to get a job this summer. Mostly because she leads a very privileged life, not in a “we’re millionaires way but let’s be honest these kids have it pretty good! I think it’s really important to just work and be normal and get up to go scoop ice cream even if you don’t want to.
However, the obsession with summer study programs and internships and showing your passion in 5 different ways for your college app is making my head spin. Does anyone who has btdt have insight? With sports she will NOT have time for a job plus some kind of academic program. It’s just not possible.
Well, every kid is different. But FWIW, here’s how things played out for mine, in circumstances similar to yours (i.e., not millionaires but certainly privileged): three kids, three for three getting into their first choice (extremely selective) schools. None of the three did any summer internships or study/program during h.s. summers, though one did CTY camps until aging out. One was a three-sport athlete who did sports camps during the summer, but also had a job - literally scooping ice cream. The other two did camp-counselor type jobs over the summers. H and I feel, much as you said, that holding down a real job is an essential life skill and that h.s. is the time to start.
My kid worked every summer and did some sports stuff (not FT camp, maybe working out with his team a few evenings each week). Also vacationed a bit with us. Never any academic activities (beyond summer reading for the upcoming year.)
Your kid is getting plenty of academics during the year. Not sure why there would the need for more during the summer.
My kid got into selective (non-HYPS) schools with no hooks, good scores, and kinda middling plus grades with lots of rigor. Please don’t get flipped out by those posts.
And FWIW, I don’t think that AOs put much stock in any kind of “pay to play” opportunity. Your kid might get something out of it, but it’s unlikely to be an improved shot at admissions to an elite school. Your kid should be engaged somehow in s way that’sauthenticto her. Period. Don’t obsess too much over how.
We also believed work experience trumped academic experiences in the summer. We figured they spent all year in a rigorous academic environment- why waste their few months off with more academics. Ours life guarded and worked in retail/ food service. I think if anything these experiences were viewed as positives in college admissions.
We haven’t BTDT in terms of college, but one of DS’s tasks over break was to start thinking about summer jobs. Last summer (post 10th) was busy —- sports team+ recruiting events, drivers ed, ACT tutoring, and family trips. Plus without a license, it was too hard to factor in a job, and just not necessary. This summer, however, he will be working at whatever menial job he can get — he’s hoping for something outdoors like landscaping, but it may be Chipotle or Dunkin Donuts. I think it’s important plus it’s good for him to start earning his own spending money (and some saving money too). He’ll still be busy but we’ll have to figure something out.
He was momentarily intrigued by some of the academic camp brochures he’s been receiving, until I pointed out they are 8-9 day programs (not to mention pricey). And I think I read somewhere here that (at least in some cases) they are largely money makers for the host colleges or organizations. That just is not DS’s thing — he’s ready to explode by June and quickly got over it.
Our son worked an unpaid film internship freshman summer, attended a one-week rowing camp at USNA junior summer, but spent the rest of all his breaks and summers with his Boy Scout troop working toward his Eagle rank. In general, though, my impression was he spent most of his time sleeping, playing video games, torturing his cat, and coding. When it came time to apply to college, he had a very short list of very deep ECs: film, rowing, and Boy Scouts. That’s it, three lines, no padding. He was accepted to all of the fine colleges to which he applied–up to his acceptance of his USMA appointment after which he had to withdraw his remaining five apps, so we’ll never know about those, but they don’t matter. All you need is one.
I’m on team “no to light academics” in the summer. Summers were used to develop in ways not available during the school year - sports, arts, travel, summer jobs or internships, catching up on family time, catching up on reading literature for leisure.
I’ve been thinking about the same thing. Some of D’s friends have been doing these academic pre-college experiences since last year. I just can’t pull the trigger - she goes to school long enough; time for something different.
My D spends her summer at her job (year round, but lots more hours in summer, at the local frozen yogurt shop - so almost literally scooping ice cream) and with friends, she’ll be away on a trip for about three weeks and band camp starts the first week of August. Last year she fit in ACT prep over the summer and this year she’ll work on her common app essay. The summer is going to fly, even without a pre college experience. It’ll be senior year before she knows it.
I would have been afraid of burnout for my kids had they pursued heavy academics in the summer. There is more to a person than their academic side to develop and they get plenty of academics during the school year. I’m sure some kids thrive on it but I doubt they are the majority.
My older kid has a couple friends who loved the summer academic programs, but I think it has to be something the kid is driving. Also, it makes much more sense if you are not fully academically challenged during the year, or have special interests that aren’t part of the school curriculum etc. My kids are always done with school by the time June rolled around. And with the younger BS one, I have zero desire to suggest programs that will take him away from family for the three months he can actually be around. Sports, hanging out with friends, maybe working as a camp counselor for a couple of weeks is all we are aiming for.
No, expensive Summer programs this year. This is the year to get a job, learn to work hard and get paid very little. Kid will also spend some time volunteering(not on an island, abroad or for a pay for play program).
I think some of the expensive Summer programs are great. But the price of privilege is having only these experiences which are very different from working with the public which we feel is “priceless” Kid doesn’t want to do anything fancy just scoop ice cream or make coffees.
Thanks, everyone, for sharing! We were feeling like the only parents with a student who was going to work most of the summer. Kiddo will be in the Canadian woods working at a camp and teaching some life-skills. Doing a few prospect camps and taking the drivers test. Not doing fancy programs or research, but having a paid job (hurray).
Check out this interesting article - news story @ costly summer programs aimed at high school students seeking top colleges “Summer programs don’t get you into college”
Interesting. My daughter will likely get a job. I was considering having her work at a sports camp but my husband pointed out that there are retail options walking distance to our house that would make MY life much easier. She could walk to and from work and I wouldn’t have to drive her. Her school is very academically oriented and he thinks she should just take a break over the summer.
Has anyone had kids who got regular jobs but needed a week off here or there for tournaments? That was the thing that made me think sports camp as they would be happy to let her work some weeks but not others.
My daughter worked at a small kitchen/catering business one summer and was able to take time off for her sport. She just made sure to give them her time-off schedule at the very beginning so there was plenty if advanced notice and they could plan around it.
Yes @hoopsorsoccer! For some sports, summer is the time when club teams have tournaments and showcases happen. Also, club/travel team tryouts. We have that situation of scheduling summer work, academic class(maybe), studying for SAT/ACT, drivers ed rode test and prospect camps/tournaments!! Most likely the drivers ed will take a back seat.
DS is in the same position and didn’t have a job last summer due to the same list of obligations. Plus he has his license but no car at his disposal, so he may be stuck with whatever fast food is within biking distance from home, and where he can get the early shifts and work around the tournament/showcase schedule.
At least these kids are done with school and home on the early side (at least compared to CT public schools) and can be available around June 1.