<p>For anyone that got into Princeton, will apply to Princeton, or applied to Princeton:</p>
<p>What were your summer activities? Classes at local college? Internship? Traveling? Reading? Studying? Did you guys end up writing about it in one of your college essays/plan on writing about it?</p>
<p>I got into Princeton and summer after sophomore year I did a theatre class at a renowned Philadelphia theatre and then summer after junior year I did a 6-week Acting program at Yale University. It all definitely helped, especially going to another Ivy for summer and showing that you could do the work. I did get rejected by Yale though. I did write a few essays about the summer experience.</p>
<p>I got into Princeton. Every summer I bowl on a league, and I have also played piano for elderly people at a nursing home and a hospital a few times each summer. The summer before junior year I was tutored in Pre-Calc so I could take AP Calc in Junior year (that’s supposed to be a senior class at my school). I also got a job at a local company where I learned a great deal about businesses and office work. The summer before senior year I was Musical Director for a Theater Camp for kids. My supplement essay for Princeton was about music and how it’s such a big part of my life, so I included the volunteer work and the theater camp. There was also a short answer question like “What do you do during your summers?” on the Princeton app.</p>
<p>After my junior year, I did the summer music program at Northwestern.</p>
<p>My friend traveled a lot!</p>
<p>i played for a summer volleyball team, got a brief job, volunteered at my local library, and did my usual summer lawn work.</p>
<p>princeton did have an essay topic on this. i wrote about how i mowed my grandma’s huge ass lawn with her using nothing but push mowers. i’ve been doing it for a good 7-8 years now… good times.</p>
<p>I did the Northwestern 5 week music program after sophomore year, then the Tanglewood music program in MA after Junior year. These were definitely application boosters.</p>
<p>use the summer as an opportunity to explore something you are passionate about! i used all three summers in high school to experiment with the arts … something that i was interested in testing out! i did two summer programs and then before senior year took classes and got an internship. these summers helped develop my interest in the arts. so use the time to develop an interest of yours! also, work experience is a major plus. even if you are just scooping ice cream for the summer, colleges look highly on work experience.</p>
<p>Internship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, tutoring middle schoolers, and gardening.
Drum Major training (trying out junior summer, got it, and teaching others senior summer)
Band Camp
Taking summer classes or testing out of high school requirements that I didn’t want to take
Preparing for standardized tests</p>
<p>I’m planning, as of now, to apply to Princeton in the fall. During the summer I’ve:</p>
<p>Attended a writing institute at Rhodes College (College credit, Grade: A)
Will attend Iowa Young Writer’s Studio
Taken online college course in abnormal psychology (Grade: A-)
Interned at two local papers for two years
Worked at a local diner for three years</p>