<p>First, I was planning to do research with a professor at a university nearby. However, I couldn't go to the interview because my parents worked that day and the professor didn't reschedule and has since ignored me.</p>
<p>Second, I got rejected from some other internship program.</p>
<p>Third, I can't take summer classes at my local CC because I was too late to sign up and their classes started earlier anyway.</p>
<p>Fourth, I can't get a job being a lifeguard because I was late to sign up for the training.</p>
<p>So yeah, unlucky me. </p>
<p>What else is there for me to do?</p>
<p>I'm a sophomore, gonna be a junior. No way for me to stand out now, so I need at least SOMETHING to do!!</p>
<p>I’m assuming you are a rising junior in high school.</p>
<p>Don’t take this the wrong way, but:</p>
<p>The professor probably ignored you because you had a chance and you didn’t make it happen…often in life, we only get one chance. There is just too much competition out there to think otherwise. Research / internships can be really hard to come by - those who are reliable, punctual, dependable and enthusiastic and have good judgement will be in demand - those who aren’t won’t. It really doesn’t matter why you couldn’t make the appointment. </p>
<p>Also, really you are not “unlucky”…you don’t have something to do this summer because you didn’t prepare. </p>
<p>You don’t mention what your area of interest is. This is important because whatever you do should be related to that area.</p>
<p>If medicine or science is your area you can spend the summer working on a project for The Young Epidemiology Scholars Competition. Entries are due around Feb. 1st each year. The projects take a long time. </p>
<p>You could create a website or a blog devoted to your interest.</p>
<p>You could try to volunteer somewhere.</p>
<p>You could spend some time planning for your junior year…so that next summer is more productive. </p>
<p>How were you planning to get to the university if the professor had allowed you to work with his group?</p>
<p>If you don’t want to do some volunteer work, you can learn a language on-line (check your public library, they may have a link to a free program), or check out some of the free open courseware available on-line (both MIT and Stanford have some of their course materials available online at no charge).</p>
<p>Pearl et al, you can try to explain but I think it’s tilting at windmills. The mindset you see in the 1st post seems to be how the OP approaches the world, and try as you might to explain an alternative (eg. take responsibility for your life) it simply is going to come across as incomprehensible babble thru the ears of the OP. </p>
<p>I browsed back to see what else the OP has written and not very surprisingly found this
In other words, once again it’s someone else at fault for failing to deliver.</p>
<p>If you’re going into junior year, you can start studying for the ACT, SAT, SAT IIs, and PSAT. Also, volunteering looks good on college apps. You could start researching colleges too. Are you taking AP classes this fall- do you have any summer homework for them? Do you have some summer homework/prep you could do for fall AP classes even if it’s not assigned, just to help prepare?</p>
<p>Volunteering would be the easiest thing to do last minute. Plus, it looks good on applications. Ask your guidance counselor for help with summer plans. And spending time on your SATs or other tests isn’t such a bad idea.</p>
<p>I think you guys are being a little too harsh. The OP is only a sophomore, so I don’t see why it’s a surprise that he or she has had some issues with planning ahead. It’s not that big of a deal, OP just needs to learn from it.</p>
<p>Being rude, going back to older posts made by the OP, and not offering any real advice isn’t going to help anyone. </p>
<p>Mikemac-you’ve NEVER had a bad teacher before? Ive had plenty, some who, when i asked questions, would say “you’re asking the wrong person” or “I can’t answer that” and then laugh. Sometimes you get bad teachers in high school. Sometimes you complain on an online forum. That doesn’t make you a bad person.</p>
<p>I would do an interesting volunteer project. There are lots of orgs (non-profits, local govt, parks, hospitals) that need help. You can start your own project. Collect toys for needy kids, clean up a neglected park etc . All of these will look wonderful on your app and provide you good material for your essays. You may even discover a new interest for you. Hope this helps!</p>