Unofficial Programs: How I Spent my Summers

Applying to College
1

<p>On some school's apps, I am asked to say how I spent my summers. If I didn't participate in an official program but did some kind of unofficial training then can I write it down? For instance, I play guitar and I didn't attend an official guitar program but there is a great guitar teacher (I'll call him Mr. X) out-of-state so I set up a program with Mr. X where I lived there for a month and he taught me every day... (he's not famous enough that if I mentioned him on an app, admissions officers would know who he is). On the app, could I write down "Summer Residential Program at Studio X"? Or am I not allowed to write down something that's unofficial...?</p>

<p>If I can't write summer residential program at studio x then any ideas of how I could write it or show that I did do something productive during that summer?</p>

2

<p>Writing that should be fine since you’re not lying; it was a program and it was residential. If there’s space, you should elaborate on exactly what you did. Personally, I think the initiative and dedication you showed by setting up such a summer activity is on par with attending an “official” program.</p>

3

<p>I know this is unlikely but just in case, if a college asks me for documentation that I attended, what do I do?</p>

4

<p>I seriously doubt they would ask for documentation of that since they don’t get proof of volunteer hours, club positions, etc . . . </p>

<p>It’s honest and accurate, so you should be fine.</p>

5

<p>Write what you did. If they ask for documentation, refer them to the guitar teacher. Plenty of people do “unofficial things” in the summer. Don’t worry about it.</p>

6

<p>If they want documentation, just have your teacher send in a letter corroborating what you wrote.</p>

7

<p>Thanks everyone!! :D</p>