I too worked summer before senior year, but I also did a lot of sailing.
My kids were both working that summer as well. Older son full time computer programming, younger son part time for my architectural business. Neither did much college related stuff. Certainly not studying for SATs or writing essays! My oldest only cared about the quality of the CS departments. Large/small, urban/rural - it was all the same to him. I think that’s a pretty mature outlook actually. He doesn’t like hot humid weather so he did rule out most of the south at some point.