<p>So I'm a JR and I don't know what I should do this summer. A lot of my friends are going into internships or "summer colleges" (which cost an arm and a leg).
I guess Its too late to be thinking about internships, but I have no idea what to do to stay competitive. </p>
<p>nearing the end of the year, a basic summary of my academic stats are:</p>
<p>Freshman: (4.0 both semesters)
Honors Geometry
Honors English
Geography
PE
Biology
Photography
Spanish II</p>
<p>Sophomore: (4.0 both semesters)
Honors Algebra II
Honors English
Honors World History
PE
Chemistry
Physics
Spanish III</p>
<p>Junior: (looks like its going to be 4.5 and 4.67)
AP English
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics
Honors Pre Calculus
Advanced Photography</p>
<p>Senior: (If your wondering why so many APs, there are no other classes to take anymore, so I'm taking them all).
AP English
AP Psychology
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics
AP Human Geography
AP Econ-Civics</p>
<p>SAT I: 730 800 660 CR/Math/WR for 2190
SATII: 800 800 Biology Chemistry Math IIC-(taking in june)</p>
<p>-I swim year round for 2 hours everyday, Varsity since sophomore (and I like swimming, not doing it just for my application).
-NorCal suburban school.
-I guess I'm pretty dedicated to my church, I help a little here and there.
-Most of my extra-curriculars are hobbies: graphic design, photography, making t shirts, mountain biking</p>
<p>get an internship...it might be to late but depending on your interests labs, political offices, NGO's can all offer great places to work in a field you may want to participate in later on</p>
<p>agree with getting a job. Even if it is pumping gas, any work experience is going to help you essentially in "the real world." Pumping gas= customer service skills. Telemarketer= conflict resolution skills. Any job is going to help you develop more ideas on how to deal with people. You get the idea! Plus money=good for summer fun/college</p>
<p>Swimming two hours a day during the summer is good.</p>
<p>Does your church build homes for Habitat for Humanity or help staff a food bank or soup kitchen? Since you mention you are dedicated to your church, you might want to do some community service work through your church or your church district/denomination.</p>
<p>stop asking the question "what should I do this summer to look good to colleges" and start asking the question "what do I want to do this summer?"</p>
<p>You'll get into a great college – as a whole person, not as a set of perfectly manicured programs and numbers and "life enhancing experiences."</p>
<p>I agree with lowfat... first figure out what you love and want to do; then you can work from there. As a swimmer, can you teach or lifeguard - if not, maybe take a red cross to round out your swimming activities. </p>
<p>Love mtn biking? See if you can get a job at a local bike shop learning the more technical aspects of maintenance and repair. Volunteer to do support at the dozens of century rides in NorCal, Or think of ways to let others find out how great biking is. Maybe you're elementary and/or middle school would like someone to come in the fall and do an assembly on bike safety and simple maintenance.<br>
If you start from something you love and think of how to learn more about it, or how to share it with others you'll have a great experience and probably some funny stories or thoughts for essays.
Good luck'</p>
<p>i would do whatever you can to get an internship or apply for a summer program at a prestigious college (MITES, RSI, SSP, etc), although the deadline is probably passed for all of those...</p>
<p>if all else fails, i agree get a job. just do something to show colleges you're not a lazy bum.</p>
<p>I am also a Junior in HS, the best thing you can do is enjoy your summer and come back Senior year ready to roll. I have plenty of friends, including my brother who got internships in London at businesses and it makes no difference at all. If you get an internship all it means is you have money and for service trips its the same thing--colleges see it all the time they do not care. HAVE FUN your on the right track it seems.</p>
<p>^"If you get an internship all it means is you have money" </p>
<p>That's not true at all. For me and for most other people with paid internships this summer, it meant filling out applications, writing essays, interviewing, winning the internship against a lot of qualified candidates, and it will (during the internship itself) mean doing A LOT of work (9 hours a day, 5 days a week for me. 20 minutes for lunch). Most internships (especially paid ones) are a h*** of a lot different than volunteering trips.</p>
<p>To the OP: Work. Volunteer when you can. Swim. Go see some movies. Drink Kool-Aid.</p>
<p>Get a job + do what you love, with emphasis on the latter. And I don't mean video games or something--but rather, something you are passionate about. So if you love computers, you might do a computer project exploring something that intrigues you, like programming; or if you are passionate about the environment, you might volunteer with that, and plan for a comprehensive recycling program at your school. Just make whatever you do matter.</p>
<p>Lol everyone here is saying go do a project, work, volunteer....why can't someone just enjoy their summer doing what they love with no consideratiton of college. I don't know about you guys, but I work my ass off during the year so why not relax in the one extended time you can. In the end of the day what you do over the summer will have almost no impact (unless its some form of SAT prep) on your college apps. The person above me said make whatever you do matter, I would say make whatever you do for you...if thats video games, sports, traveling than go for it.</p>
<p>Work, volunteer.....but colleges, I think, like to see commitment so make it more than just something for the summer. Being able to juggle a job, EC's and academics is a positive thing to put on your college apps not to mention you gain valuable skills. Same for volunteering. Make it something you are interested in and stick with it. Life isn't just about getting into college.</p>
<p>Just to let you know, all those programs that your friends are going on don't impress colleges one bit. Unless it is a free, insane and prestigious science program that only gifted student get into, it isn't a feat even worth mentioning on your application. Might even sound more like boasting for having money.</p>
<p>Definitely get an internship or do something noteworthy.</p>
<p>It shouldn't take fear of not getting into college to get you to do what you like to do. Just pretend that you didn't have to apply to college and do what you want to do. Stop trying to 'look good.'</p>
<p>if you're on low budget (like me) and can't get an internship or job on such late notice, just go to your local library, get a library card, and read. I'm not talking about harry potter, but books that are influential and classics like war and peace, the divine comedy, the bible, the torah, the koran. just read. Get a list of like the most influential books and just start checking them off. What you'll get out of those books in insight and perspective is definitely worth more than a job at starbucks. plus, i've heard it makes a killer college essay when you can successfully allude to impactful books.</p>