<p>What should those of us that are rising seniors be doing this summer? Visiting colleges, applying for scholarships, writing essays?</p>
<p>sleeping in every day.</p>
<p>Read a lot of books.</p>
<p>Hang out with your friends? Once college apps starts, you're going to be pretty busy.</p>
<p>I would say all of those things are recommended. Getting an interesting job or internship is definitely up there too, since not only does it earn you some money but it shows your initiative/work ethic.</p>
<p>Get a copy of the Common Application and start filling it out. If you already know the colleges you want to apply to, get a copy of their application or supplement to the Common App and start writing essays. When you get back to school, ask your counselor, friends, and/or English teachers to edit them.</p>
<p>As for visiting colleges, you should go either before classes end or after they start up again. Try for an overnight stay. At the very least, make an appointment at the Admissions Office for an interview. Make sure the interview isn't evaluative, just informative.</p>
<p>If you are retaking the SAT, get some SAT practice tests and do them in your free time. Try aiming for one test a week. You can finish them section by section. At the end of every month, take one in actual test conditions. (Timed, alone, with only a calculator, etc.)</p>
<p>If you're taking any AP classes next year, buy an AP study guide for them in advance. While you're going thrugh each unit, go back to the study guide to overview the topics and take practice questions on them. This is much easier than trying to cram in the last couple of weeks before the exam.</p>
<p>And, of course, hang out and just relax. Next year is going to be freaking stressful, so take time out for vacations, camping, and the such.</p>
<p>Travel is a good thing. Work, volunteer, do an internship... READ A LOT... just spend your time doing useful things. And relax. Relaxation can be useful in the not-going-off-the-deep-end department. ;) :D</p>
<p>What rockandroll said...</p>
<p>Definitely try to get a head start of applications/any tests you're still planning on taking in the fall. I didn't start writing any essays before school started and that was a HUGE mistake. If you can get some of the application stuff out of the way over the summer you will be feeling pretty good about yourself when all your friends are freaking out in the fall (or like me, over winter break days before they were all due).</p>
<p>There are a lot of summer programs for rising seniors.</p>
<p>whoring out your extra curriculars. </p>
<p>plus college touring. fun stuff.</p>
<p>How can we start writing essays? I thought the apps don't come out until fall admissions starts.</p>
<p>What I did was write about the more interesting things I've done and ideas I've had, so I had a bit of a stockpile when it came to writing the actual essays.</p>
<p>summer assignments, community service, college applications, any kind of achievement programs to boost up apps, SAT studying if you're taking it</p>
<p>anddd partying hard</p>
<p>you should create and/or join a drug cartel.</p>
<p>Forget everything I said and follow natedawg_cfb's advice.</p>
<p>Optimization: A lot of schools ask for an essay on anything you choose to write about (that's the essay on the Common App, and it's usually the main essay on most non-Common Apps). So start thinking about a topic to write about, and if you want, start writing the first draft of your essay.</p>
<p>Summer before senior year... as long as you're doing something productive (volunteering, a job, a program), you're good for top schools. If you're not looking at a top school, you really can relax and think about the college application process if you really want. College touring is good too.</p>
<p>-Refining your college list
-Research the deadlines for college applications
-Think about what you what to write your essays
-Gather any writing samples or any other things as supplements
-Volunteer
-Get a job
-Hang out with friends and have fun before the hectic year
-Summer assignments
-Study for the SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests
-Practice (if you play a musical instrument or sport)
-Maybe do a bit of traveling
-Sleep and plenty of it</p>
<p>I agree. Forget what I said and do what natedawg_cfb said while watching Colbert</p>