With so many unstructured weeks ahead, what exactly should you be spending your summer
doing? In addition to
familiarizing yourself with the admissions process, you should pursue
activities that are meaningful to you or deepen your knowledge of a
pre-existing interest. Don't be concerned with trying to impress
admissions officers. They're after students who are genuinely committed
to exploring their passions, not students who are merely
resume-building. To make the most of your summer, keep in mind the following options:
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Volunteer. Julie Manhan says: "This is a great way to try your hand at something new or get experience
in a field you’re interested in. If you can’t find something you like,
look for a need and be creative. There may be a neighbor who could use
help with yard work or a child who needs someone to help him improve
his math skills. Get your friends involved. Maybe you could organize
a food drive in your neighborhood to benefit your local food bank. The
only limit is your imagination."
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Join a summer camp or take a class. Teen Diaries Blog writes: "There is a summer camp for almost everything from sports to art. Try
contacting local colleges or universities for camps specializing in a
specific major you’re interested in. These will allow you to take
classes in the field of work you plan to pursue and gain the campus
experience which is pretty cool!"
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Expand your cultural knowledge. Dave Barry at CollegeView believes: "Summer seems to invite students to turn off their brains and recline
into three months of MTV, game shows, video games, and soap opera
digest. Don’t be one of those. Go to the library and check out some
classics or some poetry. Stimulate your brain. Even if you can make
it through only one good book this summer, you’ll be ahead of the game."