School’s out! What now?
After 15 years of helping students and families with getting into college, I know from experience that rising seniors who spend even a little bit of time on college stuff in the summer before their senior year do better in the college admissions process.
And the key to that added success isn’t complicated. It’s actually really simple. There are just three things you want to do over the summer that will make all the difference in your applications:
WRITING
PREPARING for Fall
CREATING a resume
#1. Right after school ends, jump on regular journaling. Why? Believe it or not, writing about yourself doesn’t come easy, and waiting until the fall of your senior year to start is a mistake. And journal-writing is the gateway to the best essays.
At Colledge, we tell our students that summer is for writing – journaling, identifying their writer’s voice, finding content, and even writing their first essay drafts. While we don’t expect our students to finalize their essays in the summer (because there’s still experiences to have, learning to absorb and personal growth to make), starting early allows for content to fully deepen by the time submission deadlines roll in.
So think of your early summer journaling as practice before the performance. Use it to learn how to talk about you. Look for writing prompts online, and just write. You’re developing content you can plug into your Personal Statement and your school-specific supplemental essays.
# 2. Okay, that’s the writing. Now, comes preparation. To make Fall less of a haul, think ahead about what you need to do to have your applications ready.
Begin by crafting your college list, taking into consideration your preferences, academic goals, and desired community elements. Engage in thorough research to gather enough information about each prospective college before making a decision, and if possible, visit campuses to get a firsthand feel for their atmospheres and offerings.
And if you haven’t already, decide whether or not to take the SAT or ACT, and if you do decide to test, make sure to register for the exams to secure your preferred test dates. (If you need help deciding, give this blog a read). Lastly, dedicate time to prepare for these tests, equipping yourself with the necessary resources and strategies to maximize your chances of success. Remember: in a test-optional world, you don’t have to submit if you’re not happy with your final score.
#3. Last thing: use the summer to put together a resume. And get over the modesty thing–this is your chance to brag (or at least humble-brag) about yourself. Once the resume is drafted, find someone who can look at it and dial it up (or down) where needed. Your resume will be a great piece for college interviews, future research and internship opportunities, and even a job – but before all of that, it will help you shine in the Activities sections of your applications.
Three things this summer: writing, preparation, and resume. If you can fit in even just a half-hour of college work every day (or every other day) during the summer, you’ll be set up for success in the fall. Better yet, you’ll learn more about yourself, which is exactly what colleges are looking for!
As you can tell, here at Colledge, we lean into structure and self-discovery to support students and families through the application process. Wondering what that might look like for your family? Click here to schedule a Student Success Call today.
