What to do the Summer Before Senior Year

The summer before your senior year in high school is a great time to get organized and prepared for the fall college applications and before the busy school year begins. Here are a few things you can do to get a head start.

• Start the activities section of the Common App. This will take longer than you think since there are character limits and you need to keep your wording succinct:
  • 50 characters for the position/activity
  • 100 characters for the organization
  • 150 characters for the activity details
• Start the essay. The essay process takes a bit of time for brainstorming, revising, editing and polishing. It’s a good idea to at least start the essay in the summer (ideal would be to complete it).
• Go on college tours if you haven’t been able to. During the school year is the best time to get a feel for a college, but if you’ve been busy with activities and only have the summer, then it’s still a good idea to go on tours and help narrow down your list.
• Finalize your college list. Also determine what each school deadline is and if you’re applying early or regular decision or early action. This will help you prioritize if you have supplemental essays to complete.
• Research scholarships. Winning national scholarships are like winning the lottery, but if you’re disciplined and want to give it a try, this can take quite a bit of time. Local scholarships are less competitive.
• Work, volunteer or intern. This is especially a good idea if the job or internship is related to your field of study and you can get some experience. A summer job can also help you pay for college. If you don’t need to work, then volunteering can be rewarding and looks good on your application.
• Take summer classes. If you’re behind in school or want to get ahead and get early college credit, then the summer is a great time to take a class. It could be in an area you’re interested in or one where you want to check off a requirement like a language.
• Study for standardized tests. You still have time to take the SAT or ACT in late summer or early fall if you want to boost your score.