Summer Activities that Make Students More Competitive for College.

For high school students determined to get into the college of their dreams, working hard in the school year may not be enough. Many colleges like to see applicants continue their hard work and dedication during summers as well. There are many activities that students can participate in over the summer, so it may be challenging to pick one.

Students should always be finding a way to develop their "spikes," which are the extracurricular activities that will make them stand out in the college application process. For example, if pursuing environmental activism, a student should try to find an internship with a politician or with a conservation group. Another summer, they could start an organization or non-profit and provide meaningful work to help the cause. As you can see, the summer offers a great opportunity to become a more competitive applicant.

For students very interested in academic subjects, considering a specialized program could be a great way to become a stronger applicant. Some of these summer programs are some of the most prestigious in the nation and lead many participants to top colleges, such as the Ivy League. One such program is the Telluride Association Summer Program for Juniors (TASP). There is also one offered for sophomores. These programs are for students interested in learning, and do not require them to have lots of advanced experience in certain subjects. Another benefit: they are completely free. Many of the top summer programs, not just academic ones, are completely free, although some can cost several thousand dollars. Nonetheless, there is a program out there for anyone regardless of social economic status. All of these prestigious summer programs are very selective and students will need to have strong academics and extracurriculars to apply.

Other common programs are pre-college programs held on actual college campuses, such as at Duke, Harvard, etc. During these programs, participants take courses offered by the colleges. Most of these programs are very expensive. These can be good opportunities, but they are not as good as the programs listed previously. Students would be much better off developing their "spike" than completing one of these expensive pre-college programs. In conclusion, do not do one of these unless it is a specialized academic program (math, science, English).