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 among the most prestigious in the nation. One example is the Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS), which is open to sophomores and juniors (note that Telluride has announced it will not offer TASS in 2027). Another is the Research Science Institute (RSI) for juniors. These programs are for students interested in learning. Another benefit: they are free. Some other selective summer programs are also free, although many cost several thousand dollars, and some of those offer need-based financial aid. These programs are selective, so students should give their applications real care and check each program's own site for eligibility and deadlines.

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. Many of these programs are 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. If a family does choose one, a specialized academic program (math, science, English) tied to the student's interests is usually the better choice.