Wasted Summer, Wasted Opportunity

College-bound students: Don’t have your summer vacation go to waste. Instead, use the summer months to your advantage; build student qualifications to become the kind of student most sought after by colleges. Use the next three months to build your résumé and enhance your qualifications to create superior college applications.

This sounds incredibly boring, but it’s not boring, it’s smart.

College-bound high school students will undertake different activities this summer. The question is, “Will these activities help or hurt their chances for getting accepted to their college of choice?” Whether students plan to apply for college admission this coming fall or in the fall of 2010 or 2011, participating in the “right” activities could make the difference between acceptance and rejection in the minds of college admission officers.

Which activities are the “right” ones? Any activity is right as long as there is a clear demonstration of commitment. Ideally, summer activities should reflect meaningful and continued involvement in the things students are passionate about and have been involved with for years. Students should not choose activities based on what they think colleges are looking for on an application; colleges and universities DON’T CARE WHAT ACTIVITIES STUDENTS CHOOSE.

Colleges don’t care which activities students dedicate themselves to because each school tries to build a well-rounded incoming class of students (which includes all kinds of students: science and math whizzes, talented musicians and artists, athletes, student-body leaders, theater actors and actresses, community-minded volunteers, computer and engineering enthusiasts, and other interesting people). Admission offices want college communities composed of diverse and interesting students - nothing would be more boring than having a campus filled only with academic geniuses who spend 100% of their time studying. Colleges want a student body filled with variety and diversity to make their campus come alive with interest and excitement.

As a result, colleges want students who demonstrate in-depth, long-term involvement in activities they are passionate about, regardless of the type of activities. Colleges need committed students and leaders in every field of interest.

Despite this summer’s challenging job market, students can find something to do to build their résumé and qualifications. There are opportunities for unpaid internships, local community volunteer programs, domestic or foreign volunteer programs, community college courses, high school advanced credit courses, and other pursuits. Students (and parents) need to keep in mind that many college admission officers assume students are lazy and spending their summer playing video games if no worthwhile activities are shown on their résumés.

College-bound students need to make use of their summer vacation to gain every advantage possible in the super competitive market of college admissions. They should participate in activities they enjoy AND will increase their chances for admission to college.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.