By: Aditi Adhikari
I know that with the snow everywhere and the below freezing winds sweeping the Midwest right now, it's difficult to bring yourself to think seriously about summer (or maybe it's not... the sun IS warm, after all). But before you know it, the time to apply to summer programs and other opportunities will be upon us, so now is a good time to start thinking about it if you haven't already. Hopefully this post will give you some fodder to think about as you decide how you want to spend your summer days.
1. Don't do too much.
The one thing I wish I'd known as a freshman was that the Common Application really only allows you to list 10 activities. 10. That includes clubs, sports, volunteering, summer activities, hobbies, achievements... and those add up more quickly than you'd think. That means that you have to choose wisely when you're deciding which activities you want to devote time to, and that piling on the activities in order to "pad your resume" is essentially useless.
2. Do whatever you want to do, but at least do something.
By this, I mean don't think about what will look impressive to colleges. Don't feel pressured to do something that doesn't reflect your interests. Don't commit to seven different activities just because you think that will seem impressive (relax. It's summer, after all!). Don't think that what you want to do has to pertain to your future career path. And definitely don't put yourself at risk of having nothing to do this summer by waiting too long to search for the opportunities.
3. Branch out
The path to realizing what you love to do is rarely straight. The past three summers, I have done things that have little relation to each other: I have interned in Nepal with an organization that helps rehabilitate victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence, went hiking in Montana, attended a neuroscience course at Brown University (go Joyce Ivy yay!), and interned at a Speech and Language lab at the University of Michigan. I have been equally passionate about all of these, and they did eventually lead me to my interests in neuroscience and English, but I never went into it thinking "okay I want to be a doctor, so I should do this, this, and this." Keep your horizons open, jump at the chance to do whatever seems the most exciting to you at that time, and do it well.
4. Get that testing out of the way
Sophomores and Juniors, this one's for you. DON'T wait until senior year to take the SAT, ACT, or any subject tests. The better part of senior year is taken up with struggling to keep your grades up and writing college essays. Junior year is no breeze either, so it's best to get all your tests done as early as possible (click here for tips on how to tackle the SAT). Those of my classmates who took the initiative to take tests starting from the summer after their freshman year have not regretted it. It's best to take subject tests right after you finish the corresponding class, so that means in May or June. Since there are no testing dates available in July or August, use those months to crack open one of those test prep books so that you're ready to knock them off your to-do list come September.
5. Explore all your options
There are so many ways of pursuing the same passion, so don't feel that one way is better than another, and don't limit yourself. Whether your resources allow to to travel across the nation, or if you prefer to stay in your local community, there will always be options available to you. For example, if you're interested in art, of course you can take a class or attend a program, but you can also intern with a graphic or interior designer, work at an art museum, or get involved in research with an art historian or professor. If you're interested in business, an internship isn't your only option; MIT Launch actually grants you seed money to start your own business if you impress the investors, and working for a local non-governmental organization can teach you tons about management and finance. Conversely, if you're into social work and service, then working with an organization is only the beginning: for example, America by Bicycle lets you bike cross country to raise money for your favorite charity. If you're more of an academic kind of girl, HSHSP or LEDA might be for you, but then again so might tutoring kids in your community. The opportunities are endless, so get creative!
6. Apply early
Nobody wants to be writing essays and emails when they're also juggling APs in the spring. The earlier you reach out to companies, employers, or individuals, the more impressed they will be (except don't reach out too early either; February and March is okay, but October probably isn't), and the more likely it is that you are the first person they've heard from. With applications to programs, it's imperative that you apply early, as many applications require recommendations. You should ideally give your teachers at least a month to write these, as they may have other things on their plate.
There are a lot of things we think about when we choose our summer activities (Do I like doing this? Will this look impressive to colleges? Is this going to be expensive?), but what's most important is that you find something you're passionate about and get creative about the way you choose to pursue it. Because even though college is our goal right now, in the end it has to be something that appeals to your interests and sets you on the path to becoming the person you want to be in the future. If you keep that in mind for all of your pursuits, then the impressiveness of your achievements will undoubtedly follow.
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