How High School Students Should Spend Their Summer to Improve College Admissions

Summer break is more than a vacation—it's one of the best opportunities for high school students to strengthen their college applications while discovering new interests and building valuable life skills.

Many students and parents ask the same question each year:

"What should I do during the summer to improve my chances of getting into college?"

The answer may surprise you.

Admissions officers are not looking for students who attend the most expensive summer programs or fill every day with activities. Instead, they want to see students who use their time with purpose, demonstrate initiative, and continue growing outside the classroom.

Whether you're entering 9th grade or preparing for your senior year, a well-planned summer can help you become a stronger applicant—and a more confident student.

Quick Answer: The Best Summer Activities for College Admissions

The most valuable summer activities include:

• Working a part-time job
• Volunteering consistently
• Pursuing a personal passion project
• Taking a college-level or online course
• Reading extensively
• Researching colleges
• Visiting campuses
• Developing leadership skills
• Preparing for standardized tests (if appropriate)
• Spending meaningful time with family while maintaining balance

The goal is not to do everything on this list. The goal is to choose experiences that genuinely help you grow.

Why Summer Matters in College Admissions

Unlike the school year, summer gives students something incredibly valuable: choice.

How you spend your time says a great deal about your interests, motivation, and ability to manage your own learning.

Colleges review your transcript and test scores, but they also want to understand:

• What excites you?
• How do you spend your free time?
• Do you seek opportunities without being told?
• Have you made a positive impact on others?
• What have you learned outside the classroom?

Summer often provides the clearest answers to those questions.

Get a Summer Job

One of the biggest myths in college admissions is that students need prestigious internships to impress colleges.

In reality, admissions officers consistently value employment.

Working at a restaurant, grocery store, retail shop, summer camp, golf course, or family business demonstrates:

• Responsibility
• Reliability
• Communication skills
• Time management
• Customer service
• Maturity

Students who work often develop compelling stories about solving problems, serving others, and overcoming challenges—experiences that frequently become excellent college essays.

Volunteer for a Cause You Care About

Volunteer work should reflect genuine commitment rather than simply accumulating hours.

Instead of trying several unrelated volunteer experiences, consider investing your time with one organization throughout the summer.

Examples include:

• Food banks
• Animal shelters
• Libraries
• Youth sports
• Hospitals
• Community gardens
• Environmental organizations
• Senior centers
• Tutoring younger students

Consistency often demonstrates more impact than variety.

Start a Personal Project

Personal projects have become increasingly valuable because they showcase creativity and initiative.

Consider creating something entirely your own.

Examples include:

• Launch a blog
• Design a website
• Build an app
• Create educational YouTube videos
• Publish photography
• Conduct original research
• Write a children's book
• Produce a podcast
• Organize a neighborhood fundraiser
• Develop a financial literacy workshop for younger students

Projects like these reveal curiosity, independence, and persistence—qualities colleges appreciate.

Learn Something New

Summer provides uninterrupted time to explore subjects that may not be available at school.

Learning opportunities include:

• Computer programming
• Artificial intelligence
• Graphic design
• Public speaking
• Personal finance
• Foreign languages
• Data science
• Entrepreneurship
• Engineering
• Digital marketing

Many excellent courses are available online, allowing students to explore future majors and careers before college.

Read Beyond Your School Assignments

Reading remains one of the simplest—and most overlooked—ways to prepare for college.

Reading regularly helps students:

• Improve vocabulary
• Become stronger writers
• Develop critical thinking
• Build background knowledge
• Discover new academic interests

Don't limit yourself to fiction. Explore biographies, science, history, economics, psychology, technology, and current events.

Students who read widely often find writing college application essays much easier — and they are better prepared to keep their own voice when using ChatGPT for college essays as a brainstorming aid.

Visit Colleges With Purpose

If possible, visit several different types of colleges.

Explore:

• Large public universities
• Small liberal arts colleges
• Urban campuses
• Rural campuses
• Schools close to home
• Colleges farther away

During each visit, ask yourself:

• Could I picture myself here?
• What programs stand out?
• What kind of campus community do I prefer?
• What support services are available?

Take notes after every visit. Those observations become invaluable when building your college list and writing supplemental essays.

Explore Career Interests

College is ultimately preparation for life after graduation.

Summer offers an excellent opportunity to explore careers by:

• Shadowing professionals
• Conducting informational interviews
• Attending career workshops
• Participating in local community events
• Reading about different professions
• Joining professional organizations designed for students

You don't need to know exactly what career you want, but exploring possibilities can help guide future coursework and extracurricular involvement.

Prepare for Standardized Tests—If They Fit Your Plan

Many colleges remain test-optional or test-blind, but strong SAT or ACT scores can still strengthen applications at some institutions.

Summer allows students to prepare without the competing demands of homework, sports, and extracurricular activities.

Rather than cramming for weeks, consider a consistent study schedule that leaves plenty of time for other activities.

Build Relationships With Adults Who Know You Well

Teachers, supervisors, coaches, employers, and volunteer coordinators often become recommendation writers.

The strongest recommendation letters come from adults who can describe your character, growth, initiative, and resilience—not simply your grades.

Summer is an excellent time to strengthen these relationships through meaningful engagement.

Don't Forget to Rest

Perhaps the most underrated summer activity is recovery.

Students who maintain healthy habits often begin the school year more energized and better prepared for academic success.

Make time to:

• Exercise
• Spend time with friends
• Connect with family
• Travel if possible
• Sleep consistently
• Pursue hobbies simply because you enjoy them

Colleges are looking for engaged, healthy, curious students—not exhausted ones.

Common Summer Mistakes to Avoid

Some mistakes can limit the value of your summer.

Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Doing nothing for three months
• Participating in activities only because they "look good"
• Overloading your schedule until burnout
• Waiting until senior year to research colleges
• Ignoring opportunities to reflect on your experiences

Instead, focus on quality over quantity.

One meaningful commitment often tells a stronger story than five superficial activities.

Final Thoughts

The most successful college applicants don't spend their summers trying to impress admissions officers—they spend them becoming more capable, curious, and engaged people.

Whether you're earning your first paycheck, volunteering in your community, launching a creative project, or simply exploring subjects that excite you, meaningful experiences often become the foundation of compelling college applications.

Remember, colleges are not looking for perfect students. They're looking for students who continue to grow, embrace challenges, and make the most of the opportunities available to them.

If you can finish the summer having learned something new, contributed to others, and gained a better understanding of yourself, you'll be well on your way to building a stronger college application—and a stronger future.