Each year, parents of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors ask me what they should be doing during the summer months. Sometimes they ask what will "look good" to colleges during the admissions application process. My answer is always the same: students should do what interests them. They should do what they enjoy!

Some students travel with family. Others participate in mission trips and community service projects. Many students get jobs. Some students test drive careers through internships and job shadowing. A number of students take classes either through high school summer schools or at local colleges. Many colleges across the country offer enrichment classes on their campuses each summer. The list of possibilities is endless and is only bounded by the student's imagination.

Students should spend some time relaxing – hanging out at the pool, reading, and socializing with friends are all worthwhile and important. The school year is a very structured and busy time for most students and it is important that they have the sense that summer can be a time to recharge their energy levels. The reality is that for most of our students who are busy during the school year (academics, athletics, clubs, leadership, community service, jobs, etc.) they tend to stay busy through the summer months as well. Learning about time management and priorities are valuable lessons which can be further explored during the summer months.

If your daughter wants to get a summer job, she should begin by creating or updating her resume and polishing her interview skills. Encourage her to visit us in the College Counseling Office to help her draft her resume and practice her interview skills.

Although the application deadlines for most of the competitive summer programs which involve doing research and studying on college campuses across the country may have passed, many programs are still accepting students. Students can research these opportunities online. Some of these programs are pricey, so saving up this summer may be a good goal for students as they make plans for next summer. College credit is available through some of these campus-based programs – but it is important to remember that while organizations may give college credit for completion of a summer program, it is up to the college the student actually attends to determine if they will accept those credits.

For students who enjoy science and engineering, there are space camps. For those students who relish the world of politics and government, there are many programs in towns, cities, state government and in the nation's capital. For those students who want to run their own radio/television stations, there are summer programs specializing in those areas. There are summer programs for students with interests in virtually every area from archeology to zoology!

Some students want to begin exploring career options through job shadowing and internships. Internships are formal opportunities for students to participate in an organization/company on a regular basis (typically for one to four months – with students spending two to eight hours per week at the job site) learning about what it is like to work in that career field. Job shadowing typically happens in one two-to-four hour visit to an organization or company. Although most internships for high school-aged students are unpaid, there are some that offer stipends. Either way, the experience can be invaluable in helping a student determine if this area is one worth pursuing through high school electives, summer work, college majors, and career.

For students who enjoy science and engineering, there are space camps. For those students who relish the world of politics and government, there are many programs in towns, cities, state government and in the nation's capital. For those students who want to run their own radio/television stations, there are summer programs specializing in those areas. There are summer programs for students with interests in virtually every area from archeology to zoology!

Some of these programs are pricey, so saving up this summer may be a good goal for students as they make plans for next summer. College credit is available through some of these campus-based programs – but it is important to remember that while organizations may give college credit for completion of a summer program, it is up to the college the student actually attends to determine if they will accept those credits.

For students who enjoy science and engineering, there are space camps. For those students who relish the world of politics and government, there are many programs in towns, cities, state government and in the nation's capital. For those students who want to run their own radio/television stations, there are summer programs specializing in those areas. There are summer programs for students with interests in virtually every area from archeology to zoology!