What should your high school student be doing with their precious summer?

That’s the answer, the whole answer. As a College Admissions Consultant, I am often asked this exact question. It is not my intention to come off as flippant but rather honest. What was true for my generation (I grew up in the 70s and 80s), is true for Gen Z.

I know, I know, did we really drink water from a hose and ride horses and bicycles from sunrise to sunset? Yes. And we didn’t have cell phones or much in the way of money, plans, or supervision. And God, it was great. I also siphoned gas from my neighbor’s car more than once. But that’s a story for another time. I will argue that an unencumbered, slightly unscheduled, and fun summer will contribute to your student’s mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health more than just about anything else.

Honestly, anything that combines a flexible agenda with a vast reduction in device use will produce a magic potion of goodness and delight. Sprinkle in a job, and we’ve got a home run! Most jobs available to high school students are in a service-related industry. Again, reflecting on my formative years (are those over yet?) I worked as a server and bartender for 11 years, essentially all throughout high school and college (I was on the 6-year undergrad track). I was deeply and thoroughly schooled in humanity, patience, kindness, rudeness, pressure, teamwork, decision-making, conflict resolution and money. And these lessons are my greatest life lessons, serving me in a million ways.

For college admissions, summer activities are often the differentiator between students with similar academic achievements. Admissions offices at competitive colleges value extracurriculars for their ability to reveal who a student is beyond grades and test scores. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), nearly 44% of colleges consider extracurricular activities moderately important in admissions decisions, and for top-tier institutions, these experiences are considered "important" or "very important" by 88% of admissions officers.

Below, you’ll find just a few ideas on how to “constructively” spend your summer before college that prioritizes fun and exploration for your high schooler.

1. Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer work fosters social responsibility and boosts employability, as teens who volunteer are 50% more likely to find jobs. This can be an AMAZING way to spend those free summer hours, exploring new hobbies, passions, and organizations while learning time management and responsibilities! These, inherently, can be added to your student’s applications as college admissions committees always look for well-rounded individuals who spend time in their community.

2. College Visits

Make a fun summer road trip out of a few college visits - this is a fantastic way to see new places and get your student excited for the long-term goal of attending college. A lot of college towns have students who stick around and work local jobs during the summertime, so it’s a great way to see the town or city your student could potentially be living in during the “downtime” less busy months. It’s essential to ensure your child can picture living in the area and not just life on campus.

3. Personal Growth and Hobbies

Encourage your student to pursue personal interests and hobbies during the summer, as these can contribute to their personal development and enrich their college applications - oh, and have some summer fun. Pitch some out-of-the-box ideas for activities like joining summer clubs, starting a blog, building a summer business, and hiking a long trail (you know your kids best; what are they into?).

4. Developing Time Management and Organization Skills

Grab a summer job! The biggest hurdle most new-to-college students face is adjusting to being in charge of their own schedule and utilizing their free time effectively. Not only will they get a taste of the financial freedom that comes from having a job, but they will also get to practice the basics of organization and time management. Summer jobs offer an entire pool of new friends to make and a great way to practice those impending socialization skills that will be put to the test when starting college.

5. Shadowing or Internships

Have a student who is convinced they want to work in medicine or has never considered another major other than the one they have imagined forever? Try to find a summer internship or job shadowing opportunity in that field and let your student explore the reality of that profession in the real world - they might be surprised by what they learn and it could offset a change in major down the road. Conversely, they could just be the 1% of us who know exactly what we want to be, and it just solidifies their choice! Both are a win-win.

Here are four popular websites that are commonly used to find summer internships:

College MatchPoint, Summer Programs for High School Students: Summer MatchPoint Activity Directory. Discover a wide range of summer opportunities, including courses, research programs, and service projects. The directory covers in-person, online, and hybrid options to fit every preference. This year, we've 2x the number of free options. 

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a professional networking platform with a robust job and internship search section. Many companies and organizations post internship opportunities on LinkedIn, and you can filter your search based on location, industry, and internship type.

Indeed: Indeed is a popular job search engine that includes a wide range of internship listings. It aggregates internship postings from various sources, including company websites, job boards, and recruitment agencies. You can refine your search by location, industry, and internship duration.

Glassdoor: Glassdoor not only provides insights into company reviews and salaries but also has a dedicated section for internships. You can search for internships based on location, industry, and keywords. Glassdoor also provides company-specific information to help you make informed decisions about potential internships.

While these websites are popular and offer a wide range of internship listings, exploring multiple resources and directly checking company websites or utilizing industry-specific job boards for specific internship opportunities is always beneficial. Additionally, leveraging personal connections and networking can often lead to hidden internship openings that may not be advertised on these platforms.

6. Summer WorkAway Program

Do you have a student who’s itching to travel? Who hasn’t spent much time away from home? Workaway programs can range from days, weeks, or months, allowing participants to help work on a vineyard in Italy, harvest agave on a farm in Oaxaca, tend to horses on an equestrian ranch in Spain - you name it, workaway hosts it. These programs offer a place to stay in exchange for hard work and learning new skills and responsibilities. Most of these programs are hosted by caring individuals who will teach you their native language and who genuinely care about giving back to those who come to help them on their travels.

Summers are a sacred time

Contrary to popular belief, I will always argue that a “productive summer” equates to a “fun summer”. Drawing from my experience as a college admissions advisor and reflecting on my upbringing, I emphasize the importance of an unencumbered and slightly unscheduled summer for your student’s mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being.

Reducing device usage and incorporating flexible agendas can create a magical concoction of freedom and self-exploration. Part-time jobs, particularly in the service industry, can provide invaluable life lessons in humanity, patience, teamwork, and decision-making. Peppering in constructive summer activities, including volunteer opportunities, college visits, personal growth and hobbies, contribute to developing time management skills. A job and exploring shadowing or internship opportunities related to potential career paths can all be amazing ways to spend those summer hours. The aim is to prioritize fun, exploration, and personal development authentically, which contributes to a stronger college application and a successful transition to college life.