Summertime.

A quick way for me to get to know a student is to ask them about their summer.  Here is how the conversation would go: 

Me:  What did you do last summer? 

Student:  Nothing. 

Me: Really, nothing?  You slept all day and did not leave your room.

Student:  Well, I did…

Then, they would tell me stories of adventures, family they visited or annoying things their parents “made them do” that they secretly loved. 

As an admission representative, I asked this question to get to know the student, but also as a way to learn how they used their unstructured time.  Successful college students have practiced and learned strategies on how to use their time wisely before arriving at college.  

As a school college counselor, it was my job to create scenarios for students to learn time management and summer is an excellent time to learn this skill.  My advice has been the same for years- I recommend that students do two significant activities in the summer between their junior and senior year.  It does not matter what it is, just as long as it gets them out of bed.  Here are some ideas: 

• Read a series of books you've always wanted to read, but have not had time to.  

• Outdoor adventures.  

• Babysitting. (One of my favorite student essays discussed everything they had learned from caring for their younger siblings.)  

• Practice an instrument consistently.  

• Complete your Girl Scout Gold Award or Boy Scout Eagle Project.    

• Volunteering in your community for a minimum of 40 hours. 

• Learning to drive.  

• Get a summer job.  (Scooping ice cream taught me a lot about dealing with people.) 

• Intern in the career you are thinking about studying. 

• Play a sport or do summer conditioning -- formal or informal. 

• Church retreat, service mission or camps. 

• Compete in an academic competition (World Robotics, National Speech and Debate, QuizBowl, etc.).

The list could go on.  Bottomline: it does not have to be expensive or even a new activity, it just needs to be two things a student intentionally dedicates part of your summer to.  This will help them practice the skills of managing their time, showing their ability to commit and be productive.  All things admissions officers want to read about on an application.  

Interested in working with me? Send me an email at hello@apariciocollegecounsulting.com and we can set up a complementary 15 minute conversation to see if I would be a good fit for your family.