Colleges are curious about what students do in their spare time during the academic year and over the summer. If you think about it, depending on which college a student applies to, there will likely be hundreds if not thousands of other students with identical grade point averages and identical SAT or ACT scores. Being smart about what you do over the summer is a great way for a student to set themselves apart from other applicants.

It’s important to recognize that no summer experience can compensate for mediocre grades. However, many students find themselves in a college’s “target zone” which means that their statistics (grades and standardized test scores) line up with students that a college has accepted in past years.

I’ve created my top 10 list of interesting things to do during the summer:

1. Take a remedial or advanced class locally or online
2. Experience a college campus with an academic or enrichment program
3. Do your part – volunteer for a community service project
4. Get a job – earn some money and enhance your maturity
5. Identify an internship or job-shadowing experience
6. Do something different – find a non-traditional activity
7. Create something from nothing – be an entrepreneur
8. Focus on a special interest
9. Travel – explore and experience another culture
10. Prepare college applications

There are lots of options. Here are some questions to help decide which path to pursue:
• What would be my dream summer job?
• What are my strongest academic subjects?
• If I could travel anywhere, where would I go, what would I do and why?
• Are there particular social issues that concern me?
• How can I make a difference?

My advice:
• Find something you’re interested in and pursue it.
• Focus on what is important to you because colleges are creating well-rounded classes filled with students with special talents or interests. Colleges get more excited about students who have demonstrated a passion and achieved something in a single area than students who are known as “serial joiners” and just list clubs and show up for meetings.
• Be true to yourself and don’t be concerned with padding your college application with programs that cost a lot of money that you think will “look good” to an admissions representative.
• Make an impact. Christoph Guttentag, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Duke University says they look for evidence of impact and having made a difference. “We ask ourselves what has this student done with the opportunities given to him?”
• Take a break and enjoy your family, a less hectic schedule and the nice weather.

Over the next several weeks I will describe each of the 10 areas listed above, dispel myths, detail the pros and cons of each and provide resources to help you stand out this summer.

On My Bookshelf
“Best College For You – How to Find the Right Fit and Save Big Money”, Barb Pytel, $16.95