Summer Enrichment Opportunities: Do Something!

Sing it with me, "Schoooool's out for Summer!"  For a lot of you, the school year has ended.  For the rest of you, there's only a few more weeks until that final class bell will ring and you can exclaim "FREEDOM!".  The summer months are upon us.  What are your plans for the next few months?

Have you ever thought about building your college profile over the summer?  The truth is, most colleges are looking for students who have participated in a variety of extracurricular activities throughout their high school career.  Rather than sitting at home on facebook all day this summer, consider participating in enrichment activities that will help build your student profile.  Students who participate in summer enrichment programs through their high school career are more likely to increase their chance for college admission.  You don't have to do anything elaborate (although you can, if you'd like).  Simple activities (like the ones listed below) can help boost your profile to colleges. 

• Volunteer.  Consider giving your time to a local library, food bank, homeless shelter or other community organization a few times a week.   The simple act of volunteering can say a lot about you as a person.  By giving 5-10 hours per week, you can help local organizations better serve the community you live in.  Most organizations are very willing to accept volunteer help.  It's good for you and it's good for others. 

• Get an Internship. Not to say that being a coffee barista or babysitting is a bad summer job, but think about pursuing a job or internship in the area that you're possibly interested in pursuing as a career someday.  Work at a law office, a local news station, or at a doctor's office.  Even if you only file papers for the summer, you're still getting great exposure to the career field and learning valuable tools for your future.

• Go to College.  Yes, ou read that correctly.  Consider taking a class at a community college to gain college credit and possibly satisfy one of your high school class requirements (check with your guidance counselor about this).  Not only will taking a college course expose you to the college learning environment, but it will also give you benefit you when you begin your freshman year of classes on a college campus.  

• Join a Summer Campus Program.  There are hundreds of college campuses across the country that provide summer programs for high school students.  Most programs run anywhere from two weeks to two months and allow students to live in supervised dorms and participate in special activities and seminars designed especially for high school students.  You can research opportunities at sites like enrichmentalley.com. 

• Go on a Mission Trip.  It's not too late to join a trip for this summer.  Consider joining a mission trip with your church or school.  Participating in a mission trip often ends up being more life-changing for trip participants than those in the community you visit.  A mission trip allows you to use your passions and gifts to share your faith and learn more about the world around you.  There's also nothing more enriching than spending a week (or more) in an environment that stretches you as an individual.  Go!

•  Spiff Up Your Application Components. There's no better time to begin working on those college essays or studying for the SAT/ACT than during the summer months.  Consider participating in an intensive summer program to help you build you application pieces.  CLC College Prep offers independent sessions for students who want a little more concentrated help in these areas.  Contact us today for more info.  

Regardless of the activities you choose to participate in over the summer, remember to take some time for yourself.  Relax and recuperate.  You've worked hard through the school year and deserve some down-time!  Whether you take a class, participate with a trip, volunteer, or do something else meaningful, remember that the most important thing is that you just do something!