The end of January marks the halfway point for most students’ school years. For Juniors, this means the college application season is just around the corner. While most of a student’s most formative academic, extracurricular, and sport activities occur during Junior year – the last full academic year before college applications are submitted – the summer between Junior and Senior year is also a valuable time for the process.

While some students are required to participate in summer jump-starts to their advanced courses, most students have at least a month of “free” time they can put to good use. There are many options that can not only build up a student’s resume, but also help them figure out where – and what – they’d like to study. Below, you’ll find some great options to fill up your summer.

Campus Visits

In order to get an idea of where you’d like to the spend four (or more!) years after graduating high school, it is extremely valuable to visit the campuses of colleges you’re considering. You can register online for an information session, campus tour, or other event, such as a department-specific tour or a chat with a current student by heading to university websites, clicking “Admissions,” and looking for Prospective Student Information.

It’s important to note that most college campuses have a lower student population during the summer, so you won’t see what campus is like in full swing. However, this can be a benefit: students and professors that are on campus may have a bit of extra time to answer your questions.

Summer Courses/Pre-College

Most colleges have summer pre-college academies, and many have department-specific bootcamps, seminars, and more. Taking a class over the summer is a great way to see if you are truly interested in your course of study. If you love it – great! You’ve got a head start! If you hate it, also great – now you won’t waste tens of thousands of dollars studying something you won’t pursue. Pre-college is also a great opportunity to network with professors and fellow students in your field. Applications for these programs usually end in late winter, so do your research, check deadlines, and get them submitted now.

Volunteer

Summer is a great time to work with many organizations that don’t operate year-round. Think beach clean ups, trail blazing in state parks, summer camps, sport camps, or construction projects like building playgrounds. Summertime is also when the organizing, planning, and outreach stages are put into motion for winter and holiday drives. Get involved while you have the free time, because college applications are time consuming.

Internships

Need we say more? While you aren’t in school, you can devote your time to a regular work day, shadowing experts in your field of choice. Internships are extremely valuable because they not only give you a glimpse into what to expect in the industry you are pursuing, but they also offer opportunities to network. Who knows? You might have an opportunity waiting for you after you toss your college graduation cap.

Test Prep

Take your time with this one. Create a study plan, reach out to us (info@aristotlecircle.com) to get matched with a pro tutor, and put in the work. Research the score range your target schools are looking for, and set a goal for yourself. Take practice tests to see where you stand. If you plan to apply to college as test optional, think twice – many schools’ test optional policies are expiring, and many state schools are not test optional at all (we’re looking at you, Florida).

Get a Head Start on College Applications

The Common App opens its website to first-year Freshmen applicants on August 1st. The Common App releases its prompts for the Personal Statement (650 word main essay sent to all schools on your list) early in the summer, and many schools’ supplemental essay prompts are available on or before August 1st. The college application process – specifically writing the essays – is time consuming. The worst thing you can do is wait until the last minute and submit writing that you’re not proud of. Give yourself time to really think about the prompts, do the research required for those Why Us? essays, and put together the best application you can.

So, what’s the takeaway? Do something this summer. Don’t slack off – because your competition isn’t.

Don’t miss a beat: