Summer break is the best time for high school students to build up their extracurricular portfolios in preparation for college applications. Summer break gives students the freedom to pursue research projects, internships, jobs, and organized hobbies.
But be aware, summer activities can start to dominate a high schoolers’ schedule so much that they might find themselves even busier than they are during the school year. It's important to find a way to balance work and play during the break. Here are our expert tips on finding the right summer schedule for you!
Combining Work and Play
First, let's think about ways you can combine work and play so that you can enjoy your time off while completing projects for future college apps. Maybe you have always loved writing; if you’ve always dreamed of becoming a writer or studying English Literature or Journalism, why not try creating a blog, online magazine, digital zine, or news site. Lilly , for example, started EconIR, a blog written by and for high schoolers interested in Economics and International Relations. Lilly established the site during high school as an extracurricular project and continues to manage the site in college because she enjoys it so much. This could be you!
The best place to start is by researching and analyzing publications you already enjoy reading. What are these publications doing that you enjoy? What is the writing style and tone? Do you enjoy the aesthetics or web design for a particular reason? Then, once you have an idea of what kind of publication you want to create, head over to Wordpress or Squarespace to get started.
Another hobby-and-work example might be dog-walking or going to work in an animal shelter or park as a volunteer. If you are interested in working with animals in the future, this could be a perfect way to gain understanding of your potential profession. In the UK, for example, RSPCA is a wonderful place to volunteer. In the US too there is a range of animal shelter volunteering opportunities.
Summer Travel and Volunteering
If you wanted to go further afield for your summer holidays and combine traveling with work experience, you could join an international voluntary organization such as Rustic Volunteers. Rustic Volunteers is the largest not-for-profit organization in Dallas, Texas. Their programs are based in 18 different countries, from Cambodia to Mexico and you can apply if you are from the US, UK and a range of European and Commonwealth Countries.
Want to spend a summer in California? Then check out the Berkeley Business Academy. Interested in working as an intern in Columbia? Check out the Columbia Global Internship Program. The sky’s the limit!
Or, if you have some leadership experience under your belt, you could consider being an activity leader at summer camps for younger international students who spend their summers learning English (or be one of the students learning English!). One of the most famous of these summer camps has to be Camp America, where international students can apply to work the summer at camp in the US and earn whilst learning and developing communication skills, leading sports activities. and developing leadership qualities. With such an emphasis on leadership skills, this could be an incredible addition to your extracurricular portfolio!
Internships
If you don’t fancy traveling abroad for the summer or have family commitments at home, there are a number of remote and online internship options for developing your future career interests right in the comfort of your own home.
All in All
During your summer holiday, it's all about balancing travel, work, play, and rest! We suggest prioritizing one or two activities that you feel most passionate about and that show off your skills most prominently. Then, expand on them during the school year: how can you make these projects even more enjoyable or sustainable? Any project that combines passion and legacy is going to stand out on your extracurricular profile.
Lastly, don't forget to take some time to read a new book, go outside into nature, relax, and sleep. Rest is just as important as work because it gives your body time to process the school year and all that you have experienced since last summer.
