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Happy New Year — Now Think About Summer!

87631673It’s hard to think about summer as you celebrate a bright new
year! But, we want you to shift your focus as the best summers
take planning.

As you probably know by now, the Common Application has added a
new category called WORK EXPERIENCE with five or so lines of
description. Getting a job is as important today to admissions
officers as community service was ten years ago.

Many well-heeled and well-intentioned parents are convinced that
it would benefit their children to talk to someone who could
arrange an unusual or prestigious internship for summer. Their
goal is to pull in a favor or two to acquire fancy internships
for their kids. Colleges are not stupid and can usually figure
out that someone pulled a string — otherwise, how could a normal
16-year-old with virtually no qualifications end up working in a
high-profile law firm or an investment bank? In fact, having this
kind of internship often backfires because colleges then hold it
against the student because he/she obviously couldn’t find
his/her own job or meaningful experience without adult help.

Colleges look for students who create opportunities for
themselves, not simply those who have things handed to them on a
silver platter. With that in mind, here are some ideas for
summer:

  • Take classes at a local community college or school to deepen
    your interest in a particular scholarly area.
  • Pursue an activity or hobby on your own to take it to a
    higher level.
  • Get a real job — try bussing tables, pouring coffee, bagging
    groceries — show that you can handle responsibility.
  • Do some serious reading and keep track of what you read –
    some colleges ASK what you’ve read lately.
  • Investigate in detail specific departments and programs in
    colleges you are interested in so you can provide real evidence
    as to why you are interested in X school.
  • Do not sign up for a high priced program that sends you
    complimentary mailings about how you’ve been “selected.”
  • If you are a top level athlete, sign up for elite sports
    camps where college coaches will be recruiting attendees.

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