How to spend your summer (high school edition)
Yep, we're in the thick of it… summer!
As the rosy haze of sleeping whenever and binging Netflix wears off, you might find yourself wondering how to make the most of your vacation. As one expert quips, “There's 104 days of summer vacation and school comes along just to end it. So the annual problem for our generation Is finding a good way to spend it” (Phineas 2007). So here it is, 3 great ways to spend your summer:
Find a summer job or volunteer
This is a great way to meet new people, make some money, build transferable skills, and build a routine. You could work in retail if you're interested in business, be a hospital volunteer if you're interested in medicine, or work in a lab if you're interested in scientific research!
Take college tours & participate in fly-in programs
Remember all the times during the year you told yourself you would take a virtual college tour and then didn't because you had soccer practice in 2.5 hours and that wouldn't be enough time to eat, go to the session, and brush your teeth? Now's the time!
Almost every university in the US offers college tours (and most have virtual tours) so you can explore to your heart's desire. In a college tour, you can see the college's campus, find out about financial aid options, and even speak to current students.
Fly-in programs are overnight or weekend events which pay for your visit to campus. Often you will be paired with a current student who will show you around campus, take you to their classes, and bring you to meals at the dining hall. These programs are generally geared towards first-generation, low-income, and minority students. Here is a list of fly-in and diversity programs for 2022 (note: some programs are virtual).
Take a college course
If you want to see what college academics will be like, this is your best bet! Different organizations, such as Coursera and MIT Open Course Ware offer real college courses free online. You can learn to code in python, how to start a business, and more.
So there it is! Apply for a job, tour colleges, or learn something new. But, I also recommend taking a walk or sleeping that extra 15 minutes in the morning. Be happy and relax friends - summer only comes once a year.