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25 Summer Activities To Encourage Personal Growth & Deepen Your Extracurricular Profile!

Blue Admission

Updated: 5 days ago

Creating the best high school summer plan can include fun, relaxation, and rejuvenation while also furthering your college application readiness... and it doesn't have to break the bank either!


When I was a kid, my dad would regularly say, “Prior planning prevents poor performance.” Back then, I didn’t know that he was quoting former Secretary of State, Jim Baker. What I did understand was that he was always using the phrase sarcastically. He almost always muttered this line when our lack of planning had resulted in less-than-ideal results.


Now that I work with so many high school students each year, I understand the profound wisdom of this simple, five-word phrase. High school (and the summers that fall between each year) is a short time in the larger scope of life. To make the most of it and to use the time as efficiently as possible requires a little prior planning.


While there are literally thousands of summer programs out there, my experience working with some pretty amazing students over the years has proven that you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on master-planned summer programs to have a fulfilling, meaningful, and inspiring summer break.




Make the summer of 2025 the best high school summer yet while also preparing for college applications!


25 Things to Do This Summer… That Will Build Your University Application!


Here are my ideas for 25 things you can do to make this the best high school summer yet by continuing your personal development and building a more robust university application without breaking the bank.


  1. Get a job. Make a little jingle of your own, learn the importance of being a reliable, knowledgeable employee. You will learn a lot. I promise.


  2. Tutor someone. As Mark Twain once said, “It is noble to teach oneself, but still nobler to teach others--and less trouble.” Now, the real question. Did Twain actually say that?


  3. Volunteer. But here’s the challenge. Find a place where you actually want to volunteer. If you don’t want to volunteer, don’t. Service to your community is rewarding and enriching, but only if you care enough to really sink into the experience.

    Read "The 3 Extracurricular Tactics That Will Make Your Application Stand Out!" for more insight into following your own interest, ideas, and curiosities when choosing extracurricular activities.


  4. Teach someone something. This is similar to tutor but try to think outside the box a bit. Teach someone something that isn’t academic. Maybe you're an expert with watercolor paints. Maybe you have a knack for organization. Find a way to teach someone something that you love doing but that neither of you will be tested on in the end.


  5. Intern. This is a great way to explore careers you find interesting. Finding internships can be really tricky for high school students. There are companies that you can partner with to arrange internships or research projects. Polygence is one to take a look at!


  6. Show gratitude. Write to your teachers, friends, parents, siblings, mentors, coaches, or clergy and say “Thank you.” Pay it forward.


    Keep in mind that some of your teachers and counselors at school will likely write you letters of recommendation with the time comes. Being kind, thoughtful, and gracious goes a long way in reminding teacher all your amazing qualities -- that's great content for rec letters!


  7. Pick an academic subject that you want to learn and dedicate your summer weeks to learning as much about it as you can.


  8. Meditate. Try as I might, I’m terrible at this. But it is something that I keep trying to get better at because there is value in living a mindful, present life. Give it a shot. See what happens.


  9. Connect with nature. Go camping, hike, swim in the lake, walk the beach, go fishing, visit a National Park, walk your dog every day. Breathe it in.


  10. Start a business.


  11. Start investing. If you’ve got a little extra cash from your summer job, think about learning more about investing and trading.


  12. Learn to code or learn a new language.


  13. Consider applying for a more competitive summer program. Here's a few to consider:


    Research Science Institute

    M&TSI -- University of Pennsylvania Wharton School's Management & Technology Summer Institutue

    RISE -- Boston University's Research in Science & Engineering Program

    Telluride Association Summer Seminar

    Yale Young Global Scholars Program

    Economics for Leaders

    Stanford's Intro to Logic

    MathCamp

    MITES - MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science

    Iowa Young Writers Studio


  14. Do something for your family every week. Make them dinner, organize a game night, help with a home improvement project. Be intentional about this. Not just a one-off activity. Really make time for it every week.


  15. Make a list of all the books you think you should have read by now and commit to getting through as many of them as you can this summer.


  16. Set a physical goal and work toward it. I have a student this year who set a summertime goal to be able to squat twice their own body weight by the end of the summer… and they did it!


  17. Learn something for the pure, unapologetic joy of learning it. A former student of mine spent one summer trying to perfect a recipe for pizza dough.


  18. Build an app.


  19. Create art. Paint, sculpt, sing, perform. Bonus points for anyone who takes this on when they aren’t an artsy person. Yay for learning something new!


  20. Organize a community or neighborhood event.


  21. Write.


    Maybe write your resume.

    Maybe brainstorm your personal statement.

    Maybe just start thinking about your "why" in the college application process.


  22. Visit local colleges. Take notes on what you love and what makes them unique.


    Read our tips for having an amazing campus tour.


  23. Organize a fundraiser or bake sale for something you care about.


  24. Enroll in a class at your local college, community college, or even online. It doesn’t matter if your are earning 'credit' for the course. Do it to challenge yourself and explore something you think is interesting.

    Coursera

    edX

    udemy

    SkillShare


  25. Spend time with your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and if you’re lucky enough to have them, your great grandparents. It is time well spent.


Happy planning!


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