7 Summer Activities to Spruce Up Your College Application - Geneva College
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7 Summer Activities to Spruce Up Your College Application

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When you’re a junior or senior in high school, this is a great time to start thinking about your college application. When you fill out these applications, you’ll need to make sure yours stands out from the competition. How can you give your college application a boost? For an impressive application, consider pursuing one or more of these summer activities.

  1. Working

Having a part-time job during summer can be a great way to gain the attention of college admissions departments when you submit your application. Depending on the major you’re interested in, you might want to look for a job that gives you some experience in that field. For example, you might look for a part-time job opportunity at a local museum if you want to major in history or art. However, you don’t necessarily have to wait for a job that matches your major or field. Any kind of work experience shows colleges that you’re responsible and have plenty of initiative. Adding a job to your college application can go a long way toward giving you an edge on the competition. 

  1. Volunteering

Volunteering is one of the most effective ways to impress colleges with your application. Taking part in volunteer opportunities within your community shows colleges that you’re dedicated to helping others and willing to take the time and effort to do so. Planning to take a path toward becoming a veterinarian by earning an undergraduate biology degree? Consider spending your summer volunteering at a local animal shelter. Thinking about a career in social services? Look into volunteer opportunities where you can help members of your community who are in need, such as soup kitchens. Keep in mind that some volunteer opportunities involve directly interacting with or helping others, while some might focus more on raising awareness about how to help those in need.

  1. Doing Extracurricular Activities

What extracurriculars look good on college applications? Any activities that allow you to demonstrate leadership skills or showcase your creative skills are good to include on your college application. You might take part in an art show in your community, for example, or you might organize summer events for a local organization. You might consider participating in academic clubs or teams that are active in summer. These types of extracurricular activities are also good to have on your college application. If you’re planning to earn a computer science degree, you might want to explore activities that allow you to use and develop your technological skills. 

  1. Taking Summer College Classes

You don’t have to wait until you’re “in college” to take college classes. Taking some classes early can help you get a head start on your college education. Look for early college classes that are offered during the summer. You can then list these classes on your college application. If you already know what you want to major in, taking classes early might help you earn your undergraduate degree a bit sooner. In addition, these credits are often less expensive than what you will pay during college. If you’re unsure about your major, taking classes will allow you to explore areas of interest. For example, you might be able to take college classes in biology, English, history or algebra to see if you might want to pursue one of these as a major.

  1. Applying for Internships

Internships are a surefire way to make an impression on your college application. Doing a summer internship shows colleges that you’re willing to take on a lot of responsibility and begin earning experience in the workplace. You can find internship opportunities with local businesses and nonprofit organizations in your area. When you do a summer internship, you can note this on your college application and provide some information on the kinds of tasks and responsibilities you performed. Including an internship on college applications can immediately help you stand out in a crowded field of applicants.

  1. Exploring Job-Shadowing Opportunities

When you want to explore potential career options, consider job shadowing over the summer. These opportunities give you a chance to see what a certain job is like and what kinds of day-to-day responsibilities you might one day have. If you’re interested in obtaining an engineering degree, for example, you might look for job-shadowing opportunities with local engineers. While you might not gain hands-on experience this way, you’ll be able to watch what they do on the job. You can add this to your college application to show how strong your interest is in a particular field.

 

  1. Doing Summer Projects as a Team

You don’t have to go through formal channels to gain experience that you can include on your college application. Consider teaming up with a few friends to clean up a park in your area or come up with another collaborative project to work on this summer. Doing this kind of project shows colleges that you have initiative and teamwork skills, which are an important part of nearly any kind of career.

If you’re looking for a college that offers a Christ-centered approach to a wide range of majors, please contact Geneva College today. We are a Christian college that offers over 145 majors and programs to consider for your undergraduate education. Visit us online to learn more about our admissions process and available degree programs.

Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.

Jul 23, 2021

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