Summer and
Extracurricular Ideas

Believe it or not, winter is a good time to think about SUMMER plans, especially if you are interested in a summer enrichment or research program with an early application deadline (as in December or January!). We have always advocated taking advantage of the summer months to pursue interests, earn money, develop independence and responsibility, build skills, and explore passions—or ideally a combination of these
goals! If you are looking for summer programs in a particular interest area, try these two websites, which have searchable databases of hundreds of summer enrichment programs for high school students. There are TONS of opportunities on a wide variety of campuses and a wide range of disciplines from aerospace, architecture, and archeology to zoology. 

Teenlife
Snowday

Academic Pursuits: These types of programs allow high school students to take college level courses with other high school students on a college campus. It is worth noting that “pre-college” programs do not generally provide an admissions boost to the institution that hosts the program, however, they are a great opportunity to get a taste of college life and possibly develop a relationship with faculty at that respective institution.
If you are a student with a particular interest in history, The Concord Review is a quarterly journal that publishes original academic writing by high school students.

Independent Research: If you are interested in research, we recommend you explore what kinds of research you can get involved either locally or virtually with a professor.

Sometimes it is possible to join an existing research team or get involved in an ongoing project. Additionally, if you have an idea for a project and it aligns with a particular professor’s research (which are always listed in faculty bios online), you can propose it.
Who knows, it might lead to a collaboration! Remember, a research project doesn’t have to be at a “famous” college to have merit!
STEM-specific interests: This is a list of highly competitive academic summer programs with a STEM focus.  A few of them are completely free.

Business Interests: We have seen students explore a variety of these types of activities to stretch their business and entrepreneurial muscles, beyond participating in
an academic summer program.

• Starting a small business of your own
• Finding a local internship that aligns with a particular interest and/or looking for
  opportunities to job shadow
• Tying fundraising into microfinance opportunities through Kiva
• Selling handmade items if you are crafty: handmade jewelry, soap, greeting cards, etc.
• Starting a blog or podcast linked to selling products, services, or advertising
• Upcycling and re-selling thrifted items on platforms like eBay or Depop
• Creating a group babysitting business, bringing fun and games to one house for a manageable group of children

Visual, Creative and/or Performing Arts: We have seen our creative students explore opportunities where they can deepen their skills and talents across the artistic disciplines of writing, music, fine arts, and the performing arts. If you are considering applying to a BFA program or are considering programs where submitting a portfolio is required or encouraged, these types of experiences are a great way to build repertoire, find audition material, and/or develop pieces that showcase your artistry and technical skills. Here are some ideas:

• Exploring local community performance groups (competitive dance groups, local youth symphonies, local theater groups, competing in regional and state competitions)

If you are interested in technical theater (lighting, sound, costuming) we also suggest you reach out to local theaters for possible summer opportunities.

• Scholastic Art and Writing Competition
• Attend arts camps such as French Woods and Interlochen

There are also a number of theater arts, film, dance, music, debate, and journalism summer programs that take place on college campuses, which generally require an
audition:

• Northwestern Cherubs
• MPulse at the University of Michigan
• NYU Tisch
• Blueprint

Paying Jobs: Summer is a great time to get some old-fashioned work experience! Tremendous work (and life) skills can be developed through jobs such as the ones
below:

• Babysitting
• Working as a camp counselor
• Waiting tables or caddying (many local tennis, swim, and golf clubs hire high school
  students in the summer)
• Scooping ice cream or working in a retail store
• Lifeguarding

Service: We also recommend ways to use your time to help others in your community or beyond. Looking for or finding? local ways to get involved can be very meaningful and does not cost money.

• Identify an area of interest (tutoring, working with kids, working with animals, housing insecurity, food insecurity, environmental causes).
• Consider tying service into an existing interest such as joining groups that teach skills to underserved kids or kids who may be neurodivergent or have physical challenges (soccer, tennis, golf, dance, and therapeutic riding come to mind).
• If you are part of a religious community, look into whether there are opportunities to go on a mission or service trip. Keep in mind that service trips are most valued when they are more focused on community and connection versus exotic travel!
• Other community resources for summer involvement will depend on where you live. This organization, DoSomething provides a wonderful list of ideas in this article as well as a sortable database.
• Consider looking for opportunities at Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs or local municipal camps or daycare programs, senior citizens homes, nature centers, soup kitchens, land trusts, and community foundations.