If you’re a high schooler, summer is likely a time for beach days, family vacations, sleeping in and generally enjoying a well-deserved break from the chaos of school. But while all that free time is perfect for relaxation, it’s also a smart idea to use at least some of your extra hours to prepare for your next phase of life: college.
There are many things high school students need to do before even beginning their college applications, and summer provides the time and space to cross those off the list! Here’s how you can best take advantage of your summer to get ready for college, whether you’re a freshman, sophomore or junior.
1. Attend a Pre-College Program
One of the best ways to prepare for college is to attend one — just for a few weeks, that is.
A pre-college program is a way to explore university life and see if a school is the right fit for you. While such programs vary in length and focus, most pre-college programs allow students to live on campus, attend classes and meet peers. They also help you understand whether or not you should pursue a specific major.
USC offers both online and in-person pre-college programs during the summer. Attendees can explore diverse areas of academic focus, including film directing, digital marketing, engineering, business, cybersecurity and more.
2. Take Other Summer Classes
If a pre-college program doesn’t fit your budget or timeline, you can still devote some of your summer to higher education. Maybe your community college offers a class you can take for dual enrollment or extra college credits — or you can sign up for an online course in a subject that interests you.
If you want to take the time to gain a new skill or dive deep into a possible major, summer is a great time to do that! This can only boost your college application.
3. Research Schools
You can’t apply to college if you don’t know where you want to go in the first place. Summer is a great time to leaf through college brochures, check out university websites and seek out testimonials from past students.
While you don’t need to narrow it down to your top choice, you can compile a list of the colleges you’re most interested in and get a head start on working toward their application requirements.
4. Research Financial Aid Options, Too
Determining how to pay for school is almost as important as deciding what university you want to attend. There are countless scholarship options out there — including scholarships from the schools themselves, as well as those from external businesses and organizations.
Summer offers you the hours needed to research all the potential scholarship opportunities and fill out those applications. It’s a good time to start educating yourself on your loan options, too.
5. Visit Campuses
It can be hard to squeeze time in during the school year to do an in-person college visit, especially if you’re considering an out-of-state university. However, you can use your summers to travel around and tour your dream schools.
While you can learn a lot from a school’s online presence, actually walking through the campus, checking out the facilities and meeting fellow students gives you a deeper understanding of what a school offers.
6. Study for Exams
Poring over textbooks is not most people’s definition of summer fun. But getting a leg up on studying now may free you up during the school year, when you’ll be much busier.
Your SAT or ACT score can have a real impact on where you attend college, so you want to make sure you’re fully prepared for these exams, whether you’re taking them in the fall, winter or spring. Use this time to work with a tutor or conduct your own self-guided study sessions.
7. Draft Your College Applications
If you’re getting ready for sophomore or junior year, the time to apply for colleges is still far away.
But if you’re heading into your senior year, the fall and winter deadlines for college applications are just around the corner. Why not get ahead of the game by drafting your applications now? You can begin collecting materials like letters of recommendation and even writing your college essay, giving yourself plenty of time to get feedback on multiple drafts. Your future self will thank you!
8. Search for Jobs and Internships
The college admissions office won’t just be looking at your academic work. They want to have well-rounded students at their schools who have more to offer than just good grades. Luckily, part-time jobs aren’t just a way to make extra cash. Job experience can also help you demonstrate your strengths to a school.
Whether you’re scooping ice cream, delivering pizza, stocking shelves or babysitting, you’re showing off your reliability, independence and work ethic. While any job will boost your college application, you can also seek out an internship related to your desired field of study, so you can begin accumulating experience and show schools you have a passion for the subject.
9. Volunteer in Your Community
Volunteer work is another way to give the admissions office a better idea of who you are as a person. Plus, you get to make a positive impact on your community!
There are many different ways to volunteer, too. Consider which causes mean the most to you and how your skills can best benefit your community. Whatever you choose, whether making meals for unhoused people, cleaning your local rivers or mentoring children, you’re putting your summer to great use by giving back.
10. Explore Your Hobbies and Interests
You don’t even need to know your major when you begin your first year of college, but it is helpful to have an idea of what you would like to study. This may impact where you ultimately decide to go if, for example, you know a specific school has a top-rated program related to your dream job.
The best way to determine your career path is by exploring various hobbies and subjects that spark your interest. You can explore via internet deep dives, reading books, joining clubs and teams or taking up new solo pursuits.
Besides, summer is still a time for enjoying yourself, and there’s nothing more enjoyable than discovering a new passion!
11. Connect with Mentors
Going off to college can be daunting. It’s even more nerve-racking when you have questions and don’t know who to ask. During your time in high school, it’s a good idea to seek out mentors who can advise you as you prepare for this major transition.
Mentors can be teachers, coaches or school counselors. You can find these people outside of high school, too. Maybe you have a trusted neighbor or family friend you can turn to for guidance.
You can also consider connecting with people you haven’t met yet. You can find college alumni through LinkedIn who might be able to answer some of your questions about a given school, or you can email leaders who work with the subjects you’re passionate about. Devote some of your summer to expanding your network!
12. Have Fun
Yes, summer is the perfect time to prepare for college. And while you should be setting aside time for study sessions, campus visits, pre-college programs, work and personal development, you should also be devoting days to fun with your friends and family.
Summers only get busier once you get into college, and after that, they usually become part of your work year. Take the time to enjoy yourself — you’ve earned it.
Learn more about USC Summer and Online Pre-College Programs today.