The Princeton Review
Ahhh Summer. It's a special time, when different rules apply than the rest of the year. You have a say in what you want to do and the options are plentiful. You can get a job, intern, travel, study, or do nothing at all. It's your choice, although we don't recommend the latter option. We encourage you to think of summer as the time to discover and explore your own interests.
Below is a list of activities and suggestions to keep busy this summer and drive intellectual curiosity:
- READ: If we had to suggest one thing that would increase your grades and test scores, make you a better writer, a better student, and increase your knowledge of the world, it would be to read as many good books as possible. Go where your heart desires. Read newspapers and magazines, even check out a trashy novel or two. But read!
- VOLUNTEER: One of the best things you can do this summer is help your community. It’s never too late to sign up. Most charities need your help and are more than willing to work around your schedule. Call the Sierra Club, Ronald McDonald House, the Coalition for the Homeless, whatever meets your interest. Volunteer work is challenging and rewarding—and it looks great on college applications.
- WORK/INTERN: Summer jobs and internships are great opportunities to learn new skills and meet new people. Although some of the best are probably gone by now, there’s still time to find work. Call local law firms, publishers, radio stations and offer to work for free. If you need the cash, babysit, clean neighbors’ houses, tutor kids, flip burgers—there’s always something you can do to expand your horizons and maybe even make some money.
- CHECK OUT COLLEGES: Go to a library or bookstore and check out the many books on colleges. Think about what you want in a college. Do you want to go to a large state university, a small liberal arts college, or something in between? Surf the web and check out different college web sites. If you can, visit some of the campuses you’re interested in. Even if you’re nowhere near the schools that interest you most, visit a college close to you and talk to professors and administrators to get a sense of what college life is about.
- NETWORK: Interested in Duke University? Curious about a job in entertainment? Talk to someone who goes to Duke. Meet with someone who works at a film studio. You’ll get a good sense if you’re still interested in following those paths. You’d be surprised how happy people are to talk to someone who’s interested in what they do.
- PREPARE FOR THE SAT or ACT (if you will be a Junior or Senior): These tests are pretty terrible, causing much anxiety and measuring little more than how well you take the SAT or ACT. Unfortunately, it’s an incredibly important test and your ability to take it could have a significant impact on the course of your life. If you don’t prepare for the test, you’re losing out to the hundreds of thousands of students who are. Take courses, use books or online drills, but you better prepare, and summer affords you plenty of time to do this. We at The Princeton Review have had years of experience teaching high school students how to increase their scores.
- KEEP A JOURNAL: Along with how well you read, the ability to write well is one of the most important skills you can develop. Keeping a journal is a pressure-free way to express yourself in writing. And it’s a lot more fun than writing essays and book reports.
- HANG WITH MOTHER NATURE: No matter where you live in the US, it’s a short trip to some form of wilderness and/or the beach. This summer might be the perfect time to start hiking or visit the serenity of the ocean. Get out of the city or the suburbs, and hang for some peace of mind.
- DO AT LEAST ONE THING THAT YOU’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE: Experiment. Do something great. Act in a play, spend time with senior citizens, skydive, learn karate. The beauty of it is you’re making your own agenda. Nobody’s telling you what to do, so go crazy.
- LEARN SOMETHING: Just because school’s out, there is no reason to shut off your mind. Instead of learning the concrete curriculum, teach yourself something totally off the roster. Learn about cooking, modern art, blues or whatever interests you. Summer is the perfect time to take control of your education and to learn things that you’re interested in at your own pace. Learn for learning sake.
Now go and truly enjoy your summer.