Neil Chyten
Summers hold a student’s best opportunities to engage in activities that can significantly boost their college applications. Since applications cover a student’s record from 9th through 12th grade, it’s imperative for students who plan to apply to highly competitive colleges to plan meaningful summer experiences—especially after 10th and 11th grade. Many colleges, and the Common Application itself, ask students to list their activities, which will become a significant contributor to their overall admission profiles.
However, not all summer activities add value to a college application. Some, while enjoyable, may actually weaken an applicant’s profile. For instance, attending a traditional summer camp is fun, but it won’t make a student stand out. Similarly, family vacations—though valuable for personal growth—don’t contribute much in the eyes of admissions officers when compared to students using that time for more strategic pursuits.To make the most of summer, students should focus on activities that align with their interests, demonstrate commitment, and strengthen their case for admission to a specific college or program. For example, if a student is passionate about engineering, participating in an engineering research project or internship will reinforce their application far more than an unrelated activity. But buyer beware. Some programs are far better than others and may offer significantly more value to a student’s unique selling proposition.
Not all activities are created equal when it comes to college admissions. Here are five that may do more harm than good:
The 5 WORST Summer Activities for College Applications
1. SAT/ACT Prep
Standardized test scores matter, but dedicating an entire summer to prep is not a good use of time. A few focused weeks of summer prep is fine, leaving room for more meaningful activities that actually strengthen a student’s application. Test prep is typically better done during the school year. Usually one to two hours of tutoring per week, plus an additional 2-3 hours of practice per week, is sufficient.
2. Hanging Out with Friends or Spending Endless Hours Playing Video Games
Summer is a great time to relax and recharge, but spending the entire break just socializing or playing games is a wasted opportunity. A couple of weeks for fun? Absolutely. But after that, it’s time to engage in activities that enhance skills, boost resumes, show passion, demonstrate leadership, prove character, or satisfy intellectual curiosity.
3. Extended Family Vacations
Traveling is a fantastic way to experience new cultures, but taking a summer-long vacation after 9th, 10th, or 11th grade can weaken an application. Unless a trip includes a meaningful component—such as community service, language immersion, or an academic program—it’s best to keep vacations short and spend the rest of the summer in activities that demonstrate initiative and drive.
4. Preparing for Math or Science Competitions without a Realistic Chance of Top Performance
Unless a student is already at an elite level with a strong shot at winning, spending an entire summer preparing for high-level academic competitions is a gamble. The time could be better spent on internships, research projects, or independent initiatives that yield tangible results. However, if a student is highly competitive in a particular field and has a shot at placing in a prestigious competition, then it can be a worthwhile pursuit.
5. Summer-Long College Visit Road Trip
Visiting colleges is important, but spending an entire summer traveling to 10+ schools is excessive. A handful of well-planned visits over a week or two is more than enough. Instead, use summer for activities that will strengthen applications across all colleges. There are plenty of other opportunities for campus visits—such as during long weekends, spring break, or holiday breaks.
The 5 BEST College-Focused Summer Activities
1. Internships or Research
Securing an internship can be challenging, but the payoff is immense—especially if it aligns with a student’s interests. The best internships or research opportunities result in tangible outcomes, such as a published paper, a presentation, a poster, or a strong recommendation letter. Conducting research with a college professor is particularly valuable, but even independent research can be impressive, if there’s concrete evidence to support it. Colleges expect to see a concrete outcome that serves as both a validator and proof of intellectual curiosity and dedication.
2. Academic Enrichment Programs
Many top-tier academic programs offer students the chance to deepen their knowledge in a particular subject or refine their skills. Science, business, and writing programs are especially well-regarded. However, students should carefully evaluate these programs, as some hosted on elite college campuses may be more about prestige and profit than academic rigor. The best programs are those that provide meaningful learning experiences rather than just an expensive certificate.
3. Community Service
Volunteering remains a significant factor in college admissions, as it reflects a student's dedication to making a positive impact. Meaningful service work—especially when connected to a student’s academic or extracurricular passions—can be particularly compelling. When selecting a program, students should research organizations carefully to ensure they are truly service-oriented rather than commercially driven. Authentic, long-term commitment to a cause can make a strong impression on admissions officers.
4. Relevant Extracurricular Enhancement Programs
Students who are highly engaged in a particular activity—whether it’s athletics, writing, art, or another field—can benefit from specialized summer programs. For example, elite athletes may attend ID camps, aspiring writers can join prestigious workshops, and talented musicians or artists can train with experts. The key is choosing programs that genuinely strengthen a student’s profile and further their demonstrated interests.
5. Independent Projects
A unique, large-scale independent project can make an application stand out. Whether it’s traveling to the Middle East to study the origins of modern religions, building a life-size race car to explore aerodynamics, founding a nonprofit to raise awareness for a cause, or interviewing climate activists around the world for a documentary, a well-executed project showcases initiative, creativity, and depth of interest. Projects that produce tangible results—such as a website, publication, or event—are especially compelling to colleges.By choosing summer activities strategically, students can develop experiences that not only enrich their personal growth but also enhance their narrative for top colleges to consider. At Avalon, we provide students with a list of activities that have been fully vetted and reviewed. This helps students avoid paying for high-priced programs that have little or no value in favor of programs that provide a significant boost to an application.
