Need help planning your summer? That’s crazy, because that’s like, a big part of what we do. And no, we’re not going to suggest a cool international vacation or a sports camp or a mission trip. We want you to use your summer to build out your niche so that when you apply to college they know exactly what you’re about.
So what is a niche when it comes to college admissions? Let’s do an example. One student is interested in computer science and has taken AP Comp Sci and maybe did a coding camp a few summers ago. Another comp-sci-minded student has built several apps, teaches coding to kids, and helped a professor do research and got published. If you’re a college looking at these two kids, who do you think is better prepared to major in computer science? Probably student 2, aka the one who developed their niche. And there is no better time to develop a niche than the summer. Let’s dive into some ideas on how you can best utilize this uninterrupted chunk of time.
Summer Programs
Top-tier colleges across the world offer summer programs to plucky teens looking to expand their knowledge. You could opt for a pre-college program at a school like Harvard or Stanford, in which you take one college class over a few weeks, get some credit, and get to have a nice little mini-college experience. You can also take a program that’s a little more focused, like Penn’s Wharton programs or UCLA’s dedicated film program.
So you’ve identified a bunch of super-cool summer programs and now you can’t decide. Remember, we’re building a niche here. You can’t do a pre-law program and then a chemistry one. It doesn’t make sense!! Pick the thing you’re most into and stick with it.
Online Classes
Similar to summer programs, some colleges like Cornell or Columbia offer online college courses to give you credit and exposure to your potential niche. However, this isn’t the only way to take an online course. If you’re dedicated to exploring your interests, there are hundreds upon thousands of classes you can take through sites like Coursera, Linkedin Learning, The Great Courses, and more. These classes will allow you to self-direct yourself, so if you learn about a cool topic in one class, you can seek out another that allows you to get a level deeper.
Get a Job
Colleges like to see students who take responsibility! Jobs are a great way to do that, plus, you get money. Nice. Bonus points if you can find a job that works into your niche, so if you’re into computer science, maybe you work at a coding camp. There are a lot of ways to apply this, even if you can’t actually do the thing you want to do. You could be a receptionist, do part-time sales at a shop, whatever.
Intern
Interning as a high school student (and tbh, even as a college student) is kind of a mixed bag, if that mixed bag was like 90% rusty nails and 10% doughnuts or something. It is hard to find an internship that gives you a meaningful experience, meaning you’re not just relegated to making copies or getting coffee or being asked to silently sit in the corner. However, if you can find an internship in your chosen niche where you actually get to do cool stuff or complete a project, then you should go for it.
Research
The golden goose of summer plans!! Conducting research with a college professor, especially if it gets published, is one of the best ways to stand out with your niche in college applications. Once you’ve developed that niche a little bit (with classes or reading), you should research professors who also focus on your interest area. Once you have your list, start emailing them and pitch yourself as their research assistant. You will get way more ‘nos’ than yesses, so don’t get discouraged. But, professors often love talking about their research area, so even if they aren’t all yesses, you might get some good connections out of it.
Your summer is yours entirely to design and execute. We know, that’s kind of scary, but not impossible. You don’t get a lot of uninterrupted time as a high school student, so it’s best to use this chunk of time away from school to pursue your own academic interests. Deadlines for summer programs, classes, and internships are approaching, so it’s time to kick it into gear to secure your summer plans.
If you need help navigating high school, developing your extracurriculars, or planning your summer, reach out to us today.