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Writer's pictureJamie Wallace

How to Spend Your Summer



Congratulations you have made it through another school year. Now what?

Enjoy some time off, relax, regroup. Spend some time not thinking about anything other than the beauty of the sky and the warm feeling of the sun’s rays on your skin (wear sunblock).

Seniors’ Summer

  • Research colleges (Take a look at these posts: http://www.getsmartforcollege.com/single-post/2015/10/17/Getting-Started, http://www.getsmartforcollege.com/single-post/2016/05/19/Making-Choices-about-College

  • Work on and refine your college list

  • Visit colleges . Do you want large, small, urban, suburban, competitive, collaborative etc.

  • Get a copy of your transcript (does not have to be “official”). Available from CCHS by mid-June

  • Focus on your 10-11th grade academic GPA, compare it to range of students admitted to your favorite colleges

  • Wait impatiently for your AP or standardized testing results

  • Get your 12th grade summer work done early

  • Start working on the UC and Common Application (or Coalition Application if applicable). Take your time filling out these applications. Make sure you do them correctly. The submission deadlines are in the Fall or Winter, but it makes it easier if you enter all of your transcript information, extracurricular information, personal data etc. now.

  • UC available August 1, for next college school year. Submission Deadline: Nov. 1- Nov. 30th

  • CSU Deadlines/Availability Oct. 1- Nov. 30

  • Common Application. Available Aug. 1. Application deadline varies by college . Earliest deadline: October 15

  • Coalition Application: Application deadline varies by college

  • Start working on the UC’s Personal Insight Questions ("PIQ"), the Common Application essays, and the Coalition essays. You can work on the personal statement and UC PIQ before finalizing your college list.

  • Research and start applying for private scholarships

  • Prepare for taking or retaking the SAT and ACT in Fall of senior year

  • If you are going into STEM or Engineering consider taking Subject tests: Math 2 and a science. For other majors and schools, check their requirements.

  • Find something interesting and community related to do over the summer. E.g., Volunteer at the CCUSD Summer Program at La Ballona, help the Backpacks for Kids Food Drive in July, get a job, take a class, travel, read, find an internship, and much, much more.

  • Research careers and majors

  • Don’t forget to spend some quality time staring into space and daydreaming

Juniors’ Summer Work

  • Start thinking about what type of college you might want to go to

  • Visit a few colleges to see if you could picture yourself there in a few years

  • Do your CCHS summer work so you can start junior year in the know

  • Look for scholarships available to juniors (if awarded, it will be held for you until college)

  • Do your summer work before the August registration dates

  • Relax, regroup, hang out with family and friends

10th graders, 9th graders, middle school and elementary school students

  • Dream about the future. What might you want to do? Explore the Amazon, write a book, work in a business, develop a cell phone app, create video games, become an astronaut, play volleyball or learn lacrosse, delve into the inner workings of the human mind, try to understand what motivates people, run for political office, learn how to rewire a house, master the internal combustion engine, travel, become a world citizen, create world-changing software, discover cold fusion, understand earthquakes, find a cure, help attack cancer, play the saxophone, rock out, become a teacher….

  • In other words, look into the future and picture yourself going to college and what you will do with your education and the vast possibilities of your life ahead

Make the most of your summer. For the new seniors, put in the effort now so you can ease into senior year and enjoy senior year activities.


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