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Hey, AFL - before you bail out, how about some words of wisdom for HS kids on how to use their summer productively. Some of the most impressive ECs don't just happen during the school year...

By AFL on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 01:09 pm: Edit

Without trying to sound too cute (okay, maybe I'm trying to sound a LITTLE cute...), Dadster, one good way for students to spend a summer "productively" is NOT to spend it PREDICTABLY.

For instance, if you're a well-off Jewish kid, skip those weeks on the Kibbutz (not great timing on that trip right now anyway) and study Chinese or Arabic instead. Ditto for the rest of the moneyed crowd: If you want a broadening and truly educational experience, don't sign up for a pricey enrichment program (e.g, summer sessions at Brown, Harvard, etc.) or even for one of those "volunteer" opportunities that cost Mom and Dad an arm and a leg in room, board, airfare and innoculations. Get a "real" job (the words "Would you like fries with that?" come to mind) and do your volunteering on the side---nice, cheap but important stuff, such as setting up a story hour in an inner-city library.

If work is a must-do in your income bracket, try to land a job that meshes with an area of potential academic interest (a hospital position for aspiring doctors, a newspaper for budding journalists). Of course, even if you see yourself stuck at the same old supermarket cash register you've been manning since September, be creative:
Couldn't you spearhead an effort to give past-its-prime produce to an area shelter?

When it comes to both ECs and summer pursuits, my mantra doesn't change: Don't do anything ONLY because of its anticipated appeal to admission folks. Choose activities that are enjoyable and meaningful to YOU. But... under that "Things I Like To Do" umbrella, hopefully you'll find one or two summer ventures that will be just a tad different from the norm and may make admission officials sit up and take notice when summer is behind you.

That, of course, is where Dave's "student profile marketing" gets important. Colleges can't be impressed by what they don't know--or fully understand.

As for me, Dave, you're onto the wrong scent: I'll take sushi over steak every time.

By Roger (Roger) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 02:06 pm: Edit

Good advice, AFL. I'm a believer in a summer program building on a kid's passion, or at least a strong interest. It won't seem like work, and may end up being a better resume enhancer anyway. My kids both did fairly unique summer programs, and in each case their horizons expanded considerably. Also in each case, their intended career/college interests were impacted by the program they attended.

I do believe a few weeks living on a college campus is a good summer experience and greatly reduces any freshman adjustment period. I'm not a huge fan of the really costly "canned" programs you mention, but lots of colleges have special-interest programs that are reasonable (or in a few cases, free).

By AFL on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 02:28 pm: Edit

BTW, I was recently suprised by a parent I know. She mentioned that her 10th grade daughter, who is interested in biology, will be enrolling at Smith College's science and engineering summer program for high school girls in July. It sounded like a good plan.

Later in the conversation, this same mother also mentioned that, by June, the daughter will have exhausted all the French classes her school offers but doesn't have time in her schedule to take a French class at a community college (or elsewhere outside of school) in the fall. I recommended that they consider a French program for NEXT summer, preferably abroad but possibly closer to home.

"We talked about that," the mother replied, "but I've heard that colleges don't like it if your child pursues one field during one summer and does something completely different the next."

I assured this befuddled parent that admission officers wouldn't look askance at her child for having disparate passions as a teenager. But it did make me wonder who is spreading those nasty rumors.

It isn't you guys, is it?

By Dave Berry on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 04:14 pm: Edit

Not a chance, AFL. Our mantras here have always been "pursue your passions" and "long-term devotion to quality activities."

One particular example I'm thinking of concerns an applicant who had his passion spread out across a fairly large number of "low-quality" interests. After I took a closer look at his activities, it was clear to me that he should have been channeling the vast majority of his energy toward a relatively recently started EC where his talents were perfectly matched.

So, I suggested that he do this, and he took my advice to heart. Although he faced considerable competition when he applied to HYPSM, he managed to score and realize his dreams. I consider him to be very fortunate, because he could have continued frittering away his (what I call) "purity of essence" among a broad range of less-than-ideal pursuits.

Bottom line from this corner: Know thyself and focus who you are on what you do. The rewards can be exciting.

By Shennie (Shennie) on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 05:46 pm: Edit

OK - just a question for discussion. I have a current sophmore. He will have excellent academic stats but probably not apply to top 20 college. He has been spending his summers at a YMCA camp that has a graduated tripping program. Last summer he went backpacking for 2 weeks. This summer, he will be out west packing for 4 weeks. If he wants to, the summer after his junior year he can spend 6 weeks in Alaska packing in the Brooks Range, above the Arctic Circle. He loves doing this.

How do colleges view this kind of activity? He has no desire to do academic stuff in the summer and it is the only time he can do this kind of activity. He is also very active in Scouts. I will not ask him to pursue a different activity just to appeal to a college, I am just curious how colleges see it.

By AFL on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 08:25 am: Edit

What your son is doing is a great example of pursuing a passion, and he should certainly be encouraged in this area. Dave is right: The rewards can be exciting. I know exactly what he means.

However, the key thing will be that your son presents his activities clearly and thoroughly on his applications when the time comes, so that admission officials will get the full impact of his experiences and realize that this was NOT just another "Teen Tour" to the Grand Canyon. I can't begin to tell you how jaded admission officers have become in past decades. Back when I was young (so many, many years ago), if a kid spent 10 days in Europe with grandma, it might stand out on a college application. Now, however, with so many students doing so much in the tripping department (and that meant something different in my day, too!), officials get jaded and may not fully appreciate the depth of a child's experience unless it's pushed right in their faces.

When your son is a senior, you can visit this site and get further pointers on how he can best present his ECs (including this summer adventure and his Scout activities) on his applications.

Keep in mind that even if it's not the Ivy crowd who will be reading them, it still COULD make a difference when it comes to perks like Merit Aid, invitations to join honors programs, etc.

Congrats, BTW, for raising a child with such worthwhile interests. Maybe you can give me some tips in that department. My son just turned 5 (don't ask me how old I was when I had him). Last night he told his father that they would have to "agree to disagree." I'm not sure what the issue in contention was, but it sure looks like I'm in for an exciting ride ahead.

By Non-pro on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 08:37 am: Edit

Shennie, I think it will be fine. I agree with AFL, a lot will depend on the presentation. If he is planning to base an essay on his summer pursuits, I think the adage "it's not what you say but how you say it" applies. Under most circumstances, I expect the tale of a summer adventure told interestingly and articulately would trump a boring recitation of lab research and duties.

By Dadster on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 09:52 am: Edit

I'll echo the other opinions, Shennie, and say that your son's summer adventure sounds like a great choice. As non-pro points out, it could be a great essay choice if well-done. I think summer travels are an overworked theme - I recall that Harry Bauld's book about writing college application essays addresses that topic. (The book is a great read - other application-killer essay topics include "The Big Game" and death of one's pet. Just be sure your son's essay doesn't conclude that, "although Eskimos seem very different at first, we really have a lot in common with them..." According to Bauld, that's how many travel essays wrap up, although instead of "Eskimos" it might be French people, Guatemalans, etc.)

Overall, Shennie, this sounds like a great opportunity for your son - I wish I had six weeks of vacation that I could devote to a similar trip!

By Shennie (Shennie) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 10:52 am: Edit

Thanks for all the great comments! He is a great kid and I am glad that he enjoys doing this. He will be very short in the EC department come application time. Other than Scouts (where he is currently Senior Patrol Leader) and taking private music lessons, he doesn't do much else. He is kind of a solitary kid who enjoys reading and gaming. He is pretty adamant about keeping one night a week free for his role playing game and we agree as long as he maintains his grades. But role playing games don't sell well on a college application

I am trying to get him to add one more activity next year of his choosing. I have never told him he has to look at his activities from a college perspective because I want him to do things because he likes them, not how they appear, but it is something that is in the back of my mind. He will also be taking Calculus next year which will add quite a bit to his homework load. I still haven't quite figured out how all these kids do really high level classes and very time consuming ECs and maintain their sanity. My kids seem to hold their free time at a premium and I try to respect that.

By Dave Berry on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 12:09 pm: Edit

>>He will be very short in the EC department come application time.<<

Shennie, EC impact is a relative thing. It's quality over quantity every time, IMO. As AFL aptly notes, pursuing a passion can be an exciting ride, and there's every reason to believe that your son's scouting activities can be presented in a convincing fashion in his applications. His activities there denote leadership, and colleges are looking for maturity, energy, focus, and articulation in their applicants. I think Scouting has the potential to invest those qualities in young men.

You may have heard of the sometimes less-than-positively used term "hook." Although I have no data on your son, if I were examining his profile, I would question him at length about the variety and depth of his scouting activity. While being careful not to make him appear to be too "Scout heavy," I might suggest that he extract the essential qualities of his Senior Patrol Leader "job description" and carefully weave them into an appealing mosaic of who he is by relating them to other things he does not only in class but also in life. In brief, that's what "profile marketing" is all about.

BTW, I'm always amused to hear parents say, "s/he doesn't do much else." Give me an hour with your son, and I'll wring some not-so-obvious, probably highly impressive (and, therefore, "marketable") qualities about his life to date. That's something I really enjoy doing: discovering all the hidden gems out there.

By Shennie (Shennie) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 01:22 pm: Edit

Dave - thanks for your comments. He is a bit of hidden gem. He is also a tad on the lazy side. We need to continue to push him a bit. (I know this is very normal, but older brother is highly motivated, so it seems like he is a bit more of a slacker than he probably is.) I am not worried about admission with him. He will most likely have a 3.8 UW or above and be in the top 10% of his class. Right now he is just outside of top 10% but I think he will make it in by beginning of Senior year. (He attends a well regarded urban public high school.) He tests well. All along his scores have slightly exceeded the older brother's, so I am predicting SATs in upper 1400's or possiby 1500 and ACT of mid 30's. He will also have 2 years of calculus, 4.5 years of English, 5 years of French and 4.5 years of Science. Since he is not interested in Top 20, I imagine he has a really good shot at almost anything else.

Right now, he is not terribly interested in looking at colleges, but has expressed interest in attending school in the northwest. He likes the idea of being near the mountains and ocean and would like to continue to participate in camping and hiking activities throughout college. An active outing club is high on his list. He is considering majors in English or Biology, possibly both.

I am hoping to take him out there next spring to look at Whitman, Reed, University of Puget Sound and Lewis and Clark. We will see what develops. Just when you think you have them all figured out, they usually throw a monkeywrench into the works...

By Dave Berry on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 03:08 pm: Edit

Wow, if your boy has that kind of profile, Shennie, the colleges in which he may be interested might well send a car for him (with lots of merit aid stashed in the trunk!). Please keep us posted.

By Shennie (Shennie) on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 08:13 pm: Edit

Merit Aid would certainly be nice

By AFL on Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 10:19 pm: Edit

Shennie-If your travel docket is not too full when you head west next spring, you might want to add Willamette U. (Salem, OR) to the list. It has a reputation for satisfied students and strong academics, but not SO strong that your son won't be near the top of the list for one of those trunkloads of cash that Dave mentioned. Go to their Web site (www.willamette.edu) and check out some of the big-bucks merit-aid offerings and, with them, the profiles of the award winners. Looks like your son is a contender for sure.

By Aramis (Aramis) on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 03:46 pm: Edit

Shennie - If he's thinking of the PNW, he may even be interested in the University of British Columbia. The same weather expectations as Seattle, and a beautiful location.

By Aramis (Aramis) on Friday, March 29, 2002 - 05:24 pm: Edit

Dave wrote - "pursue your passions" and "long term
devotion to quality activities"

What would you classify as quality activities (not including the obvious such as national champion, or prize-winning pianist) and "low-quality interests"?

I've read many posts stating "excellent EC's" but
never being specific as to what they are.

I'm curious what the following would be considered:

My daughter's EC's are: hunter/jumper equestrian
from the age of 5. She has her own pony. Naturally, this takes up most of her free time
(and my paycheck!).

She volunteers with a therapeutic horse center, once a week (gets the ponies and horses tacked up and leads them during the lessons)which
is a program for handicapped children to have riding lessons.

Part-time job - cleaning an office once a week.

She plays the guitar/electric guitar(6 years so far)

She draws beautifully but prefers sculpting.
Her school schedule doesn't allow a spot for Art,
though she had an intensive Art 1 class in Grade 8 which, we were told, she received a high school credit. She belongs to the school Art Club which she says is a joke (baby stuff).

If the Arch. summer doesn't work out for her, she will probably like to do an Art program, next summer.

Naturally, she wouldn't change any of the EC's as she loves it all and I hadn't even thought about it until I read posts on EC's and the quality.

By Dave Berry on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 09:51 am: Edit

Aramis, your daughter has an instinct for what I would call "high-quality activities." Her reaction to "Art Club" is right on the money.

IMO, when students (sometimes known as "serial joiners") present a string of "low-quality" clubs that, in most schools, do not inspire depth of intellectual endeavor, admissions offices tend to be terribly unimpressed. Your daughter will suffer no such fate on her applications.

Even her cleaning job is a character builder and, if she sticks with it, will prove to be a plus in her applications. In fact, if she does stay with it, she might even be able to make an interesting anecdotal reference to it in one of her essays or short responses. ("Trying to guess what people are like by looking at their workplaces after hours can be fascinating..." etc.) Now that's a lead that would make me want to read the rest.

Your daughter's on the right track, Aramis. Your wallet is doing a good job of keeping her there (and she's even helping out herself)!

By Shennie (Shennie) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 11:17 am: Edit

AFL and Aramis - Thanks for the suggestions. I will certainly look into both places. Although after I do research on schools in the PNW, he will probably change his mind and decide he really wants to go to south Florida

By Aramis (Aramis) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 12:29 pm: Edit

Shennie - I'm certainly no expert but the scouting EC seemed to have helped with my in-laws family (husband and brother-in-law both were Eagle and sister-in-law was a golden girl scout - or whatever they call it!). They were accepted at top schools they applied to. Granted this was back in the mid-70,s but recently a group of six Golden Girl Scouts were featured in our local newspaper stating that they were also accepted in top schools (2001). I've heard that there is a great deal involved in "completing" a scout career which seems to impress admissions. In particular the "Community Project" required for Eagle and Golden scouts.

By Dave Berry on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 01:36 pm: Edit

Aramis, quick question: In recalling a recent conversation I had about the relative value of certain ECs, I was intrigued by the seeming "disparity," if you will, between your daughter's (what some might view as "privileged") equestrian pursuits and her "character-building" cleaning job. My question is: Does your daughter work as part of an organized cleaning crew (Merry Maids, for example), moving from office to office, or is she an "independent contractor," working for a specific client (relative, perhaps?)?

I'm asking this because I'm always looking for creative ways to approach application essays (as I noted in my previous response). I see some (if you'll pardon the pun) "neat" possiblities to juxtapose horses and handiwipes. Thanks for your participation here.

By Aramis (Aramis) on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 05:52 pm: Edit

Oh, Dave! I had to laugh out loud reading the
"privileged" equestrian pursuits. We are FAR from
wealthy, as we have our own business, a travel agency, and barely make ends meet. A 1/3 of my paycheck goes towards boarding the horse. My husband and I drive 10-year-old vehicles.

I can't stress enough, the "character building" this sport offers. My daughter is completely responsible for the care of the horse, she's competed in horseshows, missed jumps, fallen off - gets back on. Even when she has a ton of homework, she will go to barn first, excercise, bathe the horse and do her homework afterwards. I put on my chauffeur hat many times during the week.

Also, there are some "fancy" barns which do all the work for you and even provide grooms at shows which, in that case, if a (privileged!) child was involved that way, *and* cleaned an office, your approach would work. These would be children that show in the A circuit.

If you ever need detailed info on the equestrian sport and what I've observed over the years, (this was all new to me, as well until my daughter started riding when she was 5)let me know.

As for her job cleaning the office - She wanted to
earn money to pay for horse incidentals and riding clothes. We cancelled the cleaning company who did our travel agency office and officially hired our daughter. She must buy all the cleaning supplies herself and has opened her own checking/savings account. This in itself was a learning experience for her.

If we were well-off, we would hire you in a minute as her college counsellor. LOL - Instead I'm the one doing all the research in my (spare?) time I never went to college so this is a huge learning experience for me.

I do have another question - my daughter has a permanent resident green card (dual citizen of Norway/Canada). Will that fact hold her back in the admission process? I've noticed many scholarships require applicants to be US Citizens which I totally understand.

Thank you, very much for all your comments!

By AFL on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 07:51 pm: Edit

Aramis—As I’ve said before, I don’t think that a student should ever give up a passion because it isn’t the “right” one to impress admission officials. You should know, however, that among some such officials, equestrian activities are perceived as the domain of the privileged, and thus—-in some not quite definable way—-perhaps not as worthwhile as other pursuits. I know that—-if this was once true—-it certainly isn’t any more, and, in order to finance their endeavors, many of today’s young riders spend as much time mucking out stalls or working after-school jobs as they do on their steeds.

However, as you approach the application process with your daughter, it can’t hurt to know that this misconception will be out there, however inaccurate it may be. In fact, you might even be able to use it to your advantage. I’m sure admission officials would love a cute poem or essay that refutes their prejudices (e.g., “Equity for Equine Aficionados: Why Are Riders Saddled with Stereotypes?”). Something like this would certainly set your daughter apart and also open a few eyes.

Keep in mind, too, that many colleges and universities have equestrian teams (including the vaunted Ivies), and that riding is indeed an up-and-coming sport among colleges at all academic and NCAA levels. In fact, it’s getting hotter all the time, and if a coach sees your daughter as a prospect (and--at least at the Division III level--almost every serious equestrienne is considered a prospect) then her experience and abilities will actually serve as a “hook” at decision time. Make sure you contact coaches at all colleges you are considering.

p.s. The fact that you never attended college yourself can actually be another “hook.” Many schools pay extra attention to “first generation” applicants.

By AFL on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 09:52 pm: Edit

Another p.s., Aramis...

Your daughter shouldn't be held back in the admission process as long as she does have that green card (I assume it's an I-151, I-551, or I-551C Alien Registration Receipt Card--not sure what other options there are.) This will make her (and YOU!) eligible for federal aid from the U.S. government.

While there are bound to be some scholarships restricted only to U.S. citizens, many such private scholarships have numerous other restictions as well (child of military veteran, resident of a particular city, county, or state, etc.)

As far as I know, your daughter's green card will also enable her to receive institutional grant aid (i.e., money that comes directly from the college she attends), just as if she was a U.S. citizen. Of course, it never hurts to check this out individually with each college you investigate.

BTW, this isn't an official answer--it's just based on my own knowledge and experience. In other words, it's free advice, and you may be getting what you are paying for!

By Dadster on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 05:39 pm: Edit

Good input, AFL. I haven't seen the issue of reverse discrimination against equestrian enthusiasts raised anywhere else. Might be the biggest post-Bakke issue yet!

On a more serious note, I think the horsey comments from both Dave & AFL are on the money - deal openly with the fact that it sounds like a "snooty" pursuit like yacht racing and turn it into a positive example of hard work and, maybe, unjust stereotyping. Lots of good essay fodder there...

By MA MOM on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 - 03:46 pm: Edit

My daughter is a junior in high school and has been begging us to let her join a friend who will be attending a 6-week summer program on the campus of U.C. Santa Barbara. We have already nixed that plan (too much money, and too much time--given other summer commitments) but I have agreed to be on the look-out for a shorter (and hopefully cheaper) opportunity that would offer an insider's peek at campus life.

Can anyone recommend such a program that would last no longer than three weeks? My daughter is especially interested in creative writing, but we would be open to other suggestions as well.

By Dave Berry on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 - 09:43 pm: Edit

MA Mom, check out the admission requirements for CTY programs and then check the list of still-open programs. The locations might not be real sexy, but the offerings are pretty cool. The overview describes these three-week programs in detail.

There are a number of great courses going on at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, where my daughter worked as a TA for CTY. That's near Hershey, which is just down the highway a piece.

By MA MOM on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 - 11:05 pm: Edit

Thanks, Dave, I checked out those suggestions, and they look great...in fact so much so that I'd like to be heading down that highway to Hershey myself. The only problem is that there's an age restriction that I noticed (maybe I could fudge it? Youth is definitely wasted on the young!). In fact, my daughter even misses the cut-off by three months. She turns 17 in June, which makes her ineligible. (I wonder if there is some sort of back-door way to get into those open slots. I may contact the organization anyway.)

Meanwhile, I will keep looking for other ways to approach this whole new experience. Again, thanks for your good ideas...anything else you can come up with will be welcome.

By Dave Berry on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 07:07 am: Edit

Too bad about the age issue, MA Mom. However, maybe CTY could cut you some slack and she could slide in under the radar. Here's another hot spot for you, though: Peterson's summer-program search page where you can:

- Search Programs by Name
- Search Programs by Location
- Search Programs by Activities Offered
- Search for Day/Residential/Travel Programs
- Search for Special Needs Programs
- Search for a Great Summer Job

The summer that lies ahead offers a wonderful opportunity for bright students (of any age!) to explore new vistas in far-away places. The thrill of getting to know new people whose interests and goals are the same as ours can be quite stimulating and give rise to inspired directions for the future.

When I was in high school, I applied to the now-long-defunct Cornell University New Trends summer program, designed for young men (yes, it was sexist) seeking ways to apply their original thinking to exisiting technological resources. I decided not to go though, and ended up playing (and losing) tennis tournaments instead. Typical.

Keep us posted on possibilities, Mom, but don't wait too long to act. To paraphrase ancient wisdom, the early bird gets the worm, but she who waits has to fork over a late-entry fee.

By MA Mom on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 08:39 am: Edit

Again, Dave. I can't thank you enough. You know, I thought about trying Peterson's, since they're noted for having among the best COLLEGE guide books around, but I've had some trouble with their Web site in the past (and thus prefer YOURS) so I didn't go there. I needed the nudge from you.

We've told our daughter she can go as far as about 9 hours away by car (we figure it's a day's drive), and there seem to be several options that fit the bill.

Will stay on top and get back to you with more details.

By Shennie (Shennie) on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 11:10 am: Edit

Check out programs offered by the Center for Talent Development at Northwestern. I think they have some college level classes for juniors and seniors. Don't know the website, but it should be easy to find. Programs are offered at various sites in the midwest.

By MA MOM on Thursday, April 11, 2002 - 03:27 pm: Edit

Thanks for your idea, Shennie. I'm going to try to find that site now. (I was tempted to let my daughter do some of this legwork herself instead, but I think that a little prescreening by Mom can't hurt!)

By ww on Friday, May 10, 2002 - 05:43 pm: Edit

I'm going to Brown this summer for their seven week program with two college credit courses. Is it really so bad to go there when it is what you really want? It's not like everyone who can pay will get accepted, and I am a sophomore this year while a majority of those accepted are juniors.

Opinions?

By AFL on Saturday, May 11, 2002 - 12:12 pm: Edit

It is never "bad" to do something productive that you want to do. It makes me crazy that my generation (that's the middle-aged gang) seems to have created a system where teenagers are making too many choices based on what "looks good" to top-college admission folks.

I was still going to summer camp when I was a high school sophomore, thinking about short-sheeting counselor beds, not impressing college administrators.

Enjoy your time at Brown. Maybe the classes there will introduce you to lifelong passions or at least will help you decide what you DON'T want to study down the road. Certainly you will also have a valuable introduction to dorm and campus life. This may even provide fodder for a thoughtful application essay later on. (One of the best ones I ever read was about a roommate and a laundry mishap that took place during a summer program not unlike yours.)

It's true that admission officials can be pretty jaded and do tire of applicants--particularly those from privileged backgrounds--who go on and on in interviews about snazzy summer programs as if they've survived great hardships or achieved inspiring things by attending them. But, at the same time, they do appreciate students who explore academic interests in the summer, and--especially as a sophomore--if this is what you want, then you're right where you should be.

Have fun. Ignore your critics. And next year, you may come up with something completely different that will complement the choice you're making now.

By MG on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 03:27 am: Edit

Just curious...

I am a high school junior attending a "nationally prestigious private high school." I am trying to figure out which summer activites to pursue and was looking for suggestions. Here's some info:

The summer after my freshman year, I attended 2 science/engineering camps, one at Michigan Tech University and another at St. Cloud State University. Last summer I received a scholarship to study in France. This year, I have applied to a Junior Statesmen Program and a session at Washington and Lee. I am also considering some volunteer work and trying to get an internship at the local newspaper.

My question is really this--do my interests look too "broad"? I mean this in the best sense possible, as I truly enjoy science, French, and government and wish to pursue all of them. However, reading my resume, one would immediately recognize that I am foremost a writer--I am an editor for both the literary magazine and the newspaper and have won several writing awards. I genuinely love all of the activities I pursue, but are they just too diverse to look substantial? Thanks in advance for your help!

By Shennie (Shennie) on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 11:34 am: Edit

I think that as long as you can handle your different activities, go for it. If you really enjoy what you are doing, then I think adolescence should be a time to explore different things to find out where your real passions are. I think that eclectic people have a real advantage in the world, in that they easily adapt and often have odd collections of skills that are not easily found. When applying for colleges, I think it is important to emphasize your interest in lots of different things. Dave Berry can probably give you some advice on how to "package" that so that it does not look like you are involved in stuff just to put it on your resume.

By Dave Berry on Friday, May 17, 2002 - 11:22 am: Edit

MG, try to find some kind of common thread that connects your apparently eclectic endeavors. Think about your life and what "turns you on" (motivates you). When it gets to be application time, you'll want to "market" yourself under the umbrella of something like "poet-scientist," "journalist-philosopher," or whatever. The key to success is to present yourself as being focused (as in pretty much "knowing who you are") so that your wide-ranging activities don't make you appear to be willful or wandering. As long as you present some reasonable rationale for your "roadmap," colleges will respect your self-assessment.

By Mary Henderson on Sunday, June 09, 2002 - 09:09 pm: Edit

My daughter is going out of the country as an exchange student with a well known program for the fall of her senior year. How do you think colleges will view this?

By Dadster on Sunday, June 09, 2002 - 09:45 pm: Edit

Hi, Mary, I'd say the benefits of an exchange program depend on how she presents it in her app. It certainly won't hurt, but just by itself it won't make her stand out from the pack. On the other hand, if she does something interesting while abroad, if she pursues an extracurricular that ties into her trip, if the trip ties into her academic objectives, or if she can turn some aspect of her program into a great essay, then it could help. (A note of caution on the latter: I think it's Bauld's essay book that ridicules some essays written by returning exchange students - the most overused conclusion is "... I realized that despite our differences, people are really the same everywhere." Bauld's book is really funny, and I recommend it.)

By California Mom (Calmom) on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 04:19 am: Edit

Hi, my son wrote a great essay based on experiences drawn from his summer foreign exchange in Thailand, used it on all his college apps, and was very successful with it.

But no, it didn't say "I realized that despite our differences, people are really
the same everywhere." Instead, he kind of glossed over the "rewarding experience" part and plunged right into an eye-opening, shocking experience (he wrote about the sex industry in Pattaya Beach)... and drew an unexpected conclusion. I saw it as a "risk" essay, but he was accepted at 8 out of 9 colleges he applied to, waitlisted at the other ...

I'm not suggesting that foreign exchange students should go for shock value but it helps to pay attention to detail, and relate something of importance that is unique to the student's experience. I do think that a summer in a third-world country gave my son something a lot more interesting to write about than life in our laid-back suburban community.

Here's a suggestion: before the student goes, she should write a short list of what she thinks she will experience. Then, when it is time to write an essay, anything that was on that list of what she expected should be discarded -- too predictable!

My son also came back with some hilarious stories about transportation and driving habits in Thailand, as well as some embarassing culture-clash issues when he realized, too late, that he had committed some horrible faux pas. Any one of those stories would have been a good starting point for a great essay.

By Smiles on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 03:31 pm: Edit

I have been deeply involved in service for years, and I have a passionate interest in early childhood education, particularly of special needs youngsters. Is spending the summer doing a 20 hour-per-week volunteer internship at a school for children with autism a "quality" way to spend the summer? Thanks! :-)

By California Mom (Calmom) on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 05:17 pm: Edit

Smiles,
It definitely is a quality experience. My daughter worked with autistic children through a peer-to-peer program at her elementary school, an extension of "reading buddies" to include the children from the autism special ed. class. She became so close to her autistic buddy that she requested to continue working with the child after the end of her school assignment period; she would also spend time during school recesses visiting or working with the autistic child. Although my daughter was only in 6th grade at the time, she wrote an article about her experiences that was very moving (and was published in a local paper). My daughter's article was about how very different each child labeled "autistic" was in terms of their abilities, disabilities, needs and interests -- what my daughter had learned through her own work and observations is that the label "autism" was not very useful at all in terms of figuring out how to connect with the individual student.

Good luck with your work. Given your interests, I don't think there is a better way you could spend your summer.

By Mary Henderson on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 06:24 pm: Edit

Thanks for the essay tips. My daughter will actually be going to school in the Latin American country she has chosen. She will be living with a local family during that time and will return in January to finish her senior year. The courses she will take will be taught in the native language. I have been told that many colleges look upon this in a positive way (this is not the reason she has chosen to do this). Does anyone have knowledge about this or is it just hype?

By Smiles on Monday, June 10, 2002 - 09:04 pm: Edit

Thanks, California. Sounds like a wonderful thing that your daughter did... I'm sure she made a real difference in the life of that autistic child. I certainly agree with her insights about the worthlessness of labeling. I'm hoping that my relationships with some of the children will continue through the year.

I've had a couple experiences with autistic children before (as a special needs camp counselor, etc). I'm hoping that I will learn a lot about the thereputic approaches and be able to make a contribution. In order to prepare for the experience, I've read a lot of literature about autism...Hope I'll be prepared. Thanks for the input! Smiles. :-)

By A Fan on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 07:59 am: Edit

With reference to the first message of this discussion: if you wouldn't mind saying, where are you bailing to, AFL --- and why???

By Smiles on Thursday, June 13, 2002 - 09:24 pm: Edit

Just wondering whether the summer internship I described a couple of posts ago will seem to cynical college admissions committees to be just another thing that a kid did to impress them. In fact, I am doing it because I have a passion for special needs education of small children, and I am extremely dedicated to service... Do you think that they will recognize this fact or not? (just curious-I'm doing it regarldess of its effects on college). BTW--I'm a sophomore hoping to look at Ivies and top LACs. Thanks! Smiles to all! :-)

By mgs on Friday, June 14, 2002 - 05:35 am: Edit

Any info on the Telluride program sponsored by Cornell? Just curious.

By sgandhi on Sunday, June 16, 2002 - 03:53 pm: Edit

Question: Does anyone have an opinion about those summer research programs for high school students (e.g. RSI at MTI, NASA SHARP PLUS, etc.)?

By Smiles on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 01:36 am: Edit

Calmom--I've been working with the kids for a couple weeks now, and I can certainly see what your daughter found so rewarding! It really is a wonderful experience... Although college considerations have nothing to do with my motivation, how do you guys think it will seem in terms of that? Thanks! Smiles to all. :-)

By amy on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 04:15 pm: Edit

Hi,
I am interested in volunteering with horse therapy riding programs. Could someone please tell me how to get started. I am in the Metro Detroit area.
Thank you very much, have a wonderful day!
Amy