What Should I Do This Summer for My College Applications?

It's a question I hear constantly from juniors and their parents: "What should my student do this summer to strengthen their college applications?"

The pressure is real. Inbox flooded with promotions for expensive pre-college programs. Friends' kids jetting off to prestigious summer camps that cost more than a semester of college tuition. Stories of classmates "working" in university labs (translation: their parents paid for the privilege).

Here's what I tell every family I work with: You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on a fancy summer program or pay to work in a professor's lab to impress admissions officers.

What Colleges Actually Want to See

Let me be direct about something that might surprise you: colleges aren't looking for manufactured experiences. They're looking for you.

After reviewing thousands of applications throughout their career, admissions officers have finely tuned radar for authenticity. They can distinguish between genuine passion and resume-padding in seconds. They've seen every variation of the "I spent my summer at [prestigious program] and discovered my passion for [impressive-sounding field]" essay.

What does catch their attention? Students who pursue activities that genuinely reflect who they are and what they care about.

The Four Questions That Matter

When evaluating your summer plans, ask yourself whether your activities:

Align with your genuine interests – Not what you think will look good, but what actually excites you. If you hate science, that biology research program isn't going to magically transform your application.

Show initiative and curiosity – Did you seek this out yourself? Did you go deeper when you could have stopped? Did you ask questions and want to learn more?

Help you grow as a person – Will this experience teach you something about yourself, others, or the world? Will you develop new skills or perspectives?

Reflect who you actually are – Could you tell a compelling story about why this matters to you? Does it connect to other parts of your life and interests?

If you can answer yes to most of these questions, you're on the right track. If you're choosing something solely because you think it will impress admissions officers, reconsider.

Real Summer Options That Actually Matter

Here are activities that carry genuine weight in college admissions:

Get a job – Yes, even retail or babysitting counts. Working demonstrates responsibility, time management, and real-world experience. Plus, having a job because you need to contribute to your family or save for college shows character and maturity. Admissions officers respect this.

Volunteer for a cause you care about – Notice I said "a cause you care about," not just racking up community service hours. Find an organization whose mission resonates with you and commit to making a real impact. Depth matters more than breadth.

Pursue a passion project – Always wanted to start a podcast? Create art? Build something? Design a website? Launch a neighborhood initiative? Summer is your time. Self-directed projects showcase creativity, follow-through, and genuine interest.

Read books that challenge you – Intellectual curiosity doesn't require a classroom. Create your own summer reading list on topics that fascinate you. Go deep into subjects you're curious about. This can spark essay topics and demonstrate genuine love of learning.

Spend quality time with family – This one surprises people, but it's true. Whether it's caring for younger siblings, spending time with grandparents, or taking a family road trip, these experiences shape who you are. Colleges value students who prioritize relationships and family responsibilities.

Learn a new skill – Teach yourself to code, take up photography, learn to cook, master a language through apps and practice. Skills developed independently show self-motivation and intellectual curiosity.

The Resume-Padding Problem

Here's an uncomfortable truth: admissions officers can spot resume-padding from a mile away.

They know when a student's summer was orchestrated by anxious parents. They recognize when activities don't connect to anything else in the application. They notice when the "leadership position" was essentially purchased through program fees.

What they want to see are authentic students who pursue what they love with genuine curiosity and commitment. Students who can articulate why they chose their summer activities and what they learned from them. Students whose experiences connect to a larger narrative about who they are and what they value.

My Advice: Do What Matters to You

So this summer, I encourage you to do what matters to you.

Work that job and save money for college. Volunteer at the animal shelter because you love animals. Spend time with your family. Read voraciously. Create something. Learn something new just because you want to.

The students who stand out aren't the ones with the most impressive-looking resume line items. They're the ones who can tell authentic stories about summers spent pursuing genuine interests, developing real skills, and growing as people.

That's what will make your application stand out.

Questions about planning your summer or building an authentic college application? I'd love to help. Contact me to learn more about how The Gradfit supports students and families through the college admissions process.