Make Your Summer Count
With college admissions growing more competitive each year, summer break has evolved from simple downtime into a crucial period for building your application profile. The key isn’t necessarily doing something extraordinary—it’s about choosing experiences that demonstrate genuine engagement and personal growth.
Why Summer Matters More Than Ever
As application pools continue expanding nationwide, admissions officers increasingly look for students who’ve used their time intentionally. Summer offers a unique window when you’re free from the daily grind of classes and can pursue deeper interests or explore new territories entirely.
This isn’t about padding your resume with impressive-sounding activities. Instead, view summer as your chance to engage in meaningful exploration—whether that’s diving deeper into a subject that fascinates you, gaining real-world experience in a potential career field, or developing skills that will serve you throughout college and beyond.
Academic Exploration: Testing the Waters
Local College Experiences: San Diego offers more academic opportunities than you realize. Higher Ed institutions in our own backyard frequently open their summer programs to high school students, offering everything from remedial courses to advanced topics your school might not provide. This approach lets you experience college-level work while staying close to home.
Virtual Learning Opportunities: Online education has transformed the possibilities for summer learning. Programs such as UC Scout and online course availability have provided students with the opportunity to challenge themselves and add versatility to the academic profiles they share with the colleges to which they apply.
Important Note: LJCDS considers these classes to be enrichment courses. They will not appear on your transcript, be calculated into your LJCDS GPA, or count toward your LJCDS graduation requirements.
Immersive Campus Programs: For students ready to venture further from home, colleges nationwide offer two distinct summer experiences:
- Pre-college academic programs allow you to earn actual college credits while living on campus, eating in dining halls, and experiencing authentic college life. These programs typically last several weeks and provide genuine insight into what your college experience might look like.
- Pre-college enrichment courses focus on specialized topics over shorter periods—usually one to three weeks. While you won’t earn transferable credit, these programs offer intensive exploration of specific interests and the chance to connect with like-minded peers.
Making Your Choice Count
The most valuable summer experiences share certain characteristics: they challenge you to grow, connect with your genuine interests, and provide stories worth telling in college essays and interviews. Whether you choose academic programs, internships, volunteer work, or creative projects, focus on depth over breadth.
Remember, admissions officers can distinguish between students who’ve simply collected experiences and those who’ve used their summer to genuinely develop as individuals. Choose activities that excite you personally—your authentic engagement will shine through in your applications.
