The Smart Student’s Guide to Summer Wins

Why Your Break Could Be the Best Thing You Do for College (and Yourself)

Let’s be real:
When someone says “summer break,” your brain probably jumps to three things – sleep, chilling with friends, and maybe a vacation (if you’re lucky).

But here’s a secret most successful college applicants know:
Summer is not a break from growth — it’s a runway. 🚀

In the college admissions world, how you spend your summer can speak volumes. It tells colleges what excites you, what you care about, and whether you're someone who takes initiative when there’s no homework due.

So, what have our students done and what can you do with your summer? Let’s dive in.

1. Attend a Summer Program or Camp

From pre-college academic camps to creative bootcamps to debate or tech intensives — there’s something out there for every kind of student.

Student Spotlight: Rhea, Grade 11 – The Budding Biologist
Rhea spent three weeks at the Harvard Pre-College Program exploring neuroscience. Every day was packed with lectures, lab simulations, and late-night dorm debates about ethics in medicine. She didn’t just learn — she thrived. That experience confirmed her interest in studying biology and gave her a compelling “aha!” moment for her college essay.

Student Spotlight: Aditya, Grade 10 – The Aspiring Animator
Aditya joined a summer animation studio bootcamp hosted by a local art collective in Bangalore. He created a short film on climate change and even screened it at a local festival. For a student who’d never shown his sketchbook to anyone before, this was a bold leap into creative confidence.

Why it matters: These programs help you go deep into your interests, meet like-minded peers, and build experiences you can write about. They’re also a great way to explore a potential major — before committing to it.

2. Do an Internship (Yes, Even in High School)

You might think internships are for college students, but many organizations welcome high schoolers — especially those who reach out with genuine curiosity.

Student Spotlight: Kabir, Grade 12 – The Curious Economist
Kabir emailed 10 startups and finally landed an internship at a fintech firm. He didn’t code — he sat in on meetings, edited pitch decks, and shadowed the founder. It wasn’t glamorous, but it opened his eyes to how economics plays out in the real world — and it gave him three great anecdotes for future interviews.

Student Spotlight: Ayesha, Grade 11 – The Psychology Explorer
Ayesha volunteered to transcribe audio notes for a psychology PhD student’s research on adolescent behavior. She later got to help design a survey for the study — and learned how real research actually works (hint: lots of messy data and unexpected questions!).

Why it matters: An internship shows initiative and maturity. It gives you stories to tell, builds communication skills, and often introduces you to mentors who can guide you (and maybe write recommendation letters later!).

3. Take a Course That You Choose

Whether it’s coding with Harvard’s CS50, creative writing on Coursera, or a French course through Duolingo — summer is a great time to learn something because you want to, not because it’s on your syllabus.

Student Spotlight: Tanvi, Grade 11 – The Independent Learner
Tanvi signed up for an online “Introduction to Public Policy” course through edX. She paired it with a weekly blog where she wrote about local government issues in her city. That combo of learning + application helped her stand out when she later applied to a youth parliament program.

Student Spotlight: Mihir, Grade 10 – The Future Game Developer
Mihir, obsessed with video games, decided to try out Unity and took an online course in game design. By August, he had built a simple 2D game — and realized how much math and logic went into game engines. That summer turned a hobby into a possible career path.

Why it matters: Self-driven learning shows colleges that you’re curious, proactive, and willing to stretch beyond what school asks of you. Bonus points if the course ties into your intended major!

4. Volunteer - and Mean It

Forget chasing fancy names. What matters is impact and consistency.

Student Spotlight: Zara, Grade 11 – The Local Changemaker
Zara volunteered with a local charity that distributes meals to homeless communities in her city. She started by helping pack boxes but soon began organizing donation drives at her school. She documented her journey through weekly reflections on Instagram, turning quiet service into visible advocacy.

Student Spotlight: Rohan, Grade 9 – The Tech Mentor
Rohan loved coding and wanted to share it. So he started a weekend program in his building, teaching basic Scratch programming to kids aged 7–10. It wasn’t huge, but the parents loved it — and one of his students built her own animated story by the end of summer.

Why it matters: Colleges value empathy and leadership. Community engagement shows both. Plus, volunteering often teaches you more about the world (and yourself) than any textbook can.

You’re Not “Building a Profile” – You’re Becoming You

It’s tempting to treat all of this like a checklist. But here’s the truth:

Colleges aren’t just looking for perfect profiles.
They’re looking for real people with stories, passion, and purpose.

So yes, explore. But do it because you're genuinely curious.
Reflect. Grow. Give.
You don’t have to do everything.
You just have to do something — with heart.

This summer could be your game-changer.
Make it count. 🌞