Once you have graduated from high school and been accepted into college, the hard work involved in crafting an outstanding application theme and a compelling narrative will be behind you. Still, that doesn’t mean you should just relax during the summer before college. Instead, you should make the most of your summer by spending extra time with family and friends, refining any underdeveloped skills, preparing your résumé for internships and jobs, and beginning the transition to college life. These Ivy League admission tips will help you get ready for your long-awaited first day of college.
Spend Time with Family and Friends
The summer before college is a great time to focus on family, especially if you will be moving far away. Spend quality time together at local events or go on a special family vacation. Further, the summer before freshman year in college will likely be one of your last opportunities to spend time with high school friends, so you should take whatever opportunities are available to enjoy socializing with your peers.
Hone Your Skills
While you can take advantage of the summer to catch up on leisure activities, you should also take out time to consider your weaknesses and hone your skills. If you struggle with time management, for instance, you might read or listen to a few books on how to better manage your time. Other options include participating in a writing workshop, working through online tutorials for Microsoft Office, reading a book on money management, or taking a course on research methods and tools.
Prepare a Résumé
If you have not yet created a résumé, the summer before college is the time to do so. A résumé is not a static document; it should change as you develop new skills, acquire greater work experience, and expand your education. If you created a résumé for the admissions process, you must now update it to reflect that you have graduated from high school and enrolled in college. As you develop or refine your résumé, you should focus on your successes and accomplishments, using numbers to demonstrate impact.
You should also highlight any community projects or nonprofit organizations you have been involved with. Again, the focus should be on impact and measurable results. As you prepare to use your résumé for future internship and job applications, be sure to review and customize it for each new role.
Transitioning Toward College Life
Obviously, the summer before college will be a time of transition. Soon, you’ll experience more freedom as well as increased responsibility. Summer is a good time for you to tie up loose ends and prepare for your new role as a college student.
For example, you might organize your room, update your wardrobe, and get maintenance done on your car. You should make sure that your bank account is easily accessible at college; local and regional banks may not have a branch near the school, so you might have to set up an account at a national bank with branches near the school. Additionally, you may need to shop for clothing and accessories (keeping presentations and interviews in mind), a college planner, a laptop, and other items.
Enjoy Summer Responsibly
Keep in mind that colleges can rescind your acceptance based on behavior. You should be careful about what you post online—admissions officers could deem your social media memes, jokes, or comments inappropriate. Depending on the severity of the charges, getting arrested can also result in a rescind letter.
The path to successful college admissions requires years of hard academic and extracurricular work, but gaining acceptance to a prestigious school is well worth the effort. Book an initial consultation to learn how Ivy League Prep can help you succeed in every stage of the admissions process.
