How to Choose a Summer Program That Will Impress Admissions Officers

Written by Sienna, Princeton University

With an increasing number of summer options available to high school students, choosing the right summer program requires a few key points of consideration. In this blog post we dive into what you should look for in a summer program to maximize your value for time. 

Merit over Money 

One of the most common mistakes that families make when choosing a summer program with their high school student is to think that the expense = prestige in the eyes of college admissions officers. This could not be further from the truth. While there are some fantastic summer programs that do happen to be expensive, just because a summer program is expensive does not mean it will in any way give you a leg up in the admissions process. 

What colleges are actually looking for in your summer activities is something that demonstrates merit. This means that selective programs that require particular skills, extensive applications, or require you to somehow differentiate yourself from the crowd are preferred. 

A Unique Edge

One size does not fit all when it comes to successful college applications, which is why your summer activities should be a reflection of that unique element that you have to offer. Using myself as an example, I was highly interested in the environment and conservation work throughout high school and I used my summers to develop this passion through projects in my hometown both with small community non-profits and larger organizations like the National Park Service. These projects were specific to my hometown and my positions of leadership in these endeavors made them impossible for another college applicant to either intentionally or coincidentally replicate.

Therefore, when you have multiple options for summer activities, particularly in the later years of high school, choose the activities that are not widely available for most students or which most students would not automatically think to engage in. In this regard it is great to seek out your own opportunities (bonus points here because it shows colleges that you can take initiative), whether it be asking an individual or company you admire for a mentorship/ internship opportunity, launching your own project, or starting your own small business. 

Quantifiable Achievement 

Another metric that you can use to evaluate the value of a summer program is whether it provides you the opportunity to demonstrate quantifiable achievement. Essentially, does the program provide some measure of ranking, particular award for skill, etc?

Again using my own experiences as an example, during my junior summer I participated in American Legion Auxiliary Girls’s State, which is a week-long summer program that teaches young women about US government, civic engagement , and leadership. The long running history of the program and its reputation, as well as the fact that selection for the program is based on the quality of a student’s application made it a positive attribute on my resume alone. However, what really made this activity shine was that from this state-wide program I was then selected as one of two girls from each state, for a combined total of only 100 girls nationally, to attend American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation in Washington D.C. - a competitive selection process based on interviews, essays, and performance at the state level program. My selection to represent my state on a national level through this program provided a form of quantifiable achievement because I could point to having had to pass a process for selection based on merit and the limited number of spots lend credibility to the program’s rigor. 

Sometimes Name Does Matter

While it is important to engage in unique summer activities in the eyes of admissions officers, college courses or other summer programs at reputable institutions are still a viable option - it's more about how you use it and how it relates back to your overall profile. For example, if you are interested in STEM, you might consider a course at Johns Hopkins, Stanford,  or another science-heavy university that provides you the chance to really grow your knowledge in this field in a tangible and specific way. Having the name of these prestigious institutions on your resume will demonstrate that you are likely academically ambitious, but you should also keep in mind pillar 1 of choosing a college program in that if you can simply pay your way in, it's probably not as impressive. 

That being said, there are a number of summer programs run by colleges that accept students on a selective, an application-only basis and these are the programs to target if it's a summer course that you are interested in. 

Genuine Interest 

Summers are a wonderful time not just to build a resume, but to genuinely learn and explore your interests. I frequently tell students I work with that if you are not genuinely excited by your summer plans, there are numerous other options which will genuinely peak your interest. Believe it or not, college admissions officers can often tell when a student’s learning is driven by a genuine curiosity or whether it is driven by parental ambitions. 

So before you set any plans for the summer in stone, it is important to step back and think about whether it is an opportunity you will actually benefit from AND enjoy.