With summer coming up, it’s time to get ready for three months of relaxation, right? Head to the beach, put on some sunscreen, and take a dip in the ocean? You should take the time to enjoy your summer break, but don’t forget to spend time bettering yourself too.
In this article, Erin Moriarty, Loyola University Chicago’s Associate Vice President and Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, will share four tips on how to make the best of your free time to put yourself ahead of your classmates in getting accepted.
Get a Summer Job or Volunteer
Colleges are looking for ambitious students, people who are dedicated to improving themselves. If you want to get an edge on your peers, one of the best ways to do that is by simply getting a job for the summer. It does not have to be something hard or complicated. Just showing that you’ve got the initiative and responsibility to continue working, even when you could be relaxing, will go a long way to impressing the person reviewing your application. Plus, there are many options for volunteering, too, and getting involved in your community can go a long way when applying to colleges.
Take a College Class
That’s right — you often don’t even need to wait until being in college before you can attend a class. Many colleges will offer various summer programs where high school students can live directly on campus and take courses from college professors. This is also a great way to experience the college atmosphere and being on campus. Some of these programs can be highly competitive for high school students and will require an application with letters of recommendation.
Take A Free Online Course
If you don’t want to physically go to campus or just want to spend as little money as possible, then you still have another good option. There are a variety of different websites like Coursera and edX that offer completely free classes from real universities. Many of them aren’t even just recordings, but actual live classes with student participation. Many of these classes are taught by professors from many different prestigious schools, allowing you to glimpse of what college life would be like at that university.
Be Creative
Not everybody wants to go through the labor of attending classes or working during the summer. If you’re somebody who wants to do something more unique, then you could focus on a summer project. Do something that will demonstrate the improvement of your skills, like learning to program, mastering an instrument, completing a big creative writing project, or anything on that scale. By diving into your own creativity and projects, you can show off your personal growth and developed skill set.
Erin Moriarty, Loyola University’s Undergraduate Dean of Admissions, knows that your college will be looking for the best of the best, the cream of the crop. Whatever it is you’re doing over the summer, make it your top priority and give it your all. If you intend on standing out from everybody else, then these tips will be essential for you.
About Erin Moriarty
Erin Moriarty, Loyola’s Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Associate Vice President, cares about her students. She has always been the first person to further Loyola’s mission, which seeks to help mold young people to become leaders by seeking God in all things.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.