5 ways to get ahead on your college applications this summer

Wondering what to do in summer to prepare for college? Summer break presents the perfect opportunity to strengthen your college applications without the daily pressures of schoolwork. While it might be tempting to spend these months relaxing completely, investing some time now will pay dividends when application season arrives.

Understanding What Admissions Officers Really Look For

Before diving into specific strategies, let’s understand what happens behind closed doors in the admissions office.

College admissions officers conduct what’s called a “holistic review” of your application. This means they’re not just looking at your GPA and test scores—they’re evaluating the complete picture of who you are as a student and person.

A significant portion of their review time is spent analyzing:

• Your activities list (typically limited to 10 activities with just 150 characters to explain each)
• Short answer questions where you can demonstrate leadership, initiative, and personal growth
• How your experiences shape your perspective and potential contributions to campus

The key distinction that separates successful applicants isn’t simply stating “I am in the robotics team and student council,” but rather demonstrating HOW these experiences have uniquely shaped you. Admissions officers spend only a few minutes reviewing each application, so making your unique experiences stand out is crucial. 

👉 Watch our recorded webinar AcceptU Roundtable: How the Admissions Decision Was Made to learn how to showcase what truly sets you apart. 

5 Ways to Strengthen Your Application This Summer

1. Set Clear, Focused Goals

Rather than trying to pad your resume with numerous activities, focus on 2-3 meaningful pursuits that align with your interests and potential major.

Action steps:

• Identify your strongest academic interests and passions
• Research how these interests translate to potential majors and careers
• Select summer activities that demonstrate commitment to these areas
• Create specific goals for what you want to accomplish in each activity
• Watch our summer planning webinar for more examples and expert advice.

Why it works: Depth matters more than breadth. Colleges would rather see sustained commitment and growth in a few areas than surface-level participation across many. This focused approach helps you build a coherent narrative about who you are and what matters to you.

2. Choose Authentic Activities That Align With Your Academic Interests

Explore your interests over the summer and continue building your resume, leadership and skills even while school isn’t in session. Summer offers several enriching paths:

Academic Enrichment:

• Pre-college programs at universities in fields that interest you
• Summer courses that allow you to explore potential majors
• Online certification programs that build specialized knowledge

Research/Internships:

• Shadow professionals in fields you’re curious about
• Find research opportunities at your local universities
• Secure internships that provide firsthand industry experience

Entrepreneurship/Community Service:

• Develop a project addressing a community need
• Launch a small business related to your interests
• Volunteer consistently with organizations aligned with your values

Why it works: Authenticity resonates with admissions officers. When you pursue activities that genuinely interest you, your passion comes through in your essays and interviews. These experiences also build valuable “soft skills” like teamwork, communication, leadership, problem-solving, adaptability and decision-making—qualities colleges actively seek. 

Not sure where to start? Explore our online research program designed to help high school students collaborate with professors and build a standout research experience.

3. Reflect Deliberately on Your Experiences

Strategy: Different grade levels should focus on different aspects of the college preparation process. Use summer to reflect on what you’ve learned about yourself.

For rising sophomores and juniors:

• What academic subjects energize you the most?
• Which extracurricular activities feel most meaningful and why?
• What potential careers might you want to explore further?

For rising seniors:

• How have your experiences shaped your academic interests?
• What unique perspective will you bring to a college campus?
• How can you articulate your growth through specific stories?

Why it works: Admissions officers spend the bulk of their review time on short-answer questions, looking for authenticity and self-awareness. Regular reflection helps you identify the specific moments and insights that will make your application stand out. Start keeping a “reflection journal” to document meaningful experiences and your growth through them.

4. Prioritize Consistent Engagement Over Brief Involvement

Quality engagement looks like:

• Taking on increasing responsibility within an organization
• Demonstrating measurable impact through your contributions
• Showing sustained commitment even during challenging periods
• Building relationships with mentors who can speak to your growth

Why it works: It’s about the quality of your engagement, NOT the quantity! More activities aren’t necessarily better—they’re just more. Colleges want to see that you can commit to something meaningful over time, take on challenges and grow through the process. One summer project that you develop into a year-round commitment can be far more impressive than five disconnected activities.

5. Develop Your Unique Story

Use summer to identify and strengthen what makes you distinctive as an applicant.

Action steps:

• Identify the intersection of your talents, interests, and values
• Consider how your background and experiences shape your perspective
• Seek opportunities that allow you to explore these unique elements
• Practice articulating your story concisely (remember those 150-character limits!)

Why it works: Every admissions office is trying to build a diverse, interesting class of students. Your academic qualifications get you considered, but it’s your unique story and perspective that often get you admitted. Summer gives you space to explore and strengthen what makes you distinctive.

Summer should be a time for rest and reflection, not just resume-building. The goal isn’t to fill every moment with resume-building activities but to engage meaningfully with experiences that will help you grow and better understand your path forward.

The most successful applicants plan with purpose. They choose activities that genuinely interest them and build skills that support their personal story—not just what looks good on paper.

Start planning now, and your future self will thank you when application season rolls around. Ready to get started? Book a call with us today.