As the summer looms, students are ready for a break from school. At Vela Education, we want you to rest but also stay focused on CV development. This is especially important if you are thinking of applying to top US schools.

We believe preparing to apply for selective US colleges and universities is best thought of as a four-year plan. Making thoughtful choices every year of secondary school is the best way to be an ideal applicant for top schools. The summer months are a great time to pursue your passions, take an enrichment course, or do a work experience. All of these activities are great for your CV!

Below, Vela Education has listed ways to use your summer break at every stage of secondary school.

Year 10/ US 9^th grade

This summer, invest in your favorite extracurricular activity and find a way to explore it further. For athletes, this may mean doing a skills camp and meeting coaches from schools. For artists, this may mean doing extra workshops and lessons or even hosting a student exhibit. Young activities should volunteer for organisations who work on issues they care about.

Extracurricular’s play a significant role in the US admissions review process. Demonstrating commitment to these activities and working towards tangible outcomes in year 10 is the best way for this portion of your application to have real impact.

Year 11/ US 10^th Grades

If you are an international student, congratulations on finishing your GCSEs! Vela Education appreciates you may need to recuperate after these exams!

Once rested, you should plan, again, to spend time doing your favorite extracurricular activities during the summer. However, this summer, you should also consider the following:

If you haven’t spent a lot of time in the US, think about doing an academic summer programme at a US university. Vela Education recommends:

Brown Pre-College Programmes: Brown offers an array of pre-college programmes on their lovely Providence, RI campus. These programmes range from 1 to 6 weeks. They offer the most flexibility for students in terms of the schedule. Also, they have a diverse range of course topics and activities available.

Columbia Pre-College Programmes:  Columbia offers 3 different sessions of varying lengths for students to choose from. For the Immersive Columbia Program, there are over 70 courses to choose from and you stay on Columbia’s campus in NYC. Columbia also offers online courses, with a fantastic coding course, for students who want university rigor from home.

Penn Summer:  Penn offers multiple summer programmes so students can choose the one that suits them best. Everything from taking undergraduate courses or focusing on a particular passion in their Summer Academies, students will get a sense of what life is like at Upenn.

These are just a few of the opportunities available. Please reach out to us if you are curious about what other options might be best for you.

Also, by the end of the summer, you should take a diagnostic SAT or ACT!  Use this score to work with an advisor and a tutor to develop a test-prep plan.

Year 12/ US 11^th Grade

As you get ready to apply to university in a few months, this summer is particularly important.

Along with continuing to pursue your extracurricular passions, you should also consider doing the following:

Do a three week, or longer, work experience. US university admissions committees value these work experiences! I often rank these in the top 5 of a student’s activities on the Common App. Find a work experience at which you can do a real project and take on responsibility. Rather than “shadow” someone at a large company, think about working for a smaller organization so you are given more responsibility.

Also, doing typical teenage work is ok—even great! No need to find a fancy internship to impress an admissions committee. Working at a local café is a great way to learn how to collaborate with others! Starting your own pet-care business shows initiative and business savvy. Working at a summer camp and mentoring younger students demonstrates the kind of empathy US admissions committees want to see.

Also, during this summer break, you might want to do a final college tour to finalise your application list. Also, work closely with a college advisor to draft and revise your personal statement.

If you have any questions about how to spend your summers, or what top US universities look for in applicants, please reach out to us. We are here to help.