Summer Extracurriculars for High School Students: How This Fits into the College Application Process

Summer after junior year isn’t just a break from school—it’s one of the most important chapters in your college application process. With senior year and college deadlines just around the corner, how you spend these months can make a big difference in your stress levels, your application quality, and your overall confidence heading into the fall.

This doesn’t mean your summer has to be all work and no fun. The key is finding a balance between rest and intentional preparation. Here’s a guide to help you make the most of your summer—strategically.

1. Finalize Your College List

One of the central components to my college advising packages is guiding my clients through cultivating an appropriate college list. What does appropriate mean, exactly? To me, it means a list that balances the goals and dreams of students with a family-centered collaboration with parents who often have their own very reasonable expectations and constraints as well.

Summer is the perfect time to:

• Work on a college list (numbers vary depending on student’s profile but a general rule of thumb may be an average of ten schools).

• Research application requirements and deadlines

• Divide your list into "reach," "target," and "likely" schools

• Use tools like Naviance, BigFuture, or College Scorecard to compare schools

This will help you go into senior year with a clear game plan—and no last-minute surprises.

2. Work on Your Personal Statement (Common App Essay)

The Common Application opens on August 1st, but the common app essay prompts can be released much earlier (and often remain the same year to year). Start brainstorming and drafting your common app essay during the summer when your schedule is more flexible. Parents tell me (and you can check the Testimonials on my website for details) that they especially value my ability to help students as they write the best college essays they can. And whether you go with me as a college advisor, someone else, or choose not to go with one altogether, general tips for the college essay process may include:

• Reflect on experiences that shaped you—not just achievements

• Show your personality, voice, and values

• Get feedback from someone who knows you well

Aim to have a solid draft done before school starts. My college advising clients know that I personally get ahead of essays as far in advance as possible to ensure less stress for new seniors balancing AP courses and other commitments.

If you find yourself needing more college application help, don’t be afraid about asking and reaching out to teachers, counselors at school, and even graduated seniors you stayed in touch with. At one point, many of them (and me too!) struggled and stressed through the college application process and made it out successfully.

3. Build or Deepen an Activity You Care About

Colleges are less interested in how many activities you do and more interested in how meaningfully you engage with them. Use your time by being intentional with summer extracurriculars for high school students.

Some ideas:

• Intern or volunteer in a field that interests you (medicine, politics, education, etc.) for example, summer research projects.

• As a doctor and college advisor, I will be writing blog posts on topics such as how to write a good college essay on why medicine (for our early premed students) as well as summer activities for premed, and what I think of the topic as a whole. I will also, of course, write blog posts on tips for college essays for other fields as well as majority of my clients have majored in everything from biology to business.

• Start a personal project (podcast, blog, coding app, art portfolio, community initiative)

• Take on a leadership role in a club, camp, or organization

• Enroll in a pre-college program, course, or workshop (I have opinions on this that I do discuss with my college advising clients so do note there are nuances with this).

Even a part-time job can be valuable if you learn or grow from it—don’t underestimate real-life responsibility.

4. Visit (or Revisit) Colleges

If possible, summer is a great time to tour campuses . Some things to do:

• Schedule formal tours and information sessions

• Walk around on your own and explore the vibe of the campus and nearby town

• Take notes or photos to help you remember each place

• Ask questions about housing, academics, and student life

If travel isn’t feasible, prioritize virtual tours, student panels, and online info sessions. Many schools offer recorded sessions year-round.

Subscribe to my Blog as I have an upcoming Blog post on strategizing and making the most of college tours this summer, and subscribers will be able to obtain a free PDF for organizing college tour information.

5. Organize Your Application Materials

Senior year moves fast—don’t wait until September to get your materials together. This summer, you can:

• Create a resume or activities list for applications

• Track deadlines and requirements in a spreadsheet

• Reach out to teachers you’d like recommendation letters from (before they go on summer break!)

• Make a Common App account (in August) and start filling in basic info

If you knock these small tasks out over the summer, you’ll feel much more in control come fall.

6. Study for (or Finish) Standardized Testing

If you're still planning to take the SAT or ACT, summer is a great time to prep without the pressure of school. Decide early:

• Will you retake a test in August, September, or October?

• Are your target schools test-optional or test-required? I can make a blog post on my opinion on this topic, based on my analysis of how my clients have done with college admissions results over the years (most have taken SAT but a small portion did not submit scores).

• How much improvement do you realistically need?

Use official practice tests, my upcoming 60-day SAT self-study plan (website membership access required), or an online prep course. But if your test scores are already strong—it’s also okay to move on and focus elsewhere.

7. Take Care of Yourself

This part gets overlooked a lot, but it’s crucial. College applications are a marathon, not a sprint. If you burn out now, you’ll have less stamina when deadlines hit.

Make sure your summer also includes:

• Rest and recovery from the school year

• Time with family and friends

• Sleep, fresh air, and a break from screens

• Hobbies or activities that bring you joy

A healthy, balanced summer = a more focused and energized senior year.

Final Thoughts on summer extracurriculars for high school students

The summer after junior year is one of the most important transition periods of your high school career. While it’s tempting to coast, a little planning now will go a long way toward reducing stress and increasing your options in the fall.

Stay organized, stay curious, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride—you’re getting closer to a major life milestone. And with a more planned, intentional summer, you’ll be more than ready for what comes next.

Feel free to comment with questions or thoughts! Forum for parents coming soon as well on this website.

Dr. Medeeha Khan