How much does a "wasted" summer really hurt?

College Search & Lists
1

<p>Okay, so it wasn’t wasted (not in my opinion anyways). My family and I went overseas to visit some relatives there. I’m going to go into my junior year now and everyone around me is talking about where to go or what to do or how good their chances are. It started making me thinking about my summers and how it may (or may not?) hurt me. The summer after my freshman year had a couple week-long trips, this summer I went overseas for 5 weeks and then spent another week out of state. Next year I’m spending 2 weeks in France, and senior year would be after the applications are all sent in. I really want to do an internship or something, but 2 summers have passed so next summer is the last chance to do something, but the ones I’ve found that I’m interested in conflict with the France trip (which is smack dab in the middle of vacation for some reason). </p>

<p>Now for my question: does a summer filled with nothing but vacations hurt a lot? Or will they understand that I couldn’t help it (my parents wanted us to have the “opportunities they didn’t have as kids” and like going places)? I also originally wanted to take Chinese at our school, but there wasn’t space in my schedule and they gave me a study hall instead. One of my friends in college said that it wouldn’t look that great, so I started worrying a bit. Does it really? Or is everyone just exaggerating? Any suggestions? (I really do want to do an internship. Some of my friends took part in one and they had tons of fun.)</p>

2

<p>Getting to visit foreign countries is an amazing experience. Be able to talk about it in a compelling way. Never complain about how you didn’t have any choice about the vacations because your parents made you go. It would make you seem ungrateful for doing fun things other people didn’t get to do.</p>

3

<p>I don’t think it hurts. And I don’t think your summer is wasted, either. I agree with the poster above–never whine about being so lucky. Lots of kids don’t do all that much with their summers. It used to be that almost all teens did summer jobs, but now there are no summer jobs. Relaxing, having new experiences, such as the ones you did, those things are important too.</p>

4

<p>I don’t think your summers have been wasted so far, but personally I think it’s a good idea to do a summer academic program in a field of your interest after your junior year. If you are only spending two weeks in France, then that would leave you plenty of time.</p>