What is the most productive thing one can do over summer?

Pre-College Topics Summer Programs
1

<p>I’d like to know the best thing I can do over the summer (what would look best on an application and what I would like as well). </p>

<p>My goals in life: Get a degree in a pre-med/biology/chemistry at a top-choice university, get into top-choice med school, get into top-choice residency in radiology</p>

<p>To give you an idea of what I am aiming for, here is my list of universities I am interested in (I will narrow them down later).</p>

<p>Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Stanford
MIT
Brown
Cornell
Duke
Northwestern
Rice
Johns Hopkins
Duke
U Penn
U Chicago
Washington U St. Louis
Columbia
Carnegie Mellon
Caltech
Vanderbilt
Amherst
Hamilton
Brandeis
Swarthmore
Northeastern
Emory
Pomona
Wesleyan
Haverford
Bates
Bowdoin
Williams
Harvey Mudd
UC Berkeley
UCLA
U Virginia
U Michigan – Ann Arbor
Georgetown
Tufts
NYU
UNC – Chapel Hill
Dartmouth
USC
Drexel
RPI
UT Austin
NYU
Illinois-Urbana
Middlebury
Vassar
Syracuse
Oberlin
RIT
Claremont McKenna
Washington & Lee
Occidental
Davidson
Grinnell
Boston U
Purdue
William & Mary
Bucknell
Colby
Colgate
Colorado</p>

<p>If the program requires stellar recommendations, I am not very close to my biology teacher but I make my best grades in her class and she often complements me on my high grades.</p>

<p>If it needs an English teacher rec, my English teacher is racist to me and that wouldn’t
work out. (another language like German would do, though)</p>

<p>For math, my greatest grade-trend was in that class (started in the 70-80s first semester, now I am making high 90s)</p>

<p>Currently a freshman, graduating one year early
Taking most rigorous courses possible
A/B avg. first semester, A avg. second semester (large upwards trend since end of first semester)
No standardized tests taken yet
ECs:
JV3 Tennis team
Concert II Orchestra
German National Honors Society (started German 1 year early in 8th grade)
Class that I actually enjoy: Biology</p>

<p>So, what are my options for over the summer? I plan on taking private tennis lessons to ascend the ranks of the team and I also plan on studying for the PSAT so that I can make a high score the first time and make National Merit. I am also taking an Accelerated U.S. History course to aid in my early graduation (doubling up on Chem and Physics in Sophomore year). </p>

<p>Other than those things, there will still be open time. What is the best way to spend that time other than perhaps volunteering at a hospital? I understand that most of the major schools have summer programs but I am not familiar with all of them and would like to know of the best. Most seem to be ploys to make some extra money.</p>

2

<p>Narrow down your list of colleges!</p>

3

<p>We need to know a list of the classes you are taking. Also, the list you have provided is way to large for you. You need to narrow it down to a few that accurately respond to your needs intellectually. You can’t just list all the names of all prestigious colleges, you need to find that tailors to you specifically. That will drastically reduce the size of the list. Also, pre-med/bio/chem is a very broad range, especially if you are listing schools that may not be the best choice for that field of study. Also, please be more specific than “most rigorous courses possible”. For some schools that may be Algebra I, English I honors, world history, spanish I, and 2 electives. Mainly just your math class and science classes matter are important to know as you seem as though you want to pursue a science major.</p>

<p>Your EC list is lacking of information that reflects upon your interests as a person (outside of school). Do you like to volunteer? What clubs are you in? Have you done research anywhere? </p>

<p>Please update with more specifics and I will be more than happy to help you out.</p>

4

<p>You should consider attending a college prep camp over the summer. There is a one week program at Mercersburg Academy ¶ that is led by the now past president of the national association of college admission counselors (NACAC). They can help you narrow your list, build your resume, etc. You can find more information at [Mercersburg</a> College Prep | Mercersburg Summer](<a href=“http://www.mercersburgsummer.com/programs/college-prep/]Mercersburg”>http://www.mercersburgsummer.com/programs/college-prep/)</p>

5

<p>Course list:
Pre-AP Algebra
Tennis
German II (advanced classes not offered until German III and IIII)
Orchestra
Pre-AP English I
Pre-AP World Geography
Pre-AP Biology
Speech/health (graduation requirement) </p>

<p>By the way, call me shallow, but if I wanted to go to some random university that nobody has heard of, I would go to my local university, which has an 80% acceptance rate. That is the reason why the names of all of the universities on my list are familiar. There would be no reason to leave home if it was for an unknown university. </p>

<p>To give you an idea of what I am aiming for, UT Austin is my safety (I think it has about a 40% acceptance rate). It is my safety because I am guaranteed admission for being a Texas resident and having a high rank. So, any university I go to is bound to be better than UT Austin (I don’t like it because of the football obsession but I will go there as a last resort if I am not accepted anywhere else.) </p>

<p>Here are the universities that I know for sure I would go to if accepted:
HYPSM
Brown
Cornell
Duke
Dartmouth
Rice
Johns Hopkins
Upenn
Uchicago
WashU
Columbia
Swarthmore
UCLA</p>

6

<p>^ Okay that is really weird, I did not mean to say Pre-AP Algebra LOL I meant to say Pre-AP Geometry. I will be taking Pre-AP Algebra II next year, then Precalculus the year after that. I will not get to Calculus AB/BC before graduation because of the 1-year time constraint.</p>

7

<p>What’s Pre-AP? There isn’t an AP Geometry or AP Algebra II. That’s stupid. Your school should just call it HONORS because it is what it is and nothing more.</p>

8

<p>Here is the level of classes here: Regulars and Pre-AP. When you get to Calculus, for example, it becomes AP. Or when you take your second year of Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. It goes from Pre-AP Bio to AP Bio, etc.</p>

9

<p>Send a (very professional) email to your local university asking them if they would have any need for a research assistant/intern in the fields you are interested in. They may not, but it doesn’t hurt to ask, and if you can work with them it would be very beneficial for your education and your application. </p>

<p>Otherwise, I’m not sure what grade you’re in, but if you’re old enough, GET A JOB (the caps were necessary). It shows dedication and maturity, not to mention will earn you some extra spending money.</p>

10

<p>Go on a vacation. Stay home and read some good books. Slow down.</p>