Summer break is the perfect time to get ahead on college applications without the pressure of school assignments and deadlines. Whether you’re gearing up for senior year or just starting to think about college, we help students turn summer into a season of strategic growth. From essay prep and test strategy to summer internships and course selection, our consultants build custom plans to help you stand out when application season hits.
Here is a list of tasks for you to prioritize over the summer:
College Application Planning
Summer is the ideal time to lay the foundation for a strong application. Our college consultants guide students through every component of the process, starting with identifying goals and school preferences. We’ll help you:
- Build a well-balanced college list
- Refine your application narrative
- Stay on track with deadlines
- Get organized early for fall
Personal Statement and Essay Support
The college essay isn’t just about writing—it’s about showing the admissions team the best version of yourself and what makes you unique. We work with students to find meaningful stories, develop standout ideas, and revise drafts until they’re polished, powerful, and authentic. You’ll learn how to approach Common App prompts, supplemental essays, and short responses.
Interesting Reads:
Crafting a Winning Personal Statement for College Applications
How Political Expression in Essays Is Impacting College Admissions
How To Write: The Humorous Essay, for College Applications
The Pitfalls of the Personal Statement Essay — The Shouldn’ts in Writing It
Common College Essay Mistakes: Things to Avoid, Part 1
Letters of Recommendation Strategy
Recommendation letters can give colleges a glimpse into who you are beyond grades and test scores. We help students build strong relationships with teachers, identify the best recommenders, and time their requests to support a cohesive application narrative.
Interesting Reads:
How Important Are Recommendation Letters for College in College Admissions?
What’s the Best Way to Ask Teachers for College Recommendation Letters?
Common App and Application Guidance
The Common Application can be surprisingly complex. We’ll help you fill it out accurately, avoid common mistakes, and tailor answers to match your academic and personal goals. Our consultants provide hands-on support for:
- Common App profile and activity sections
- Brainstorming and structuring written responses
- Application review before submission
Interesting Reads:
Common Mistakes Students Make on the Common App (and How to Avoid Them)
College Application | College Admissions Consulting
Extracurricular Planning
Summer is an opportunity to expand your impact. We help students plan meaningful extracurriculars—leadership projects, research, creative work, or community service—that align with their future goals. Strategic extracurricular design is key to showing initiative, passion, and direction.
Interesting Reads:
Building a Strong Extracurricular Profile: What Students Need to Know
Top 10 Best Clubs at York Prep: Extracurriculars That Boost College Applications
College Visits
Campus visits are invaluable. Whether virtual or in person, we help families plan their college visits so students ask the right questions, reflect deeply, and make informed decisions about campus culture and fit.
Interesting Reads:
The Role of Campus Visits in Choosing a School
The Ultimate Guide to College Visit Questions: What to Ask on a Campus Tour
Test Prep Strategy
Even with test-optional policies, high scores can help students stand out, especially if GPAs or activities are mid-range. We advise students on whether to take the SAT or ACT, create realistic timelines, and offer expert tutoring for:
- SAT and ACT practice tests
- Test-taking strategies and time management
- Score improvement plans
Interesting Reads:
Boosting your SAT/ACT Scores: Test Prep Tips and Academic Tutoring Resources
Retaking the SAT/ACT: What You Need to Know
Digital SAT & ACT 2024-2025: Key Changes & What Students Need to Know
Class Selection Planning
What you take and when you take it can influence how competitive your transcript looks. We help students:
- Plan high school coursework aligned with intended majors
- Balance rigor with GPA protection
- Maximize AP, IB, or honors options while avoiding burnout
Interesting Reads:
Balanced College Lists: How to Choose the Right High School Classes
College Admissions: How to Avoid Competitive Majors
Summer Internships and Projects
The right summer experience can shape your application and your interests. We help students:
- Identify competitive internships or research programs
- Develop independent passion projects
- Gain relevant skills and mentorship
- Strengthen future college and career applications
Interesting Reads:
Internships for High School Students: Are They Worth It?
Balanced College Lists: How to Choose the Right High School Classes
Summer Program Advising
Summer programs can be transformative, and they’re often stepping stones to more competitive opportunities. We help you:
- Find programs that align with your goals and interests
- Understand application requirements
- Leverage your experience in essays and interviews
Interesting Reads:
The Best Summer Programs For High School Students
How to Build a Winning Profile for Summer Programs at Top Schools
How Summer Programs Impact College Applications: What You Need to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is summer a good time to start college planning?
Summer is the best-kept secret in college admissions planning. Without the daily grind of schoolwork, students suddenly have so much more time. They can actually reflect, really explore their interests, and start building a super strong foundation for their applications. It’s truly the perfect window to dive deep into college research, get a good head start on those personal statements, and even check out some meaningful summer programs or internships.
By beginning in the summer, students completely sidestep the craziness of cramming everything into the fall. That’s when deadlines, homework, and all those activities just pile up. Our consultants are here to help families use this quieter time to get totally organized, think strategically, and kick off the whole process with clarity and confidence.
- What can we realistically accomplish during the summer?
Probably a lot more than you’re thinking! What we tackle really depends on your child’s current grade level and their specific goals. But generally, summer’s a fantastic window to start building out that college list, brainstorm and draft some essays, or even get a head start on the Common App. It’s also prime time to buckle down for standardized test prep or lay out a solid plan for extracurricular activities for the upcoming school year.
For younger students, summer is just golden for developing a long-term strategy—things like smart course selection, figuring out leadership opportunities, and lining up enriching summer experiences. Every family’s plan is totally customized, of course. Some students really like to frontload their work and get a lot done, while others prefer to just chip away at it slowly. Either way, any progress made during the summer months genuinely lightens that load once the busy fall rolls around.
- Is summer planning only helpful for rising seniors?
Not at all! While rising seniors absolutely see the quickest benefits, especially when it comes to getting those daunting essays and applications done, students in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade can actually gain a pretty huge head start by getting organized early.
We genuinely love working with underclassmen over the summer. It’s such a fantastic stretch of time to really develop their academic and extracurricular strategies. We can help them figure out cool summer opportunities and even start exploring potential majors and career paths. This kind of early planning gives students that precious time to build the authentic, sustained engagement that colleges truly love to see. So, whether your student is a rising senior ready to dive in or just beginning their high school journey, we totally tailor the summer experience to perfectly match their unique needs and goals.
- How do you help students find and apply to summer programs or internships?
Finding the perfect summer opportunity isn’t really about just chasing the most prestigious name out there. It’s truly about finding something that clicks with your student’s genuine interests and their long-term goals.
Our consultants take the time to really get to know your child – their strengths, what they’re passionate about, and what they dream of doing. Then, we match them with programs or internships that we know will offer truly meaningful experiences and help them grow as individuals. And we don’t just leave you there! We also jump in to help with the applications themselves, brainstorming ideas for essays, polishing up their resumes, and making sure all those deadlines are met.
So, whether it’s a competitive university program, volunteering at a local nonprofit, or even helping them craft a really unique, self-designed project, our goal is to ensure your student makes the absolute most of their summer. We want it to be both personally enriching and super strategic for their college admissions journey.
