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7 Important Ways to Stand Out in Your College Admissions Application

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Applying to college can feel like a daunting process. With so many qualified candidates, how can you make sure your application stands out? Here are seven crucial strategies to enhance your college admissions application and increase your chances of getting into your dream school.

1. Write a Non-Traditional College Essay

The college essay is your chance to showcase your personality and unique experiences. To truly stand out, consider these non-traditional approaches:

Personal Identity and Background

Share how your cultural heritage, family traditions, or community involvement have shaped who you are.

Example: One student, writing for Harvard, detailed her experience growing up as a “Germerican” after moving from the US to Germany at a young age. She used this bicultural identity to highlight her unique perspective and how it shaped her understanding of cultural integration and belonging.

Overcoming a Significant Challenge

Share a story about overcoming a significant obstacle in your life. Focus on what you learned from the experience and how it has prepared you for college.

Example: A student shared his journey of recovering from a sports injury that threatened his athletic career. This story highlighted his resilience and passion for overcoming adversity, ultimately showing how this experience prepared him for future challenges.

Eureka Moments

Describe a moment of intellectual discovery or personal growth. This could be a time when you changed your perspective or learned something profound about yourself or the world.

Example: Another essay, known as the “Burying Grandma” essay, depicted a student’s realization about the importance of emotional support in healthcare, inspired by the loss of her grandmother. This epiphany led her to volunteer at a cancer treatment center, shaping her desire to become an oncologist​.

Unique Hobbies and Passions

Explore a unique hobby or passion project. Explain how it has influenced your personal development and what it reveals about your character.

Example: A student wrote about their passion for vintage film photography. The student explained how this hobby clarified the importance of patience, attention to detail, and preserving memories, which added depth to to the student’s character and interests​. 

By choosing a unique angle and providing deep, personal insights, your essay will captivate admissions officers and make your application memorable. Get inspired and check out this long list of college essay ideas and topics. 

2. Take AP Classes

Advanced Placement (AP) classes demonstrate your ability to handle college-level coursework. They show admissions officers that you’re serious about your education and willing to challenge yourself. Here are some tips:

  • Choose Wisely: Select AP classes that align with your intended major or areas of interest. Check out Empowerly’s ranking of AP classes by difficulty to make informed decisions.
  • Perform Well: Strive for high scores on AP exams to validate your efforts and readiness for college academics.
  • Highlight in Applications: Emphasize your AP coursework and any relevant projects or achievements in your application.

AP classes can significantly bolster your academic profile and show colleges that you’re prepared for the rigors of higher education. Though, not all AP courses are created equal. 

3. Secure a Great Internship

Internships provide valuable real-world experience and can set you apart from other applicants. Here’s how to make the most of them:

  • Find Relevant Opportunities: Look for internships related to your field of interest or intended major. Search online for internships for your high schools students
  • Gain Practical Skills: Focus on developing practical skills and gaining industry insights during your internship. If you’re looking for structured research opportunities, explore research opportunities for high school students to find suitable programs.
  • Build a Network: Use your internship to connect with professionals and mentors who can offer guidance and support.

Internships not only enhance your resume but also demonstrate your initiative and dedication to your chosen field.

4. Maintain Strong Relationships with Teachers and School Leadership

Recommendations from teachers and school leaders can significantly impact your application. Building strong relationships can help you secure compelling recommendations. Here’s how:

  • Engage in Class: Participate actively and show genuine interest in your subjects.
  • Seek Feedback: Ask for constructive feedback and show a willingness to improve.
  • Be Involved: Participate in school activities and leadership roles to build rapport with teachers and administrators.

Strong recommendations can provide a powerful endorsement of your abilities and character, enhancing your overall application.

5. Give Back to Your Community

Community service is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to making a positive impact. Colleges value students who contribute to their communities. Here’s how to get involved:

  • Identify Causes You Care About: Choose community service projects that align with your interests and values.
  • Make a Difference: Take on roles where you can make a meaningful contribution and demonstrate leadership.
  • Reflect on Your Experience: In your application, discuss how your community service has influenced your personal growth and future goals.

6. Triple Check Your Application for Errors

This might be obvious, but it’s so easy for you and your family to miss a mistake. A flawless application is crucial for making a good impression. Errors can detract from your achievements and attention to detail. Here’s how to ensure your application is error-free:

  • Proofread Multiple Times: Review your application several times, focusing on different aspects each time.
  • Seek Feedback: Have teachers, mentors, or family members review your application.
  • Use Tools: Utilize grammar and spell-check tools, but don’t rely solely on them.

A polished application reflects your dedication and meticulousness, leaving a positive impression on admissions officers.

7. Understand What Colleges Accept Your GPA

Understanding how your GPA fits into the admissions criteria of your target colleges can help you tailor your application. Here’s what to do:

  • Research Admissions Statistics: Look at the average GPAs of admitted students for each college. Check out this list of colleges and universities that accept a 3.4 GPA to find suitable options.
  • Be Realistic: Apply to a mix of reach, match, and safety schools based on your GPA and other qualifications.
  • Highlight Strengths: If your GPA is on the lower side, emphasize other strengths like your essay, extracurriculars, or test scores.

Knowing where your GPA stands can help you strategically apply to colleges where you have a strong chance of acceptance.

By following these strategies, you can create a memorable application that captures the attention of admissions officers and increases your chances of admission to your top-choice schools.

Fastweb Shares Earth Day Scholarships

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Are you or your student looking for opportunities that will help the environment and can help pay for college? Fastweb has compiled a new Earth Day scholarship list with opportunities that focus on the environment and how to make an impact.

In addition, Fastweb has recently shared environment-focused internships and ways to live a more environmentally-conscious life.

Fastweb provides information and resources for students who are searching for scholarships, internships, and other educational opportunities. The website launched in 1995 and has since become one of the most popular scholarship search engines for high school students planning for college. The site allows students to create a profile, which is used to match them with relevant scholarship opportunities based on their academic background, interests, and other criteria.

A Definitive Guide to Career Mapping for High School Students

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Career mapping is a crucial process for high school students, as it allows them to gain clarity on their interests, skills, and aspirations and align them with suitable career paths. It can help students explore different career options, set achievable goals, and take steps toward achieving them. 

In this article, we’ll provide a definitive guide to career mapping for high school students that cover everything from understanding your skills and interests to setting concrete and achievable goals.

Assess Your Interests and Skills

The first step in career mapping is to assess your interests and skills. 

Start by taking personality tests, skills assessments, or career aptitude tests to gain insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. These tests can help you identify your natural talents, personality traits, and work preferences, which can guide your career choices.

You can also take advantage of your high school’s resources, such as career counselors or guidance counselors, to discuss your interests and skills and explore career options that align with them. 

Also, consider participating in extracurricular activities or volunteer work to gain practical experience and develop new skills. You’ll have club and activity supervisors to assess your skills and give you insightful feedback regarding them. 

Research Career Paths

Once you have a better understanding of your interests and skills, it’s time to research different career paths that align with them. 

Consider exploring various career websites, job boards, or company websites to gain insights into different industries, job roles, and career paths. You can also talk to professionals in your desired field or attend career fairs to learn more about their experiences and career trajectories.

It’s essential to consider factors such as job demand, growth prospects, salary, and work-life balance when researching career paths. You can also explore different education and training options, such as college degrees, vocational programs, or apprenticeships, that can prepare you for your desired career path.

Some might say that getting into all this as a high schooler might be overkill. However, it’s never too early to look into possible career paths. 

Set Realistic Goals

Now it’s time to set realistic goals for your future career. Setting achievable goals can help you stay motivated and focused on your career path. 

You can start by creating a career plan that outlines your short-term and long-term goals, including the skills and qualifications you need to acquire to achieve them.

It’s crucial to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals that align with your interests and skills. For example, if you want to become a software engineer, your short-term goal could be to learn coding languages such as Python or Java, while your long-term goal could be to earn a computer science degree from a reputable university.

Stay Flexible and Always Know Your Next Step

Sometimes, it’s possible that you’ll end up with a Bachelor’s degree in one field and realize that your passion lies in something else. In such situations, you should know that it’s possible to make such career changes. All you need to do is stay flexible, know your next step, and trust your passion. It’s also important to make sure that the next field you pursue doesn’t take up too much of time since you want to be able to earn money as soon as possible.

For instance, after getting your Engineering degree, you realize you want to become a nurse, and for that, you want to pursue a Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) degree. However, since most BSN programs take up to four years, you want to opt for something faster. Thus, you do your research and find that the University of Indianapolis offers an online accelerated BSN degree program that will take only 1.5 years. 

Therefore, it makes more sense to enroll in this accelerated online program than to sign up for a four-year degree elsewhere. 

As long as you have such flexibility and can plan like this, nothing can stop you from aiming for the career you are passionate about. 

Gain Practical Experience

Gaining practical experience is essential to your career mapping journey, as it can help you develop new skills, build your resume, and network with professionals in your desired field. You can gain practical experience through internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work in your desired field.

It’s essential to take advantage of your high school’s resources, such as career centers or alumni networks, to find opportunities that align with your career goals. You can also attend industry events or participate in online communities to network with professionals and gain insights into different career paths.

Continuously Learn and Evolve

Career mapping is a continuous process that requires you to learn and evolve as you progress in your career. It’s crucial to stay up-to-date with industry trends, technology advancements, and new job roles to stay relevant in your field. You can attend conferences, workshops, or online courses to gain new skills and knowledge that can help you advance in your career.

It’s also essential to seek feedback from mentors or colleagues and reflect on your strengths and weaknesses to improve your performance and achieve your career goals. 

Ensuring all these things as a high schooler will help you a great deal when you graduate high school. By the time of your graduation, you’ll already have a concrete plan and map to navigate your future career. 

Washington D.C. Internships Distinguish American University’s Gap Program

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American University Gap Program, also known as AU Gap

Not all college-bound students begin their journey into higher education a few months after high school graduation. Some may be eager for a new, non-classroom experience, or want to explore the working world before settling in for years of study. Others may not have planned to take time off, but were admitted to their top-choice college not for the upcoming fall, but for the following spring; and want to spend their break, or gap semester, productively.

One distinctive possibility for any student interested in a productive gap experience is American University’s School of Professional and Extended Studies Gap Program in Washington, D.C., also known as AU Gap. Leveraging the resources and relationships of its unique location, AU Gap Program offers high school graduates an internship experience in the capital city for one or two semesters, as desired, with up to seven credits per semester.

“One semester can be a great option for students spending part of the year overseas,” says Terrell Austin, AU’s GAP Program Advisor. “It can also be ideal for students admitted to college for spring term.”

Alternatively, students who want to spend the full academic year with AU’s Program can either intern at two distinct sites, or continue with their first semester site. “Most students who choose to stay a second semester — about 20 percent of participants — choose a different internship experience,” says Austin, “just to try another field and gain some different experience and insight.”

AU’s deep and growing database of more than 3000 potential internship sites, actively managed by Amy Morrill Bijeau, Director of Experiential Education, offers job experiences in a student’s career field interest — including business, communications, international affairs, journalism, justice, politics, psychology, and the arts and sciences.

It is important to note that students are not placed into an internship; instead, just like in the real world, they must secure their position themselves, with guidance and support from the AU Gap team, who work closely with the student to get them prepared. “We focus,” says Austin, “on giving students professional development right from the start.”

The process requires some introspection and self-knowledge. “Students first need to articulate who they are and what type of job experience they are looking for,” says Austin. They also get help with their resumes and cover letters, as well as interview preparation and assistance with navigating the internship database.

Once students have selected 10-15 potential sites from the database, they begin the job-hunting process — sending out their resumes, making contacts, scheduling interviews. “In almost all cases,” says Austin, “students find their internship position within two weeks.”

Students work at their job site three days a week, mentored by their site coordinator, and earn up to four college credits. In a few cases, they may also be paid. “It happens occasionally,” says Austin, “as an unexpected bonus.”

Gap Program students also participate in an interactive weekly seminar led by an AU professor, with graded assignments and class presentations; prominent guest speakers; and field visits that could only be possible in D.C. — to embassies, congressional hearings, the Supreme Court, government agencies, non-profit organizations, conferences on a topic they have been studying, and more.

Besides enhancing the internship experience by helping students build communication skills, develop their network, and gain insight on world issues, the three-credit seminar keeps study skills fresh. It is also an exclusive offering that participants share only with their fellow interns (approximately 10-20 students).

“We think it’s important to foster a cohort experience for the AU Gap Program students,” says Austin, “where they are getting encouragement from each other and can also talk out any challenges they may be facing.”

To further facilitate the cohort relationship, AU Gap students live in the same residential hall (among full-time AU students), making it easier to build social relationships. As with all AU students, they have a meal plan, metro pass, and access to all campus facilities. Expenses are estimated at $18,000 per semester.

Who is a good candidate for AU Gap? “High-achievers looking for a real-world work experience before college,” says Austin. Students also need to be enthusiastic about the program, because although there is a lot of support, it requires a lot of initiative, too.

The application is rolling, so students may apply any time during their senior year of high school. A 3.0 GPA is required (exceptions may be made in unusual circumstances), as well as two letters of recommendation, two essays, and a phone interview Austin conducts with both the student and parents.

One further point for any student considering a gap experience with college credit: if you will be applying to college later, you may be regarded as a transfer student at some colleges (rather than as an incoming freshman), depending upon the number of credits you have earned, so it would be wise to inquire about this ahead of time at the specific institutions you are targeting. If you have already been admitted and either plan to ask for a deferral or are starting in the spring, make sure to receive permission for your specific gap program to avoid jeopardizing the original admission decision.

Summer internships for high school students

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While colleges increasingly emphasize the value of “experiential” or “hands-on” learning within their own communities, high school students are discovering real benefits in setting aside time during their high school careers for internships or other out-of-classroom experiences. In fact, they are finding that internships provide amazing opportunities to gain significant work experience while exploring long-term career options.

But these opportunities don’t magically appear. You have to plan ahead and do a little networking.

And now is a good time to begin nailing-down plans for next summer.

Although college students usually stand at the head of the line for internships, businesses and nonprofit organizations are increasingly holding positions open for students currently in high school or those transitioning to college. But make no mistake—these positions are getting increasingly competitive. And many application deadlines are coming significantly earlier than in past years.

It may take advance planning and persistence, but opportunities are out there.

Why intern?

Going through the internship application process teaches much-needed job search and employment skills. Preparing a résumé, asking for recommendations, landing an interview, and understanding what it means to be a responsible employee are all skills that give high school students an edge in college and beyond.

And it’s no secret that internships strengthen college applications, as these opportunities introduce students to career fields or potential majors and reinforce valuable research or lab skills.

An internship helps students understand how professional organizations function in the real world. While learning and working, interns have the opportunity to refine career goals. In fact, a summer internship can serve as a “trial period” to test ideas about professions and industries without making any long-term commitments.

If you’re especially lucky, these kinds of opportunities can also lead to award-winning science fair projects, journal articles, or patents.

Where are the internships?

Local businesses and organizations sometimes have formal internship programs designed specifically for high school students. But for the most part, these programs do not offer housing and are usually limited to students able to commute or living in the immediate area.

For example, here is a sample of the many organizations making internships available to high school students in the Washington, DC area:

For a great list of opportunities outside of the DC area, check the webpages maintained by the Rochester Institute of Technology. Scroll down for high school students and note that while the dates may not be updated the links are).

Be aware that some internship opportunities are “salaried” positions, some have stipends, and some are strictly volunteer. Again, they are generally highly competitive and some deadlines may already be past. So make note for next year.

Also, many organizations don’t advertise the availability of summer internships. This is when you have to do a little investigative work on the internet and through other kinds of public job listings. Use your networks—parents, relatives, family friends, teachers—anyone who may have contacts in businesses or organizations of interest to you.

At the end of the day, internships are great ways to get to know yourself a little better while building skills that will make you competitive for the future.

12 of the nation’s most prestigious science competitions for high school students

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Each year, thousands of high school students across the country gain valuable hands-on laboratory and research experience by interning for a variety of academic, government and nonprofit organizations engaged in scientific research.

Locally, high school interns may be found in George Mason’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) or in one of the two Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Programs (SEAPs) sponsored by George Washington University, the Department of the Army and the Department of the Navy. They may also be found at NIST, NASA or one of many summer programs offered by the National Institutes of Health.

While they vary in terms of content and work experience, each of these internships supports opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Students meet and interact with scientists, learn lab skills, conduct research, and possibly publish their findings or patent their ideas.

In fact, some programs encourage students to present research at poster sessions or similar scientific forums where they gain self-confidence, improve writing skills, and potentially earn credentials important to colleges and universities as well as future employers.  They also lay the groundwork for undergraduate research assignments as well as admission to post graduate studies in medical schools or PhD programs.

And many young researchers turn their summer experiences into competitive science projects, vying for hundreds of thousands in scholarship dollars offered annually by organizations supporting the goals of STEM education.

Here are 12 of the more prestigious and well-respected competitions:

    1. AAN Neuroscience Research Prize. Students investigating problems concerning the brain or the nervous system are invited to compete for monetary prizes as well as all expenses paid trips to the AAN Annual Meeting, to present their work during a scientific poster session.
    2. Davidson Fellows. This prestigious scholarship annually awards up to $50,000 to students, 18 and under, who have completed a “significant” piece of work in one of eight categories including Engineering, Mathematics, Science, Literature, Music, Technology, Philosophy, and Outside the Box.
    3. Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge. Participants work in teams of 2 to 5 members to develop solutions to some of the world’s most complex problems. Finalist teams compete for seed funding grants, investment opportunities, patent support, business services and scholarships.
    4. ExploraVision.  Jointly sponsored by Toshiba and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), ExploraVision encourages collaboration by restricting the competition to group projects.  Although all participants win gifts and discounts, the top four teams receive US Savings Bonds worth $10,000 for each student. 
    5. Google Science Fair. Beginning with online submissions, this competition invites young scientists from all over the world to compete for up to $50,000 in scholarships as well as a trip to the Galapagos Islands sponsored by National Geographic.  Finalists are invited to Google Headquarters to present their projects before expert judges.  To receive information on future competitions, sign-up on the Google Science Fair website.
    6. Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The Intel ISEF is possibly the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, providing an annual forum for over 1,800 high school students from countries all over the world who compete for approximately $4 million in awards.  Competition begins at the high school level and culminates at the International Science and Engineering Fair, held each year in different cities around the country.
    7. International BioGENEius Challenge. This competition is designed to recognize outstanding research in biotechnology. Finalists showcase their talent and research before a prestigious panel of expert biotech judges and have the opportunity to win cash awards.
    8. Microsoft Imagine Cup.  Imagine Cup is a global competition for computer science students who team up to use their creativity, passion and knowledge of technology to create applications and compete for cash, travel and prizes. Sign up on line to get notified when the 2018 season begins.
    9. MIT THINK Scholars Program.  The THINK Scholars program is an initiative that promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics by supporting and funding projects developed by high school students. Finalists receive all-expenses paid trips to MIT to attend XFair (MIT’s spring tech symposium) and winners receive up to $1000 to build their projects.  Additional scholarship prizes are also available.
    10. National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. Individual students compete for scholarships and recognition by presenting the results of their original research before a panel of judges and an audience of their peers. Regional scholarships as well as eight national top awards of up to $12,000 are among the prizes available.  Different regions/states run on different schedules.
    11. Regeneron Science Talent Search. The Regeneron Science Talent Search invites the nation’s best and brightest young scientists to present original research to nationally recognized professional scientists. Open only to high school seniors, 40 finalists are selected to come to Washington DC and compete for the top award of $250,000. This year’s competition will open on August 1, 2017. All applications will be due on November 15, 2017.
    12. Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology. Since 1999, the Siemens Foundation, has provided young scientists with opportunities to win scholarships ranging from $1000 to $100,000 for original research in team and individual categories.  This year’s competition is now underway and all competition materials must be received by September 19, 2017.

Making the most of the summer before senior year

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For college-bound high school students, the months between junior and senior years are crucial for jump starting the application process.

It’s also a great time for discovering new interests, adding to your resume, and otherwise positioning yourself for beginning the ultimate transition from high school senior to college freshman.

The first day of the last year of high school will be here before you know it. But in the meantime, here are some ways you can make the most of the summer before senior year:

Work. Options range from scooping ice cream at the shore to organizing a book drive, conducting research, interning on Capitol Hill or hammering nails for Habitat for Humanity. By the time you’ve completed junior year of high school, you should be old enough and responsible enough to work—full or part time, paid or unpaid. Work builds character, introduces career options, teaches skills, and expands your network in important ways. Don’t miss the opportunity to add to your resume while learning something about yourself and others.

Visit Colleges. Campus tours don’t stop just because undergrads are off doing other things. Now is the time to check out the last few colleges on your list and refine your ideas of how location, size or architecture affects your thinking about a particular campus. And by the way, the summer is a great time for having more relaxed conversations with admissions staff, coaches, or professors in departments you may be targeting.

Nail Down the List. Take a deep breath and begin eliminating schools that don’t really appeal or offer what you want. Zero-in on places representing the best fit—academically, socially, and financially—and begin committing to a realistic list of schools to which you intend to apply.

Demonstrate Interest. Beyond visiting campuses, engage in a systematic demonstrated interest campaign. Be proactive by getting on mailing lists, requesting information, initiating correspondence, getting to know regional representatives and attending local events. In addition to showing your favorite schools a little love, you might just learn something important about campus culture or new initiatives colleges want to introduce to prospective applicants.

Get Organized. There are a zillion moving parts to the college admissions process. Get a handle on them by creating a spreadsheet of colleges on your list and noting deadlines, requirements (recommendations, test score submission, interviews), important admissions policies (non-binding early action vs. binding early decision), and application quirks (supplements, scholarships, honors programs/colleges). Also, make note of which colleges use the Common Application, the Universal College Application (UCA), the Coalition Application or other school-based forms.

Prepare your Resume. If you don’t have one already, put together a resume or a detailed written list of accomplishments and activities. Turn it into a PDF for sharing with others or uploading with applications. Explore online resume templates, such as ZeeMee or Linked In. If you know colleges on your list partner with ZeeMee, consider creating a private account before the end of the summer

Do the Clerical Part. There’s no reason not to complete the simple stuff early in the summer by opening applications and entering basic information. All three major platforms are capable of rolling information from one year to the next and encourage the completion of questions that are unlikely to change. So do it. The Coalition and the UCA are set up so that colleges can launch as early as July 1. The Common Application will be ready to go on August 1. Other applications and supplements will appear on websites as the summer progresses. If you start shared elements of your applications, you will be one step ahead.

Draft Essays. Now is the time to begin brainstorming and drafting essays. Explore a variety of topics and don’t be afraid to change direction or discard work that’s going nowhere. This is the advantage of writing and reflecting during summer months before the pressures of senior year cut into Zen time. While essay prompts for personal statements have been posted for months, college-specific supplements and essays will roll out over the course of the summer. Keep checking websites and make note of prompts as they appear. And then start writing!

Prep for Standardized Tests. You’ve probably taken the ACT and/or the SAT at least once. If you didn’t knock the ball out of the park the first time (and most don’t), plan to prep for a retake. SAT now offers an August test, in addition to October. ACT has a test in September and in 2018 will have one in July. For the most part, scores from these tests will be returned in time for you to make the earliest of early deadlines. Get a tutor, sign-up for classes or simply sit at the kitchen table and take timed practice tests.

Research and Apply for Scholarships. The scholarship hunt should begin now—not after all your college applications have been submitted. A surprising number of scholarships have applications due early in the school year and use essay prompts similar to those you’re working on for colleges. Use FastWeb or Cappex to get an overview of what’s out there. And while you’re at it, explore FAFSA4caster with your parents for a little reality testing and apply early for that all-important Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. FAFSA goes live on October 1, but there’s nothing to be gained by waiting until then to sign-up for the FSA ID.

Secure Recommendations. If you haven’t done so already, try to get in touch with at least two core academic teachers from junior year to ask for college recommendations. You may or may not need both, but it’s always a good idea to have two teachers willing to support you. Don’t delay—teachers may limit the number of recommendations they’re willing to write or they may want to get started before school begins. And be sure to provide recommenders with whatever background information they request—at a minimum, a resume and cover note reinforcing your appreciation and why you asked them to play this important role in your application process.

Schedule Interviews. Many colleges offer on-campus interviews during the summer. You want to be able to check these requirements off your list sooner rather than later. Colleges make it easy to combine interviews with campus tours, but you have to schedule early to get days and times that work for you.

Position Yourself for Fall Classes. Be aware that senior year courses and grades can be very important in admissions decisions. Colleges want to see upward trends in grades, and they care very much that you continue to challenge yourself academically. Obtain texts for any challenging or AP/IB classes and “study forward” during the summer. If necessary, give your tutor a call and go over the first few chapters of material you know will keep you up late at night come September.

Read, Relax, Enjoy Yourself and Connect with Friends.  A year from now, you’ll be packing your bags!

2017 summer internships for high school students

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While colleges increasingly emphasize the value of “experiential” or “hands-on” learning within their own communities, high school students are discovering real benefits in setting aside time during their high school careers for internships or other out-of-classroom experiences. In fact, they are finding that internships provide amazing opportunities to gain significant work experience while exploring long-term career options.

But these opportunities don’t magically appear. You have to plan ahead and do a little networking.

And believe it or not, now is a good time to begin nailing-down plans for next summer.

Although college students usually stand at the front of the line for internships, businesses and nonprofit organizations are increasingly holding positions open for students currently in high school or those transitioning to college. But make no mistake—these positions are getting increasingly competitive.  And many application deadlines are coming significantly earlier than in past years.

It may take advance planning and persistence, but opportunities are out there.

Why intern?
Going through the internship application process teaches much-needed job search and employment skills. Preparing a résumé, asking for recommendations, landing an interview, and understanding what it means to be a responsible employee are all skills that give high school students an edge in college and beyond.

And it’s no secret that internships strengthen college applications, as these opportunities introduce students to career fields or potential majors and reinforce valuable research or lab skills.

An internship helps students understand how professional organizations function in the real world. While learning and working, interns have the opportunity to refine career goals. In fact, a summer internship can serve as a “trial period” to test ideas about professions and industries without making any long-term commitments.

If you’re especially lucky, these kinds of opportunities can also lead to award-winning science fair projects, journal articles, or patents.

Where are the internships?
Local businesses and organizations sometimes have formal internship programs designed specifically for high school students. But for the most part, these programs do not offer housing and are usually limited to students able to commute or living in the immediate area.

For example, here is a sample of the many organizations making internships available to high school students in the Washington, DC area:

For a great list of opportunities outside of the DC area, check the webpages maintained by the Rochester Institute of Technology (scroll down for high school students and note that while the dates may not be updated the links are).

Be aware that some internship opportunities are “salaried” positions, some have stipends, and some are strictly volunteer.  Again, they are generally highly competitive, and some deadlines may already be past.  So make note for next year.

Also, many organizations don’t advertise the availability of summer internships. This is when you have to do a little investigative work on the internet and through other kind of public job listings. Use your networks—parents, relatives, family friends, teachers—anyone who may have contacts in businesses or organizations of interest to you. Internships, particularly for students at least 16 years of age, are great ways to get to know yourself a little better while building skills that will make you competitive for the future.

Nancy Griesemer is an independent educational consultant and founder of College Explorations LLC. She has written extensively and authoritatively about the college admissions process and related topics since 2009. Never miss one of Nancy’s articles – subscribe to her mailing list below.