Top Ten Plans for Summer Learning

1. READ If we had to suggest one thing that would increase your grades and SAT scores, make you a better writer, and increase your knowledge, it would be to read as many good books as possible!
2. VOLUNTEER One of the best things you can do this summer is help your community. Volunteer work is challenging and rewarding and looks great on college and scholarship applications.
3. WORK/INTERN Summer jobs and internships are great opportunities to learn new skills and meet new people. Call law firms, hospitals, radio stations and publishers and offer to work for free. This is a great way to see if you like this type of work. Or get hired and earn some money. You can learn a lot about yourself flipping burgers. Both internships and work experience are great on your resume.
4. LEARN SOMETHING Just because school is out is no reason to shut off your mind. Instead of learning the concrete curriculum, teach yourself something totally new. Learn about jazz, cooking, modern art of French films. Summer is the perfect time to take control of your education and to learn what excites you.
5. CHECK OUT COLLEGES Go to a library or bookstore and check out the many books on colleges. Surf the web, make a campus visit, ask older students about their experiences. Talk to the admissions office about what it takes to get into the college of your choice. Get informed!
6. TAKE A HIKE No matter where you live in the US, it’s a short trip to some form of wilderness. Get out of the city and explore Mother Nature.
7. PREPARE FOR THE SAT The SAT is a pretty terrible test, causing much anxiety and measuring little more than how well you take the test. Unfortunately, it is an incredibly important test and your ability to take it could have a significant impact on the course of your life. Get prepared! See our web link for resources.
8. DO AT LEAST ONE THING THAT YOUR’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE Experiment. Do something great. Act in a play, spend time with senior citizens, or learn karate. No one is setting your limitations, but you!
9. WRITE YOUR RESUME Start writing down all your activities, including dates. Were you captain of a sports team? Student council member? Won a competition? Worked? Volunteered? Keep track of all your activities as they happen so senior year you can remember all the terrific things you have accomplished.
10. NETWORK Interested in The University of Texas? Curious about a job in advertising? Start talking to people who have been there and done that. You will get a good sense if it is still for you and you would be surprised how happy people are to talk to someone who is interested in what they do.