With summer right around the corner, high school students are ready for a break from all the studying they’ve been doing. And they deserve it! Though, while having fun during the summer is allowed, high school students should also consider advancing their skills and mindset to potentially get ahead for the next year or for college!

There are many different ways to turn your summer into a productive one. We have some of the best ways how to spend your summer. These are some of the ways to increase your chances of getting into the college of your dreams. Let’s go through the 5 different ways to enhance your summer.

5 Productive Ways to Spend Your Summer

Enjoy your fun in the sun, but also think about your future and how you can get a jump start on extracurricular activities that will impress colleges. These are important if you are looking into getting into the college of your dreams. Now let’s jump into the 5 ways to make your high school summer more productive.

Get An Internship

Looking into summer internships is a great way for high school students to gain work experience and you can add this sort of experience to your college application. There are certain rules that companies have to follow, so do your research and make sure you have the right qualifications to apply for a summer internship. Most companies can’t hire students under 16 years of age. 

Double-check with your high school guidance counselor or even your parents to help you find an internship that you are interested in. With an internship, you will be gaining real-world experience, skills, and the chance to build up your network in the job industry.

Internships

Volunteer

Volunteering experience is one of the best things to add to your college application. It shows that you are helping build up a community and are on a path to self-growth. This is something that can be easily completed as a high school student. You can spend a couple of hours a week volunteering during the summer and still have plenty of free time to have fun in the sun. 

Volunteering is also a great way to build leadership skills and get hands-on experience under your belt. It is essentially the same principle as having a summer job or internship. 

Get a Summer Job

That brings us to the next opportunity on how to make the most out of your summer. Spending time working a summer job can help you save money for college, and you will quickly learn how to work with a team. 

Getting a summer job is the first step towards your independence. Not only are you earning money, but you are building yourself a successful resume for future employment. Having a job helps you navigate social skills, time management, and more responsibility.  

Study Abroad

This isn’t very common, but being able to study abroad while you are in high school is an experience like no other. This means you’ll be able to explore the world, and different cultures, and enhance your education all at once. Not only will you have a new, life-changing experience under your belt, but colleges love to see these types of experiences in your application. 

These kinds of experiences are perfect for future resumes and your college application because they show that you are independent, motivated, and comfortable in new environments while meeting new people.

Take Pre-College Courses

The last and most important thing you can do with your high school summer is to enroll in college courses. There are tons of different programs that local junior colleges can offer high school students for the summer. They are considered advanced education courses and most high schools also give you credits to graduate as well. 

Not only are you staying ahead in your academic career, but you are also already earning college credits that can be transferred to the degree that you are interested in when you go off to college full-time.

Volunteering

How to Have a Fun Summer in High School

Worrying about school and work all summer isn’t something that you want to put on      yourself. It is also important that you focus on your happiness and mental health.         There are five different ways to ensure that you have a happy and positive                   summer along with a productive one. These are the five elements that can                  contribute to a well-balanced and happy life.

 Positive Demeanor

 Your outlook on situations is going to drive the experiences and emotions that you feel. It’s important to live your life with compassion, love, joy, and cheer. 

Engagement

    When you are engulfed in something time flies for you. Especially if you are focused        and working hard. If you are working on something that you actually like to do then time ceases to exist. 

Relationships

Another thing that will drive your happiness up is the engagement in your relationships. Whether you are spending quality time with a person or building up your network, do    it with confidence. 

Meaning

Having purpose and meaning for your actions is important. Make sure that what you’re doing has the intention of accomplishing a greater goal. You want to always be working towards something that will make you happier in the long run. 

Summer job
Accomplishment

Reaching completion of all your goals. This is important to your happiness because you will feel the achievement and accomplishment of completion. Once you get another step closer to your goals, your happiness will skyrocket. 

Keeping all of these key elements in mind means you are one step closer to understanding how to have a fun and productive summer. Don’t forget to keep your goals in mind!

Key Takeaways for Summer Enhancement

These are some of the best ways to take advantage of your summers while you are in high school. Brighten your community by volunteering, getting a local job, or continuing your academic studies at a junior college. The bottom line is that you can always be doing more with your time. Spend it wisely while you are also fitting in some fun time in the sun with your friends and family.

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College acceptance rates are becoming increasingly more competitive in 2022. The Common Application experienced a 21.3% surge in overall submissions for the class of 2026 college admissions and colleges across the country are scrambling to accommodate these numbers. According to U.S. News, the class of 2026 college acceptance rates are currently at a record low. This is causing anxiety for applicants and admissions alike — as students continue to navigate the admissions process and wait for college acceptance letters, and institutions try to accommodate an influx of applicants. 

Let’s take a quick look at some statistics: Between the 2021 and 2022 admissions cycle, Middlebury’s college acceptance rate decreased from 22% to 15%; Wellesley College’s college acceptance rate decreased from 20% to 13%; and Northeastern University’s college acceptance rate decreased from 20% to 7%. Ivy League colleges are also following this admissions trend, with Harvard University’s college acceptance rate decreasing from 5% to 3% and Dartmouth’s college acceptance rate decreasing from 10% to 6%.

These statistics are unprecedented and are causing quite the public stir. Some colleges, such as Princeton University, have even made the controversial decision to withhold their college acceptance rates, for fear of increasing student anxiety. Overall, this has caused many to speculate on the current state of our country’s higher education system.

College Acceptance Rates 2022

Learn how this year’s college acceptance rates compare to college acceptance rates in 2021. Why are college acceptance rates decreasing? What are some of the overall trends of college acceptance rates over time? Will college acceptance rates go up in the future?

 

School
AppliedAccepted2026 Acceptance Rate2025 Acceptance Rate
Amherst14,8001,0257%12%
Barnard12,0099618%14%
Boston College40,4776,67816%32%
Boston University80,79211,43414%20%
Bowdoin9,4468439%9%
Brown50,6492,5465%8%
Bucknell11,6823,79733%38%
Case Western38,0009,50025%30%
Colby16,8911,2587%10%
Colgate21,2602,62112%27%
Colorado College11,0071,26612%14%
Columbia60,3772,2534%4%
Dartmouth28,3361,7676%10%
Davidson6,4871,09017%19%
Duke50,0023,0856%9%
Emory33,5593,57811%21%
Florida State74,00017,00023%32%
Fordham46,00024,38053%53%
F&M9,2003,22035%34%
George Washington27,30113,37749%43%
Georgetown26,6703,22912%11%
Georgia Tech50,6018,67317%18%
Hamilton 9,8991,16812%18%
Harvard61,2201,9543%5%
Harvey Mudd4,44057613%18%
John Hopkins37,1002,4086%12%
Macalester9,6222,40625%39%
Middlebury13,0281,94015%22%
MIT33,9761,3374%6%
NYU105,00012,81012%27%
Northeastern91,0006,1007%20%
Northwestern51,5543,6097%9%
Rice31,4242,6919%16%
Swarthmore14,7001,0217%9%
Tufts34,8803,1399%15%
Tulane42,0004,20010%11%
Notre Dame26,5063,41213%18%
USC69,0008,20012%16%
Virginia50,9629,52219%21%
Vanderbilt46,7172,8646%10%
Villanova23,8135,47723%25%
Wellesley8,7001,13113%20%
Wesleyan14,5212,01314%21%
Williams15,3211,3049%15%
Yale50,0152,2344%

7%

     

Why Are College Acceptance Rates Declining?

There are lots of factors that have led to this year’s increase in college applications and its accompanying decrease in college acceptance rates. One of the biggest factors is that more and more schools are becoming test-optional. This means that some colleges no longer require SAT or ACT scores as part of their admissions process. As a result, applying to these schools has become much more accessible. Now, students who do not necessarily test well, or otherwise do not have the resources to take the SATs or ACTs, have more freedom to apply to more schools. 

Other factors that have influenced the class of 2026 college acceptance rates include the digitalization of the SAT and an overall increase in student applications. Some colleges, such as Northeastern University, also had to decrease the 2026 class size due to over-enrollment last year.

What Does This Mean for College Applicants?

Moving forward, prospective college students will have to account for these college admissions trends as they research colleges and decide which schools to apply to, take their SATs, and write their college essays. College applications will continue to be more challenging and competitive than ever. 

If you are a student or a parent of a student, remember that college application season is a stressful time and it’s okay if you need additional help navigating challenges. There are plenty of resources out there to help you with any number of issues, including knowing how to react upon receiving a college rejection letter. 

College application season is an emotionally demanding time and it’s important to have a support system you can turn to in times of need. Consider reaching out to learn more about our services if you feel like you could benefit from having individualized assistance.