A lot of families sit down to plan summer in April, and by that point the pool has hired its lifeguards for the season. The internship at the vet clinic down the street went to a student who emailed the owner in February. Students who start asking around in the winter end up with more to choose from.
On this week's episode of Drop In, we talk through how to figure out what your student wants from a summer and how to size up a program before you pay for it. This post covers the calendar and the legwork, along with how to find opportunities nobody advertises.
When Should High School Students Start Planning for Summer?
For the most competitive programs, planning starts in November. Here's how the months tend to break down:
November through January: Selective programs open applications, and many of them close by January. Most ask for an essay and a teacher recommendation, so talk to your teacher before winter break.
February and March: Summer hiring starts at pools and day camps. The Red Cross lifeguard course has a minimum age of 15, and the spring sessions fill up. Email local businesses about internships during these weeks too.
April: Program decisions arrive, usually with a deposit due a few weeks later. If your student wants to volunteer at a hospital, the orientation and background check often need to be finished by now.
May: Lock in the schedule. Some states require a work permit for students under 18, and the counseling office at school can usually tell you how to get one.
What a Good Summer Looks Like at Each Grade Level
The summer after ninth grade is a good one for trying things out. Many employers wait until 16 to hire, so a rising sophomore might babysit for the neighbors or sign up as a counselor-in-training at a day camp. A free class at the library counts as well.
By the summer before junior year, it makes sense to go further with something your student already likes. Anything they start that summer has a whole school year to grow before applications, and admissions readers notice that kind of follow-through. Our post on what juniors can do right now and Episode 19 of Drop In cover the rest of junior year planning.
The summer before senior year is the last one a college will see on the application. The Common App opens August 1, and rising seniors also need time that summer for campus visits and essay drafts. We'd point them toward a shorter program or a steady job that leaves room for both. Our post on building a college list can help you decide which campuses to visit.
The summer after graduation falls outside the admissions process entirely, so we tell those students to work and save some money.
How High School Students Can Find a Real Internship
Companies rarely run formal internships for students under 18, mostly because of age rules and insurance. The high school internships we've seen work out almost always started with a student asking. A family-owned business or a city council member's office can be a good place to try, since both tend to have more summer work than staff.
Keep the email short. Mention something you've noticed about their work and offer help with something specific, like updating a spreadsheet or translating flyers into Spanish. Give the hours you're available. If a week goes by with no answer, send one follow-up.
For a student hoping to do research with a professor at a nearby college, it helps to read one of that professor's recent papers and mention a detail from it in the email. Expect to send several emails before anyone replies. Many universities also run formal research programs for high schoolers, and those applications are usually due in the winter.
Is a Summer Job Good for College Applications?
Admissions readers take paid work seriously. On the Common App, paid work has its own activity category, and so do family responsibilities, which means a student who spent the summer earning money or looking after a sibling can list that next to clubs and sports. Our post on the Common App activities section shows how to write it up.
Federal law sets limits for younger workers. Fourteen- and fifteen-year-olds can work up to 40 hours a week during the summer and stay on the job until 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day, and some states have stricter rules.
A summer job also comes with a manager who watched your student work for weeks. That manager can serve as a reference, and a few colleges will take an extra recommendation letter from someone outside of school.
What Kind of Volunteering Do Colleges Respect?
Admissions readers pay attention to steady volunteer work close to home. A student who spends every Tuesday at the same food bank for two summers can talk about how the place changed while they were there and what they learned along the way. Around the middle of the summer, have your student ask the volunteer coordinator for more responsibility, like training new volunteers.
Nonprofits often need specific skills, too. If your student is good with spreadsheets or speaks a second language, ask whether the organization has a project that could use it. We wrote more about why depth beats breadth in activities, and Episode 7 of Drop In goes further.
Can a Student Combine a Summer Program, a Job, and Free Time?
We like summers that mix a couple of things. A two-week program in June followed by a part-time job works well for a lot of students. Another option is a community college course paired with a few shifts a week, as long as you check ahead of time whether the credit will transfer. Block off a couple of weeks with nothing on the calendar, too.
How to Pay for a Summer Program
Some of the strongest summer programs are free, and a few pay students a stipend. In several states, the governor's school runs a free summer program for high schoolers. Many paid programs offer financial aid, and families who ask early have the best shot at it, since some programs hand out aid until the money runs out. A local community foundation or Rotary club may also cover part of the cost, and a short email to the chapter will tell you whether they do.
We covered more ideas in our earlier post on maximizing your summer break.
The Bottom Line
Start planning in the winter. Many selective programs close by January.
Summer jobs hire in February and March, so that's the time to apply.
Rising seniors need room in August for essays and campus visits.
Internships for high schoolers usually come from a short email to a small business or local office.
Paid work counts on the Common App, and so do family responsibilities.
Ask paid programs about financial aid as early as you can.
If you have questions, want to learn more, or want Josh and Lisa to help with planning your summer? Schedule a call today, and we have you covered!