Study summer activities before joining them

Q: I am a parent of a high school student. I'm wondering what types of activities my daughter should participate in during the summer that would impress colleges, and when we should begin planning her summer activities.

A: If you haven't already done so, now is a good time to start planning summer activities for your daughter. I would recommend meeting with a college counselor to discuss summer opportunities.

There are many different types of summer activities that can be impressive to colleges. These activities range from language immersion programs abroad to academic summer programs at different college campuses to simply holding down a summer job.

If you are considering sending your daughter abroad for a language immersion program or a community service program, it is very important that you do your homework. Safety and security are of the utmost importance. I would only consider programs that have their own insurance - don't believe it if someone at a program tells you that your insurance will work abroad if your daughter is injured.

Additionally, before signing up, you should speak with someone who works at the program you are considering and find out what their drug and alcohol policies are, do they have a curfew for the students, etc. And most importantly, are these policies enforced?

Some good academic summer activities include the University of California's Cosmos program and the Summer Discovery program. Cosmos is the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science. According to the Cosmos Web site, its mission is "to motivate the most creative minds of the new generation of prospective scientists, engineers and mathematicians who will become leaders for California, the nation and the world. The program aims to create a community of students who participate in and contribute to an intensive academic experience delivered by distinguished educators and scholars."

Cosmos is a competitive program that students must apply to, and not all applicants are accepted.

Summer Discovery is an academic program held at ten different college campuses across the U.S. and internationally, including three University of California campuses. These programs allow high school students to take part in pre-college enrichment courses.

However, it is important to remember that most colleges are not looking for academic robots that simply study year-round. So, even if your daughter really wants to do an academic program, it might be to her advantage to do something else during the summer in addition to an academic program. Another thing to keep in mind is that many students believe they will gain an admissions edge at College X by doing a summer program at College X; however, usually this is not the case.

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Reprinted by permission, Palo Alto Daily News. Jason Katz ©2.9.2008 All rights reserved. This article may be printed for your personal use, but may not be reprinted in whole or in part in any publication or website without permission. www.jkatzcollegecounseling.com