High School Freshman — What should they do this summer?? Aspire to going to competitive college

[Anonymous]

DD is a high school freshman, all As, does some sports but not very well, more into debate and model UN. What would be a good use of her summer?

We are looking at academic programs like CTY and Duke, spouse is thinking they should get a job or internship — but I can’t find many internships for 15 year old high school freshman.

We talked to counselors at high school but they just point us to the county volunteer website.

[Anonymous]

A job or volunteering

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A job or volunteering

Just any random job?

[Anonymous]

Stop obsessing over college admissions. What your kid does in the summer has very little impact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop obsessing over college admissions. What your kid does in the summer has very little impact.

She believes it matters, as do all her classmates. I don’t think it matters except maybe Jr year.

[Anonymous]

Relax. Let her be a teen.

[Anonymous]

A combination of volunteering in an area that actually interests her, enjoying her summer, and using both experiences to enhance her life skills.

[Anonymous]

what race is your daughter? white? what is a competitive college to her?

I would have her volunteer or get a job. Any job will be fine - camp counselor, work at an ice-cream store, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is a high school freshman, all As, does some sports but not very well, more into debate and model UN. What would be a good use of her summer?

We are looking at academic programs like CTY and Duke, spouse is thinking they should get a job or internship — but I can’t find many internships for 15 year old high school freshman.

We talked to counselors at high school but they just point us to the county volunteer website.

As the mother of a high performing senior, here is my advice to you. Follow your kid’s interests and lead. You are not going to craft her into someone she is not and if you let your high achieving kid become who she should be, I promise you it will pay dividends for both you and your kid. My DD has applied to some reach schools. She may get in. But regardless, I am so amazed by the woman she has become. She will change the world no matter where she goes to school. And this person would not have emerged if we had tried to curate her activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop obsessing over college admissions. What your kid does in the summer has very little impact.

1000%. This is not a good look, OP.

[Anonymous]

Get a job and over the next 3 summer have her work there and grow in leadership. Even picking up some school year hours would be good. A kid that sticks to a job and grows in it is impressive. An unpaid internship thanks to mom and dad’s connections are not.

[Anonymous]

She should be driving this train not you.

Summer job is a great activity. But she should figure it out, not you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A job or volunteering

Just any random job?

Any.random.job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop obsessing over college admissions. What your kid does in the summer has very little impact.

1000%. This is not a good look, OP.

You don’t understand. SHE is the one driving the bus here. We would prefer she get a local job and volunteer over the summer, she wants to live somewhere else and learn/do something more novel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop obsessing over college admissions. What your kid does in the summer has very little impact.

1000%. This is not a good look, OP.

You don’t understand. SHE is the one driving the bus here. We would prefer she get a local job and volunteer over the summer, she wants to live somewhere else and learn/do something more novel.

And tell her to get a job or volunteer. Or research what she wants to do herself.