Anonymous wrote:Depends on the kid. By that age, my student had already had a congressional internship, 400+ volunteer hours, and a pilot's license, so he got a job for the summer (retail) and worked on applications.

Were you answering OP’s questions or trying to brag about your kid?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lifeguard and chase chicks. I promise your kid won't get behind the 8 ball in their future career if they wait until college to start resume padding. Teens should be teens!

If you are the one who continues to use this phrase here, stop. If you’re new to using it, also stop.

The word "chicks" is already too much. You sound like a 70 year old white man.

Anonymous wrote:Lifeguard and chase chicks. I promise your kid won't get behind the 8 ball in their future career if they wait until college to start resume padding. Teens should be teens!

If you are the one who continues to use this phrase here, stop. If you’re new to using it, also stop.

Anonymous wrote:What are they interested in? Pretty much anything that isn't sitting around playing video games is good. Best would be a selective program in their area of interest or a full time job.

+100

Lifeguard and chase chicks. I promise your kid won't get behind the 8 ball in their future career if they wait until college to start resume padding. Teens should be teens!

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the kid. By that age, my student had already had a congressional internship, 400+ volunteer hours, and a pilot's license, so he got a job for the summer (retail) and worked on applications.

My kid worked at a grocery store and played baseball.

Yes, we plan to get application well under way this summer! Glad to hear it’s good to get that done!

Do something related to major. If sciences, in my large city, there were numerous hospitals who had teen volunteer programs, but all of them required applications and some of them were due in February - so start looking now.
It checked the box on volunteering and commitment to sciences, plus it was a good way for him to spend 6 hours 3x a week.
He also finished ALL of his essays and everything was submitted by 9/15 and even he admitted he was grateful for that.

Anonymous wrote:Interests are literature, humanities. They have had a congressional internship already. Would be happy working with kids. We live in DC, so the Governors school is out- that’s only Va, right? Would love to do anything that isn’t ‘Pay to Play’. Having a hard time finding free summer opportunities.

I don’t think the Stanford Humanities summer program is pay to play. Yes, it’s $$$, but it has competitive admissions and seems like a beneficial experience. Similarly, Yale Young Global Scholars has a humanities track and that’s easier travel wise.

Interests are literature, humanities. They have had a congressional internship already. Would be happy working with kids. We live in DC, so the Governors school is out- that’s only Va, right? Would love to do anything that isn’t ‘Pay to Play’. Having a hard time finding free summer opportunities.

Anonymous wrote:What is the best use of summer time? Kid is a jr in high school, hoping to add to the college application. What is the best summer plans? How can we find free summer programs? Should they be working? Volunteering? Traveling? So many options and summer is so short!

Whatever they do, please strongly encourage them to begin drafting their main college essay!

Depends on the kid. By that age, my student had already had a congressional internship, 400+ volunteer hours, and a pilot's license, so he got a job for the summer (retail) and worked on applications.

Completely depends on the kid! There are a lot of summer programs with financial aid. Governors school is also free, but that process is probably nearly complete at your school. What are their interests?

What are they interested in? Pretty much anything that isn't sitting around playing video games is good. Best would be a selective program in their area of interest or a full time job.

What is the best use of summer time? Kid is a jr in high school, hoping to add to the college application. What is the best summer plans? How can we find free summer programs? Should they be working? Volunteering? Traveling? So many options and summer is so short!