OP,
Is he applying ED?
Ha, maybe he will save a life at the pool at write an essay that gets him into Yale.
I say Go for it!

Some break yes, for the entire summer? No. DC wants to go to a few schools where there is a Nov 1 deadline and he should have his ducks in a row when school starts so the school can do their part before the deadline.

Are you Asian?

I wonder if anyone would really suggest taking the summer off if there was an interesting job opportunity just waiting for DC?

The truth is that most who choose to "chill" for the summer aren't passing on great opportunities.

Yes, you are the only Mom who wants Mr./Ms. Rising Senor to rest this summer.

Colleges like to see plain old summer jobs. Sounds like a good plan.

I told my son to relax and have fun for the next month on a teen tour he's taking to another country and not even think about college applications.. Although I did suggest that he keep a brief journal of interesting things that he sees or experiences over the next month for purposes of writing his college essays. I guess I blew the not thinking about applications part!

I don't think your plan is unreasonable. Mine is working, doing his summer reading, and otherwise sleeping, watching a lot of sports, and playing video games. Not what I would choose, and he won't have an Ivy level "passion," but he understands and is okay with that. He does a respectable number of sports and fine arts things during the school year that we hope will make him competitive (with his grades and test scores) for other good schools. He's going to do SAT tutoring for a fall retake and work on essays starting in August. He was too burned out from APs, subject tests, and finals to start in June. I'd just make sure your son understands the consequences of the choices he makes for his summer.

Anonymous wrote:My son has worked so hard all year. I would like to see him take 4-6 weeks to just recharge, work at pool, and maybe workout. So many parents already seem to have their kids thick into college apps and essays. Am I crazy to think this way?

do you have a good essay topic already? If not, this is the time to get one.

He hesitates is lost in the mad selective college craze......if you let your rising Senior "chill" out this summer, he/she is doomed to 3rd tier college. It play at the beach or work, read, practice SATs do internships etc. but whatever, don't take time to "recharge".

Actually, many parents would like their kids to chill, work part time, etc. But if a kid is aiming at a very selective school, there is an objective external pressure to make this summer count, especially if it is a way to demonstrate a passion /interest. If your kid wants to go to UMD and already has a high grades and high SATs, he probably can chill. If he wants to go to Princeton it's another story. That's just the way it is these days. Next summer -- after graduation -- he can relax either way if he wants. . .

Anonymous wrote:My son has worked so hard all year. I would like to see him take 4-6 weeks to just recharge, work at pool, and maybe workout. So many parents already seem to have their kids thick into college apps and essays. Am I crazy to think this way?

July 2 !- it's too late your DS is doomed if he hasn't started on those essays yet! Seriously, your plan sounds right - recharge.

My son has worked so hard all year. I would like to see him take 4-6 weeks to just recharge, work at pool, and maybe workout. So many parents already seem to have their kids thick into college apps and essays. Am I crazy to think this way?