Judging by the absolute slaughter of college admissions this year, she either needs to be starting an LLC, founding a 501(c)3, or curing cancer to have any shot of even getting into a mediocre university.

But in all actuality, she'll be a paid intern at my SIL's office. She'll be doing Marketing/Digital Marketing tasks. DD is very excited because she gets to "dress up" and will make $21.50/hr.

Last summer she babysat neighborhood kids and walked dogs. She submitted at least 50 applications but no one would hire someone under 16.

Anonymous wrote:Working during the day at a camp and at night and on the weekends at an ice cream shop.

Do you work every night and every weekend? Why would you want your child to do that then?

Working during the day at a camp and at night and on the weekends at an ice cream shop.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Internship at MITRE (paid)

Working with a tutor online on science fair project. The goal is to win at the FCPS science fair and then go on to States.

Volunteering at Childrens National (family member works there)

April is a bit late to get started.

40 hours a week internship plus science fair project plus volunteering?

Taking the fast track to burnout I see.

Exactly. Plus aren’t there labor laws preventing your 15 year old from working 40 hours at a job? Me thinks you are full of smelly stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We didn't plan the summer based on college applications, though, it's just what he wanted to do.

As schools move away from test scores, I think pursuing actual interests will increasingly be more important to differentiate applicants. Based on our visits, schools are expanding the activities they value so curated resumes filled with expensive activities are falling out of favor.

Whatever make you sleep at night! Visit the thread about Harvard. They are not taking duffers.

99.9 percent of your kids are not going to Harvard but it doesn’t stop you from ruining their childhood. I know, I know, that’s how you make yourself feel better about being “the best” parent.

4 week engineering program at Hopkins. Free bc DC is at city public school - otherwise much too $$$$

Anonymous wrote:Internship at MITRE (paid)

Working with a tutor online on science fair project. The goal is to win at the FCPS science fair and then go on to States.

Volunteering at Childrens National (family member works there)

April is a bit late to get started.

40 hours a week internship plus science fair project plus volunteering?

Taking the fast track to burnout I see.

online PE, online drivers ed, summer musical, vacation, working at her weekend job.

My rising junior at a fancy private school worked in a fast food restaurant last summer at age 15. She LOVED it and she's going back this summer. Who knew.

Staying at a friend's place in France and nannying for their kids for the summer.

three week summer academic program (not for college admissions, but because she was interested and DH and I both had great experiences at similar programs), family vacation, spending time at grandparents' and with friends.

Four week summer music camp, lifeguarding, vacation

Having just gone through the college process with an older kid I second that it doesn’t matter for admissions. There are a limited number of activity slots on the common app—my son couldn’t include all of his and he’s not even that active. Stuff that contributes to a kid’s life experience or interests is good, because it’s worthwhile for its own sake. So no apologies needed about CIT-ing or lifeguarding or sports camp.

Anonymous wrote:Curing cancer

Too late. My kid already did it. She’s in 8th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One week of Scouts camp, one week of space camp, and then starts his fall marching band rehearsals first week of August. The rest of the weeks are hanging at home, seeing friends, going to the pool, playing video games and reading. We didn't plan the summer based on college applications, though, it's just what he wanted to do.

That’s fine.

But kids who wish to be competitive for T50 schools need to think bigger than the above.

Completely untrue.