Mine did a little prep work, but mostly had fun. Spent a week in NYC with friends (turned down NYU for a better ROI school), 2 week family vacation, last week at sleep away camp, time with grandparents in a different state, looked for a job, but never found one so volunteered, and lots of shopping to get ready for campus life.

Regular job and hanging with high school buddies for one last epic summer before everything changes.

Summer job + go ride your bike across Iowa with RAGBRAI! https://ragbrai.com/

Their summer sport, family travel, hang out with friends, part time job.

According to movies: beach parties

According to headlines: guys continue torrid affairs that they started with their English teachers in 10th grade

Reality: work low-paying job & buy dorm supplies at Target

Special family graduation trip, lots of time for friends, mid-summer quick orientation trip, hanging out with boyfriend and being more relaxed enjoying that all their hard work paid off. She worked a little, but between out of town commitments, it wasn't the summer of making money. It was the summer my overstressed overachiever needed.

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I have a HS senior and I am wondering what kids typically do the summer before college? Just get a normal job or prep in their area of interest? I feel like we have no plan as of yet...

Chill, travel, hobbies and avoiding burn out by constantly having to stay on the hamster wheel of competition.

Anonymous wrote:This should be their most relaxing summer ever. Do absolutely nothing.

+1

Work a “normal” teen job, hang out with friends, and make great memories!

10-day family vacation, then working part-time job and hanging out with friends.

This should be their most relaxing summer ever. Do absolutely nothing.

Anonymous wrote:Get into just the right amount of trouble and have just enough friend drama that September is a good break. All of this wrapped with nostalgia making. All good things.

Ha ha, yes.

My kids all had very normal jobs -- restaurant work, lifeguarding, etc. Highly recommend. They make money and have fun without the grind of schoolwork.

My kid will have 4 months off since he'll attend a college with quarter system/late start. I told him to just have fun and relax but he says he'll get bored if no planned activities.

He's applied for a summer foreign language program, wants to go on an extended vacation with us, maybe will do his sport for one last summer with travel to Florida for tournament with friends, looking for a low key internship, maybe the same paid summer job as last year. Has also mentioned that seniors have a ton of parties after graduation, so there's that.

Ten thousand graduation parties, job, volunteering, hanging with friends, beach week, buying stuff for school, packing, family vacation.