Still have questions? Ask our Dean! You can also search the archive to see past questions and answers. E-mail your questions to: thedean@careersandcolleges.com.
Do colleges consider summer activities?
Do colleges care about the activities you do only during the summer?Some students think that colleges only care about what you do on school grounds and during school hours. In reality, colleges know that you have a life outside of school and may be involved in many other non-school related activities. They take into account what you do during the summer. In fact, there is space on most college applications for you to describe your summer activities.
You also are worried about whether colleges will look down on the fact that you have assumed three leadership positions almost overnight. To some extent this will depend on your track record. If you have been involved in these activities previously with increasing levels of responsibility, it makes sense that you would become a leader in them.
If you are a rising senior and this is the first time that you are getting involved, then the colleges may wonder about your commitment to these activities. To overcome any suspicions you will want to demonstrate to colleges that you are a leader in these activities not just because you want to impress them but because you actually enjoy them and get things done. Be sure to cite actual accomplishments to show the colleges that you are not a leader in name only.
Ask the Dean Archive
Test Prep
- Are AP tests worth it?
- Can I hide my SAT scores?
- How can I increase my vocabulary?
- I have a learning disabilitiy; should I take AP courses?
- Should I take a test prep course?
- What can I do to increase my SAT score?
- What does the SAT represent?
- What is on the SAT?
- What is the TOEFL?
- When should I take the SATs?
Special Interests
- Can you explain extracurricular activities?
- Do athletics affect my application?
- How do I get into medical school?
- How do colleges track your interest?
- I was not able to take a foreign language. Will colleges overlook that?
- Is there a way to get a college to recruit me for a sport?
- Should my parents help me?
- What do you recommend for someone with learning disabilities looking at colleges?
- What if I can't visit?
- What is an honors course?
Financial Aid
- Are there scholarships for two-year college students?
- Can I win scholarships if I didn't do extracurricular activities?
- How can I apply for scholarships?
- How else can I pay for college besides financial aid?
- If I live on campus can I be independent from my parents for financial aid?
- Scholarship scams: How can I get even?
- What is financial aid?
- What to do about credit issues?
- What's the FAFSA?
- When are you in-state or out of state?
- When should I apply for scholarships?
- Where can I find loans?
Careers
- Help, I don't know what to major in!
- How can I find a school with a good science program?
- I want to learn more about technology jobs...
- I'm confused about what major to choose....
- I'm not happy with my career...now what?
- What about technical schools?
- What if I'm not sure about college?
Admission Advice
- Can I apply to multiple colleges for Early Decision?
- Classes are starting. How often should I attend, and do I need the textbook?
- Community college or university?
- Do I have to complete a college interview?
- Do colleges consider summer activities?
- Do colleges prefer students who take a lot of AP courses?
- Help—I have a bad high school GPA!
- My counselor isn't very helpful. What should I do?
- What happens during a college visit?
- What is the Common Application?
- What questions should I ask during a college interview?
- What’s the difference between a college and a university?
- When should I visit?
- Where do I begin?
- Why do I have to live on campus?
- Will one bad semester hurt my college applications?
