Development Students Making the Most of Summer
Here are some of the ways our development students have turned our suggestions into amazing summer experiences. Please note that none of the following are pay-to-play! They are either free or self-initiated.
Earned EMT certification and is already being dispatched to see patients.
Started junior firefighter training.
Attended highly competitive free programs including the Carleton Summer Program, Illinois State University Redbird program, the Philadelphia Youth Leadership Corps, and the University of Wisconsin SMAHRT Research Scholars.
Volunteered at a no-pay community health center.
Served as a lookout for ICE raids to support immigrant families.
Hiked the Appalachian Trail.
Traveled abroad to share music in South Africa.
Advocated in New York City for Free Tibet.
Accepted to the FBI Teen Academy.
Wrote grants for foster youth organizations such as Valley Youth House and CASA.
Interned at the Kent State Experimental Archaeology Lab.
Assisted children with hemiplegia in a therapy program offering OT, PT, and speech support.
Lived with grandparents, worked locally, and took Italian classes at the University of Bologna.
Worked for the mayor of a Central American capital city.
Fundraised to support women’s reproductive health at a local women’s center.
Became a board member and fundraiser (Swim Across America, Holyoke Hockey Clinic).
Summer Healthcare Experience in Oncology at UPenn (free)
These are extraordinary accomplishments, and they reflect a wide range of authentic interests and the fact that we can still come up with uncontrived activities.
What Do We Mean by “High School Development?”
Colleges are looking for more than strong grades and test scores. They want interesting, inquisitive students who are prepared to make an impact on their campuses and beyond. That preparation doesn’t happen in the final year of high school. It can begin as soon as eighth grade.
Development is meant to guide students and families through the many choices leading up to the application process. This includes:
Course Selection
Extracurricular Activities/Passion Through-line
Summer Experiences
Resume Drafting
Career Exploration
SAT/ACT Test Prep
AP Planning
Gap Year Consideration
Paying for College
Creating a Balanced College List
Identifying & Building Relationships with Recommenders
Every choice, from courses to extracurriculars, should be both authentic to the student and manageable given their time and energy; overloading only creates stress. We encourage students to explore widely at first, then gradually invest in the “ interest gardens” that mean the most to them. Some students are more developmentally prepared than others to take advantage of suggestions, but all benefit from strengths-based guidance and mentorship. By the time they apply, students aren’t just presenting a list of classes and activities. They’re sharing a story.
