Get ahead by taking advantage of summer
Summer provides the best opportunity for future college applicants to separate themselves from the crowd. As the number of students who apply to colleges continues to rise, so too does the need for students to make an effort to distinguish themselves. Here are some great options to get you off to a head start:
A taste of college at home
Some universities and colleges offer a variety of advanced classes during the summer. Students can find a class that is not offered at their high school, which can help them find the pace of the real class more comfortable when they eventually start to take it.
Recently, online classes for credit（学分）are gaining popularity. One resource students can access is the Virtual High School – my.vhslearning.org. It is a nonprofit organization for online education that offers 24 AP courses, as well as dozens of other classes.
A taste of college far away
Experiencing a real college campus during a one-week or multi-week summer program is a great way to get a better understanding of whether the college is a good fit. Many of these programs offer hands-on experiences or guest lectures from experts.
Some are under the mistaken impression that attending a summer program at a good school gives them an advantage in the admissions process. “I don’t know that they are impressive just because a student did an academic program,” Greg Zaiser, head of admissions at Elon University, told The Charlotte Observer. “What impresses us the most is that students have identified something they want to study after the program.”
Community service
Volunteering is a great way to show interest in something you care about. It also lets you give back to your community, explore a career path and grow personally. Find ways to volunteer what matches your interests. Check out opportunities at hospitals or libraries; teach your favorite sport to disadvantaged youths; or work with animals.
Passage outline | Supporting details |
___(1)__ for taking advantage of summer | ◇ There is no better chance than summer for the students ___(2)__ to colleges to separate themselves from the crowd. ◇ With the number of college applicants increasing, students need to make more efforts to make themselves __(3)___ from others. |
Some great options to help you start ahead of others | A taste of college at home | ◇ Students can make the most of ___(4)___ advanced classes offered by some universities and colleges in summer to make good __(5)__ for the real class in the future. ◇ More than one resource online is __(6)__ to students. |
A taste of college far away | ◇ Students can spend one week or more in experiencing a real college campus and attend some lectures, which can help them better ___(7)___ whether the college is fit or not. ◇ What really ___(8)___ students by attending a summer program at a good school is that they can make it clear what they want to study after the program. |
Community service | ◇ Being ___(9)__ can not only make you explore a career path, but allow you an opportunity to __(10)_ back your community. ◇ Catch hold of all kinds of opportunities to volunteer to do what matches your interests. |