Using Your Summer Break Wisely for Top UK and US University Applications
Using Your Summer Break Wisely for Top UK and US University Applications
Are you looking forward to your school breaks? Whether you’re about to go on summer break, June holidays, or December break, we hope that you’ll have a lovely and restful time. Remember, though, that these breaks are also crucial times as you build your profiles for university applications. So, if you’re a student looking ahead, keep reading to see what our suggestions are for using your breaks to maximize your university application chances.
Why Summers are Crucial for Top University Applicants
Resting is a great thing. You need downtime between hard years of study and extracurricular success. That said, top applicants are often using their summers as extra time to hone their profiles and make sure they’re set up for success. If your goal is to get into a great university, especially one in the US or UK, you will want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your time, and increasing your own potential as an applicant.
How does the new format differ? Is there still a way to prepare for it?
Top Oxbridge, Ivy League and Ivy + Applicants Use their summers to…
Show Initiative
- Become a leader in something that you do
Take the time to create something of your own
Deepen Engagement
- Delve deeper into an academic, extracurricular or charitable pursuit
Build community bonds and connections
Strengthen Profile
- Think about your list of dream universities and narrow it down
Work on your applications and think about the personal stories you’ll tell when you apply
Work toward getting good standardized test scores - The hope is that the added structure will help students to organise their thoughts and better express themselves, making the application more accessible.
Our suggestions for summer activities that will boost your chances at university admission
Volunteering
- Work nonprofit toward a cause you believe in
Intern
- Find a way to gain experience in a professional setting
Projects
- Develop an independent project based on your interests
- We encourage projects in our EarlyPrep program, where we walk our students through the process of developing an exciting project to undertake in the long term
Work on Self Expression
- Get a handle on how to write and speak, improving your language skills and your skills of self-reflection
As you go off on your vacations, remember to find a balance between working hard and relaxing. We at IvyPrep wish you a restful, but productive time!
FAQ
Lots of things. Our three pillars of summer learning include:
– Showing Initiative
– Deepening Engagement
– Strengthening Profile
Whether you’re volunteering, interning, studying or working on your applications, you’ll want to make sure you’re doing something to maximize your admissions chances by touching upon these important ideals.
Here’s some:
– Volunteer
– Intern
– Lead
– Projects
– Work on Self Expression
– Improve Grades and Scores
While nothing is totally mandatory, we highly recommend that our students spend time over the summers working toward their university goals.
Many students find it very beneficial to do this, as it helps them narrow down their options and figure out where they really want to apply. At the same time, it takes time and money to visit every university a student might be interested in, so it boils down to personal choice. You can also consider doing this remotely, via readily available virtual tours.
Ultimately, all applicants will want to spend their summers doing something engaging and interesting. However, it is true that UK universities prefer activities that have more of an academic slant, so UK applicants may find themselves gravitating toward projects that allow them to show off their smarts. If you’re stuck between the US and the UK, check out the blog post we wrote on how to pick between the two.
