One of the things students keep in the back of their minds during high school years is college applications. Many underclassmen are now considering summer programs to spend their time productively during the long break. If students are wondering where to start, here’s a quick guide to breaking the ice and discovering opportunities for the summer.

When searching for summer programs, students should consider what sparks their passions. Based on their interests, it’s possible to find opportunities having to do with those topics. Whether it entails participating in a dance intensive, constructing new research or taking on-campus classes at an educational institution, summer programs should be fun and informative. Students might consider courses offered by Heritage or colleges they’re interested in attending.

Additionally, summer programs don’t necessarily have to be a continuation of a demonstrated interest; in fact, they can be the beginning to a completely new passion as well. From familiarizing students with new career paths to immersing in environments with people completely different from themselves, summer programs provide a fresh breath of perspective.

Another aspect to consider is how selective a program is and how much it can make a student stand out from a crowd of applicants. Summer programs can be a chance to express their interest in a particular school, highlight their teamwork skills or show their initiative in service projects. They’re an excellent opportunity to network with people globally, especially if they are internship opportunities. Further on, summer programs can be a topic for college essays as well. As for selectivity, keep an eye on deadline dates. Most selective summer programs are easier to get into by the early application deadline, as opposed to the regular one. Although they vary, deadlines for summer programs can be as early as mid-Jan. to early Feb.

If a student has already decided on what they want to do, they can consider learning topics having to do with that field of interest through online courses or in-person classes. Online schools, universities and platforms like Coursera are great places to start pursuing their interests on a deeper level.

As students start planning their summer adventures, they must keep in mind that summer programs should be a reflection of their interests. Students should treat summer programs as preparation for college applications, put their best foot forward and give themselves something to look forward to following the end of another academic year.

_{The New York Times Summer Program is an excellent program for anyone interested in media. Having participated in this program the summer after freshman year, I enjoyed meeting people from Mexico, India, Haiti and all over the United States (Photo/Alina Sukhovskaya)}