Summer Bucket List for Young Academics
After a busy school year, the last thing a student wants to do is to think about more schoolwork. At the same time, summer break is a great time to gather your thoughts, dreams, and aspirations and use your time to work towards them. While we are planning our own summer, we figured we could share a “Summer Bucket List” for those who dream of attending a university. Note that these are recommendations based on how successful students spend their summer vacations, and not a to-do list. Pick and choose what works for you this summer!
Reading: Read books, lots of them. Go to your local library and befriend your librarian. Tell them what you enjoy, and you will certainly leave with plenty of material to read at the beach or the pool. . Not only does this help build your fluency, but learning vocabulary is key in this stage of development—many SAT words can be found in great literature! P.S.: audiobooks count!
College Summer Programs: If you have an idea of what you’d like to pursue during your undergraduate experience, take advantage of summer programs at local colleges that offer middle and high school summer programs. If there is a specific institution that you are interested in, completing a summer program there may give you insight on how it runs and whether you would like to pursue it as a potential college.
Service Learning: What can you do for your local community? Find ways in which you can offer your skills and support to underserved communities: collecting school supplies, offering aid to shelters, and volunteering your time at a food pantry are some examples of how to accumulate service learning hours and cultivate meaningful civic engagement among neighbors.
SAT/ACT prep (for rising 9th and 10th graders): While most colleges today are test-optional, it is never too early to begin preparing for the standardized tests if that is something you are interested in doing, or if the college of your dreams requires your scores. This is a great time to review vocabulary, grammar, and math skills that may need some further practice.
Networking: At this stage, networking isn't about finding a job; it is about building relationships based on your curiosity. This looks like identifying people whose work you find interesting and asking them about their story. At this stage, the goal is to practice professional communication and build a circle of mentors.
Internships (for rising 11th and 12th graders): This is where the networking pays off! Using your network, find a summer internship that interests you and is aligned with what you’d like to study in college.
Summer Jobs: Anything from serving fried food at the public pool’s snack shack, being a camp counselor, babysitting, to working for your town’s department of sanitation, every job you take is a skill set you are learning, which can be helpful in your college application process.
Passion Projects: Instead of focusing only on resume-building activities, dedicate your time to a project you genuinely own and enjoy. The sky is the limit—writing a short story or poem, creating a dance routine with your friends, building a community garden, anything that sparks creativity and joy should be a focus of your summer!
Online Learning: Platforms like Coursera or Khan Academy offer accessible ways to learn specific skills like coding, graphic design, basic financial literacy, or video editing. It’s a low-pressure way to build a skill while exploring potential future majors.
Life Skills: Take on a "household project," like learning to cook a few family meals, managing a small budget for the grocery shop, or organizing a basement or garage. Ask the adults in your home what needs to be done, and how you can be of help. These tasks help build independence and accountability in a way that translates perfectly to college life.
Physical Wellness: Don’t underestimate the value of structured physical movement. Whether it’s joining a local recreational sports league, football camp, training for a 5K, or committing to daily walks around the neighborhood, having a physical wellness routine helps manage stress and sets a healthy foundation for the upcoming school year.
Travel: If you can afford to, travel. Explore the world outside your community and comfort zone by learning the history of another country, trying their food, listening to a foreign language, and meeting new people. These are priceless ways to become an educated world citizen.
Through the exploration of interests and dedicating time to personal growth, you aren’t just building a resume; you’re discovering who you are and want to become. Take this time to recharge your mind and sharpen your skills so that when the school doors open again, you return with a renewed sense of purpose, feeling completely ready and refreshed to tackle all the work ahead.
All of us here at Ivy are wishing you a restful and edifying summer!