How Should Freshmen Plan Their Summer For College Admissions?
Parents of freshmen often ask a version of the same question: How should freshmen plan their summer for college admissions without losing their childhood?
The good news is that freshman summer doesn’t need to be packed with name brand programs or nonstop activity. The bad news is that it also can’t be a complete blank. When admissions officers read a file, they’re asking how a student used their time, what they chose to do, and why they chose to do it.
Learning how freshmen should plan their summer for college admissions is really about learning how to make intentional choices, long before anything goes on the application.
Why Does Freshman Summer Matter More Than It Seems?
It’s tempting to think, “It’s only freshman summer. We’ll get serious later.” The problem is that ‘later’ comes faster than you think.
By the time students hit junior year, summer slots at interesting programs, labs, jobs, and nonprofits are much harder to secure. Freshman summer is often the first real chance to explore interests with more time and less pressure. Colleges aren’t reading your file looking for a “perfect” freshman summer, but they can often see the first signs of direction.
A student who spends freshman summer reading deeply, volunteering consistently, or working a simple job is already building habits and experiences that are easy to grow. A student who does nothing is starting from zero.
If you want a bigger-picture view of how summers fit into a multi-year plan, you can also read “How Should Students Be Planning Their Summers Around College Admissions?”, which breaks down strategy year by year.
Should Freshmen Relax Or Start Building Their Story?
The answer is both. Freshmen should rest, see friends, and enjoy unstructured time. They should also begin learning how to make choices that reflect curiosity, not just convenience.
Ask your student a few simple questions:
- What are you curious about if school did not assign it?
- What kind of work or service makes you feel useful?
- Is there a class you enjoyed enough to explore more on your own?
Freshman summer is not about declaring a major. It is about taking small, low risk steps toward interests that might matter later. That might look like:
- volunteering weekly at an animal shelter or nature preserve
- helping at a local library or community center
- assisting with a kids’ sports camp or arts camp
- trying a short, local class to test an interest
When students lean into something real, even in a modest way, their application reads very differently a few years later.
Do Freshmen Need Fancy Pre-College Programs?
In most cases, no. Most pre-college programs do not carry much direct weight in admissions, especially when they are short, expensive, and not selective. Admissions officers can usually tell whether a program reflects access to money or is evidence of unusual talent.
That does not mean freshmen should never attend them. A short course at a university can be a good way to:
- sample a subject at a higher level
- experience living away from home
- confirm whether an interest is genuine
But if you are asking how freshmen should plan their summer for college admissions, these programs should be a small part of the answer, not the center of your plan.
If you want a deeper dive into which programs matter and which do not, take a look at “Do Summer Programs Really Matter for College Admissions?”, which explains how admissions offices actually view these experiences.
What Kinds Of Summer Activities Actually Help Freshmen?
For freshmen, admissions officers are not expecting polished research or formal internships. They are looking for signs of character, curiosity, and the beginnings of a story. Some simple, high value options include:
1. Consistent volunteering
Helping at the same place each week shows reliability. Over time, students may take on more responsibility, which gives them stronger stories for essays later.
2. Part time jobs
Working at an ice cream shop, grocery store, pool, or camp signals maturity and real world responsibility. These experiences often teach more about people and problem solving than a classroom does.
3. Skill building projects
A student interested in design might build a small portfolio. A student who loves coding might create simple apps or tools for a local organization. The scale does not matter as much as the initiative.
4. Light academic exploration
A local community college class, free online course, or short pre college program can be useful if it connects to something the student truly wants to try, not just something that “looks good.”
The pattern across all of these is clear. Admissions officers value engagement that is authentic, sustained, and connected, even loosely, to what the student cares about.
How Early Should Freshmen Start Planning Their Summer?
Freshman summer feels far away, then suddenly it is not. Many organized programs open applications in December or January and fill quickly. Nonprofits and community organizations can take weeks to respond to emails.
A simple timeline for freshmen:
- December to January: brainstorm interests, research options, talk to parents and counselors.
- February to March: send emails, fill out interest forms, apply to any structured programs.
- April to May: confirm commitments, line up any needed transportation or schedules.
Planning ahead gives freshmen the freedom to choose summer experiences that fit their personality, not just whatever is left.
Q&A: How Should Freshmen Plan Their Summer For College Admissions?
Q: Does freshman summer “make or break” college admissions?
A: No, but it sets patterns. Freshmen who use the summer intentionally have a much easier time building depth and direction later.
Q: Is it a problem if my freshman only works a basic job?
A: Not at all. A basic job, done well and reflected on later, often shows more maturity than an expensive program.
Q: How many hours per week should a freshman commit?
A: Think in the range of 15 to 30 hours, depending on the activity and family schedule. It should feel meaningful but not overwhelming.
Q: Should freshmen try multiple short programs or one longer commitment?
A: One longer commitment usually tells a stronger story than three unrelated two week experiences.
Q: Where can we learn more about planning summers in a bigger context?
A: Start with “How Should Students Be Planning Their Summers Around College Admissions?”, then read “Do Summer Programs Really Matter for College Admissions?” to calibrate expectations.
Final Thoughts: Summer Is Practice For The Story
Freshman summer is not about perfection. It is about practice. Students practice making choices, showing up, and learning what energizes them.
If you would like to think beyond summer and look at freshman year as a whole, you may also want to read “What Should Freshmen Be Doing Now To Prepare For College Admissions?”, which covers academics, habits, and long term strategy in more detail.
