Scoring a Summer Internship

The rush to get summer internships can feel as intense as the pressure to get into college.

There is a misconception that specific internships will get students into their dream colleges, or that certain “unique” experiences will help to set them apart in the admissions process. So students trudge through applications; teachers are forced to write more letters of recommendation; and school registrars barely take a breather before sending out another set of transcripts.

As with college applications, students tend to apply to too many programs just in the hopes of getting in. In the meantime, parents ready their checkbooks for another expensive educational investment—but the question has to be asked: are these expensive programs really worth it in the long term?

Unfortunately, as with most questions that relate to college admissions, the answer is “it depends.” I always tell my students that the program means nothing if they get nothing from it. In the same vein, students can capture meaning and learning from a variety of summer experiences.

I often steer students away from the really pricey and easy-to-get-into programs. Simply doing a program for the sake of doing a program is a waste of time and money. The student could rather have used that time to really pursue his or her own interests. Sure, it is cool to say that you worked at this up-and-coming tech company, but if all you did was run errands and answer the phone, the experience is actually not that interesting.

Perhaps working a lab will give you a taste of medicine, but do not expect that you will be discovering a cure for diabetes in just six weeks—science does not work like that. Perhaps you want to be a future CEO, so something business-related appeals to you, but everything is a business, down to the local ice cream shop.

Summer used to be a time when youngsters got to actually relax a bit, ride around on their bikes and explore their surroundings. Students got jobs not because it would look “good” on their college applications, but because they wanted or needed to earn money. Children would help out their parents with chores around the house, or even at their offices. Teens would spend time playing instruments they loved, swim because the weather allowed it, and actually gain a sense of independence—the best preparation for life.

While I do not expect that summer will swing back to those more relaxed times, I do believe there is value in exploring one’s personal and professional interests during those 10 weeks of sunshine.

The fact is that “passion” is one of those words that gets invoked a lot when admissions officers talk about extracurricular choices. At the same time, students must also take the time—and show some courage—as they explore what it is they are passionate about. And, I must stress the key word here is explore!

Recently, I was asked to serve on a panel at a local non-profit. This was not your typical “get these grades,” “ace the SAT,” and the “secret to getting in.” Rather, this was a panel to share with students the true value of a college education and how to best prepare for it. It was an opportunity to see life not as one big race to the finish with college being the first major marker, but rather as a journey that is unique and very personal.

One student, a junior in high school, looked quite worried and asked a profound question: “Everyone talks about passion, but I do not know what mine is. How do I find it?”

As any adult knows, the only way to discover what it is you are passionate about is by looking for new and varied opportunities and experiences. A teen will never know if he likes something until he gives it a try. Yes, it is important to use high school as a playground to try new subjects and explore activities, but the summer is also a wonderful opportunity to look to your community for different ways to get involved!

Encourage a bit of “out of the box” thinking from your students. Rather than an internship at a company, what about starting a business? A few years back I worked with a student who started a company that sold earrings and hair clips—designed by the young entrepreneur—at local farmer’s markets. Not surprisingly, her company had a rough go of it and, as the summer came to an end, she decided to close up shop. Still, what a learning experience.

Her personal statement, which began with the memorable line “I first declared bankruptcy at the age of 17,” seemed to catch the attention of the admissions office at the University of Chicago, where she eventually enrolled.

As counselors, we must always remind students that summer is a time for exploration. Ideas many not always be successful, but failure and disappointment are the building blocks of life. Embrace them, and you will more quickly find what you love.

Too many high school students feel the need to simply check off the necessary items for the college admissions process. And I get it, these teens are under enormous pressure to succeed within a specific definition. But, as you begin counseling a new set of juniors, encourage each of them to think about what would make them the happiest this summer.

This does not mean they should while away the break at the mall or playing video games.

What are the things they simply do not have time to explore during the school year? What experiences have they been craving? Perhaps they are excited about practicing Spanish, or learning how to play the saxophone? Maybe they can form a band or play on the streets of their hometown for change?

Encourage your students to learn about business by getting a job. Working at a local coffee shop is a great way to get experience learning about customer behaviors and how real businesses make money. Maybe surfing has been on the bucket list for a few years now.

Encourage the student to wake up early to catch some waves, and then spend the day doing something else just as vibrant and interesting. I assure you, students that take the time to discover, and pursue, their passions in the summer make for far more interesting applicants.

The craze around summer programs directly relates to college experiences. Admissions officers appreciate these real-life, everyday experiences as much as they do the more structured programs. And the truth is that the real experiences tend to be the unique ones after all, because each experience is new rather than scheduled and planned.

So while I have no issue with students applying to and going to programs, I do have concerns when that is done for the sole purpose of college admissions. Rather, summer is an opportunity for students to demonstrate to colleges their unique interests, experiences and perceptions.

Ultimately, the more meaningful and fulfilling summers tend to be the most relevant to one’s life—and, if I may, to one’s college applications.

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