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We are so excited to have just released the 2012 edition of our book, Get Your Summer Strategy On! Written by our very own Jessica Givens, this book helps unlock opportunities to turn your free time during the summer into college admissions gold.

“Many colleges are declining to see test scores,” writes Givens, “and are, instead, focusing on the accomplishments of their applicants.” Compared to a few numbers on a page, Givens argues that “summer – a period of zero commitment and zero expectation – takes on a sparkly sheen as the golden opportunity to delve into personal and community interest.”

Givens, who started as a test preparation instructor at the Princeton Review and then moved into college admissions help, has a birds-eye view of what colleges are looking for in an increasingly competitive setting. “ I wrote this book because I saw how much more convincing an applicant was who had availed him/herself of summer opportunities, and because I learned that so few parents and students had any knowledge of summer’s potential value in the application process and the amazing wealth of summer activities available.”

The book outlines specific steps that can be taken in four different tactical areas to help strengthen future college applications, essays and resumes. It is a must read for students (or parents!) in high school at all grade levels – it is never too early to take advantage of summertime! The four main areas covered in the book:

• Participate in college summer programs – Involvement in summer academic programs shows students value education and academic excellence.  These programs, offered at local colleges or prestigious colleges, are geared toward high school students, offering and introduction to college studies and expectations.
• Volunteer – Community service illustrates an applicant’s desire to make a difference, whether in his or her local community or abroad. Volunteer efforts should be focused in areas of genuine interest to the student and should reflect honest time spent. In addition to positively impacting your community and impressing college admissions boards, applicants can often apply for impressive community service awards as well.
• Take part in summer research programs – Familiarity and understanding of the research expectations at the university level can be hugely beneficial to applicants. Participating in a summer research program allows students to show they are prepared for college-level research requirements. Typically offered through an affiliation with a university, summer research programs also offer the opportunity to network within the university.
• Secure a meaningful summer work experience – A meaningful work experience signifies that a student is committed to furthering his or her knowledge of the field in which he or she hopes to study. Work experience must add focus, either through jobs that mirror a potential career or internships, to a resume.

Whether you’re heading into the summer before freshman year or the summer before senior year – there is actionable information in this book that will help you make productive use of your summer and make you more attractive to the admissions committees of your favorite schools.

To read an interview with the author, Jessica Givens, please click here.

The 2012 edition of Get Your Summer Strategy On is available as an eBook as well as a paperback! eBook versions are available on our website here. Hard copies are available on Amazon. We hope you enjoy it!

Obviously, we’re into summer activities; that’s why we wrote an entire book on the topic. But my favorite place to recommend is often Athens, to send a student to do archaeological work on an active dig. Well, in recent times, that suggestion has fallen on not only deaf, but often hostile ears, as clients and customers point to the riots in Greece, the uproar in the streets, and the oozing poverty of the region. We have decided to check it out for ourselves, so we can include a section about archaeological digs in our 2012 edition of Get Your Summer Strategy On!

From the moment we arrived in Athens, we got the feeling that the reports of violent discontent were grossly exaggerated. The airport ran smoothly; the plumbing functioned properly; and the taxi sped easily through busy streets. Yes, there is graffiti on the exterior walls of almost every building, but, guess what!, I think that’s probably been there since the beginning of time. Consider the fact that much of what we’ve learned about Roman culture has come from the etched graffiti at Pompeii. Graffiti can be part of culture, and Athens proves the point.

Ever since we arrived, we’ve walked the streets, eating the food and seeing the sights. And, there’s been no sign of unrest. As a matter of fact, the hotel workers laughed when I asked about riots closing the museums.

But don’t take a first impression as gospel. Follow us for a few days, and let’s see what we find!

Just bumming around at the beach or have no plans this summer break? Summer is a great time to start preparing for the SATs!  There are many test prep books out there to study from- just set aside a few hours a day to this task and by the end of summer, you’ll have gained more than just a tan. For those who need a bit more guidance or don’t have the discipline to study on their own, many SAT prep courses are offered in the summer and may provide students with the structure they need to study effectively. (I took an SAT prep class during the summer before my junior year of high school and was able to raise my critical reading and math scores a combined 300 points!)

Regardless of how you prefer to study, building vocabulary is an essential part of preparing for the SAT. Flashcards are a tried and true way of gaining a larger vocabulary, and the website Quizlet offers many sets of free online flashcards geared towards SAT prep, among many other offerings. A great set of flashcards on Quizlet feature the 100 Most Common SAT Vocabulary Words. (Which you can also print out and study on the go!) But if straight memorization isn’t the way you learn best, there are more resources available out there nowadays beyond the old school flashcards. SAT vocabulary novels integrate frequently tested SAT words into captivating storylines that almost makes you forget that the purpose of these novels are to build your vocabulary. Barnes and Nobles and Amazon.com offer a selection of these books, but Sparknotes has the most popular set of SAT Vocabulary novels which they publish, but also have available for free on their website. Even though classes aren’t in session during the summer, it can be a productive time for high school students to get a head start on studying for the SATs.

Many people say that the SAT just test how well you take exams and the information you study will be of no use once you’re done with the exam. But this is definitely untrue for the vocabulary portion of the SAT. Having an extensive vocabulary will be extremely beneficial in the long run as well and especially in college where vocabulary builds on itself.

Whether you’re in high school or college, building experience through a summer internship can give you the competitive edge you need when applying for college, graduate school or a future employer.   It’s never too early to start preparing for next summer, so read on for rock-solid tips on securing a stellar internship that will give your résumé a boost!

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As I look around at my students – and I mean every student I have seen in the last week or so – I detect a notable loss in sparkle, a dwindling concern about grades, and a mounting anticipation of summer’s lazy haze. The problem is, you haven’t sealed the deal yet. You have just a few short weeks to go, and the way you choose to tackle these last few days of academic tug-of-war can make a meaningful impact on your future choices.

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Here’s the deal: Colleges are looking for students with an unusual set of experiences.  Admissions committees want to see a diverse resume, with community service hours, academic achievements, and extracurricular activities.  Therefore, summers should be used productively.

In the next few weeks, we’ll give you lots of ideas on how to make the most of your summer. And don’t worry, although you might be thinking that volunteering, working and studying isn’t exactly your idea of summer fun, it doesn’t have to be miserable.  Jump into activities that you enjoy and we guarantee you’ll have a blast!

We’ve done some Googling and brainstorming, and have come up with our list of summer programs in Texas and out-of-state that we find interesting. This list is by no means exhaustive, so we encourage you to get out there and do your own Google exploring! [hint: google “summer program high school” + any college you can think of]  Also, please note that some applications deadlines are approaching quickly.

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Many seniors applying to schools across America will be introduced to a singular phenomenon in the world of college admissions: the waiting list.

Waiting lists, usually utilized by top-tier private universities, are exactly what they sound like.  They are lists of applicants who meet the university’s academic criteria for admission, but, because all available spots have been filled, cannot be immediately accepted.

Spots are then offered to wait-listed students only if space becomes available.  When this happens, the chosen applicant will have to decide very quickly whether or not to accept the position, lest it be offered to someone else.

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Unlike a job interview, the college admissions interview is not a pass or fail experience.  It is more like the first opportunity, in a line of many, to establish your personal relationship with your school of choice.

While you should not worry too much, it is important to note that your interview will serve as your first impression.  Staying calm and being prepared are the best things you an do to assure that your interveiw goes as well as possible.

The first step in preparation is organization.  Make sure you have with you all of the paperwork, such as resumes or other personal documents, that you may want to share with your interviewer.  Bring a notebook and something to write with; notetaking can be a great way of showing sincere interest.

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Three words: Gorgeous, cool, forward-thinking.

The first sight of the University of San Diego makes you suck in your breath and go, “Wow.” Perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific, this may be the most beautiful school in America, in our opinion. You could practically be on the Costa del Sol in Spain, surrounded by gleaming, white-washed stucco and red clay tile. It’s a little hard to believe that this is actually a campus. Seriously, who eats lunch with this view?

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