Navigating Pre-College Summers: A Guide for Parents and Students

Pre-college summers can be stressful for both parents and high school students, particularly since there's no one definitive way to gain admission to your target universities. We've all heard that the college admissions process is holistic, but often we're left wondering how to stand out among thousands of other applicants.

It's never too early to start thinking about university admissions, as your profile is built over years, not just months. The stories you can tell are typically developed through sustained effort and experiences over time.

If you're a parent looking to guide your child towards a meaningful summer or a student aiming for a productive break, this is for you.

Why This Summer?

Summer holidays offer students a unique opportunity: there are no obligatory deadlines or school assignments to complete. This makes summer the perfect time to develop your unique strengths and showcase what makes you special.

Here's a snapshot of my pre-college summer in 2021 and the lessons I learned from it:

2021 Summer

• I got into Yale Young Global Scholars (a competitive 2-week program at 耶鲁大学 for talented high schoolers worldwide)
• Was selected to TechGirls and took a class at Virginia Tech on "How to Tell a Story with Data"
• Applied for a license to become a TEDxUWCSEAEast Organizer
• Launched Writerama a social enterprise that helps students tell their stories through writing
• Took an online class on Coursera from 耶鲁大学 on the Science of Well-Being
• Applied and got into Lumiere Education and got mentorship from Harvard alum Stephen Turban
• Spent time with a host family and friends in Singapore
• Learned to cycle

Key Takeaways from My Summer

1. Sit down with your thoughts in the early days of summer and reflect on your values

There is no secret formula to get into your dream university. My summer activities reflect my values and what's meaningful to me.?

Admissions officers want to read stories—your stories. They want to know about your experiences, your reactions, your learning, and your new perspectives on the world from those experiences.

Here are the values I identified after my reflection:

a. Learning and challenging myself academically

b. Doing what gives me energy and having fun

c. Spending time with like-minded people and having new experiences

2. Next, for each value category you have, come up with a list of activities that align with them

Here's how my summer activities fit into my value categories:

a. Learning and Challenging Myself Academically:

• Yale Young Global Scholars
• TechGirls & Virginia Tech

b. Doing What Gives Me Energy and Having Fun:

• Applying to become a TEDxUWCSEAEast Organizer
• Launching Writerama
• Online class on Coursera on the Science of Well-Being

c. Spending Time with Like-Minded People and Having New Experiences:

• Spent time with a host family and friends in Singapore
• Learned to cycle

You might ask, "Zebo, what should I do if I don’t know which activities to pick?"

It's okay if you don't know which activities to pick at first. I didn't either. I used my internal compass to choose activities: I leaned into my strengths.?

Instead of trying to be a well-rounded student, I focused on what energized me and what I was passionate about.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What gives me energy?
• What helps me lose track of time?
• What motivates me to jump out of bed in the morning?
• What can I talk about for hours?
• When do my eyes shine?
• What do I do in my free time?
• What kind of movies / activities do I like, and what do they hint about my interests?

The Challenge that I Faced

Before doing the activities on my list, seeing the common thread among my different activities. I spent a lot of time thinking about my unique "spike." Looking back, I learned that it's hard to identify a common thread without experiencing the activities first.

I suggest answering the questions above and jumping headfirst into your chosen activities. Afterward, reflect on your experiences. You'll be able to connect the dots and see the patterns.

Connect the Dots & Summer Experiences

1. I love storytelling, which is why I applied to be a TEDx Organizer and founded Writerama, where we helped students develop their writing and storytelling skills.

1. I enjoy challenging myself in areas where I believe learning a new skill can enhance the meaning of what I love doing, such as storytelling. The course I took at Virginia Tech University on storytelling with data showed me that to deepen my passion for storytelling, I’m willing to step out of my comfort zone and learn about data.

1. Having fun and building relationships are important to me. That’s why I spent time with friends and host families while exploring Singapore. I realized the crucial role that having fun plays while pursuing other academic and professional goals. I noticed that I tend to learn more about myself, my thoughts, and my actions when interacting with others. Engaging in group activities helped me be fully present. Later on, I could ask friends and family more questions about my strengths and what sets me apart. This reflection also helped me decide which stories to share with the admissions officer.

Remember, stories and learning can come from various sources, also from ordinary activities in life

Amazing stories don't only come from academic settings, summer camps, and classes. They can also stem from ordinary activities in your life, such as cooking with your mom, helping your sibling, or, in my case, cycling.

For example, when I was writing my CommonApp personal statement for New York University Abu Dhabi , I shared the example of trying to learn cycling, falling many times, and reflecting on what it meant to me about having a sense of fun while pursuing challenges and my perspective on failure.

Call to Action

My call to action for you is to get out there and experience, as you never know which stories would be a good addition to build your narrative.

It is important to lean into your strengths, experience activities where you find passion, and, most importantly, reflect on them deeply so that you develop unique insights about yourself and/or the way you see the world. After all, two people can experience the same thing but have very different insights. It is those insights and perspectives that you develop through experiences that set you apart.

About Me

I’m Zebo Furqatzoda, a graduate of United World College of Singapore’22, Yale Young Global Program’21, and TechGirls Virginia Tech Program ’21. Currently, I’m pursuing my degree at New York University of Abu Dhabi on a full scholarship. I’m also a co-founder of Writerama, a social enterprise that has helped 350+ students with their writing and storytelling skills. Studying abroad in Singapore, UAE and China has had a huge positive impact on my development. Together with my team at PrepPeer, we are on a mission to help more students have opportunities to study abroad through summer academic camps, research, competitions, high schools abroad, and university admissions.

Book a Call: preppeer.org

Email: [email protected]