Now that over 90% of colleges operate in a test-optional or test-flexible environment, high school summer extracurriculars matter more than ever.
It used to be that you could get good grades, score a 1570 on the SAT, take a million AP and IB classes, and that would be enough to get into a school like UCLA or the University of Michigan. Today, top-tier universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and other highly selective institutions evaluate applicants through holistic admissions.
Holistic admissions means:
- Depth over volume
- Impact over participation
- Personal narrative over resume padding
- A clear “spike” over being well-rounded
If your goal is to get into a highly selective university, you cannot treat summer like a break.
You need to treat it like leverage.
Key Takeaways: 6 High-Impact Summer Strategies
If you’re looking for a quick blueprint, here it is:
- Develop a “Spike” - Become exceptional at something specific.
- Serve with measurable impact - Volunteer long-term and track real outcomes.
- Pursue meaningful travel (not vacations) - Show depth, connection, and commitment.
- Build an independent passion project - Create something tangible and lasting.
- Start something scalable - Launch a business, nonprofit, or initiative with growth potential.
- Begin academic research early - Learn how to think like a scholar before junior year.
If you’re already a sophomore or junior, you should be looking at more serious opportunities like research projects or internships.
Dewey Smart offers a guaranteed internship-matching program for high school students seeking remote internships.
Below is a more detailed breakdown of how freshmen and sophomores can maximise their summers.
1. Become the Best at Something (Time Frame: Indefinite)
A student once got into elite universities by becoming one of the best Elvis impersonators in the country, winning competitions, performing on cruises, and volunteering at hospitals.
That’s not random.
That’s strategy.
In college admissions, this is called developing a “Spike.” A spike is a highly differentiated area of excellence that becomes part of your personal brand.
Let’s say you’re the best juggler in Southern California. What does that do?
- It makes you memorable in the admissions process.
- It demonstrates long-term commitment.
- It creates a narrative in the reader’s mind.
- It gives a reason to choose you over another smart student.
Admissions officers at schools like Harvard or Stanford aren’t assembling a class of 1,600 identical students with perfect GPAs. They’re building a dynamic intellectual community. A spike makes you identifiable.
“I’m not good at anything. How am I supposed to become the best?”
The correct way to think is:
- I may not be good at most things, but what is my strength?
- How can I push that strength to an elite level?
There are things even worms can do.
Start a YouTube channel.
Learn advanced Tetris strategy.
Deep dive into cryptocurrency and NFTs.
Become a hyperpop producer.
Have some faith.
The point is not prestige, it’s depth.
If you’re unsure what a true “spike” can look like in practice, review our breakdown in Standout Activities for Top University Admission, which explains how depth, ownership, and long-term growth turn ordinary interests into compelling application themes.
2. Volunteer and Serve Your Community (Show Commitment for At Least a Year)
What is your talent?
- Playing violin?
- Writing poetry?
- Making scarves?
- Mentoring younger students?
I started volunteering because my mom basically forced me to. I helped at the library and stamped little children’s reading cards. Later, I volunteered at my church. I hated it at first.
One kid started screaming cuss words and throwing pool balls. Another crawled under a table and wouldn’t come out.
I did that job for five years.
I taught the same children year after year and watched them grow up. It became one of the most meaningful parts of my life, not just for college essays, but for me.
What Makes Volunteer Work Strong for College Admissions?
Colleges care about measurable impact, not just participation.
Instead of saying:
“Volunteered at a food bank.”
Say:
- Organized a drive that collected 1,200 canned goods.
- Mentored 15 middle school students weekly.
- Raised $3,500 for local literacy programs.
- Reduced wait times at a community clinic by 20%.
Impact shows initiative. Impact shows ownership.
If you want your summer activities to matter, measure what you change.
For a deeper framework on building sustained impact instead of short-term service hours, read Extracurricular Development, which outlines how students can strategically grow involvement into leadership and measurable results.
3. Travel Can Look Great on College Applications — But Not Vacations
Travel can supplement your resume, but only if it’s meaningful.
The purpose of going somewhere unfamiliar is to:
- Become more culturally aware.
- Engage with global issues.
- Step outside your comfort zone.
- Build long-term connection.
In high school, I went to Taiwan twice to teach English during the summers of my sophomore and junior year. Those experiences became central topics in my college essays. I taught students from rural areas and cities, from different religions and backgrounds.
It changed how I thought about education and privilege.
Before traveling, ask:
- Can I show long-term commitment?
- Do I have a real connection to this place?
Is it part of your heritage? A cause you deeply care about? A relationship you’ll sustain?
FAQ: Is Travel a Good Extracurricular?
Q: What’s the difference between meaningful travel and voluntourism?
A: Meaningful travel involves sustained engagement, cultural immersion, and measurable impact. Voluntourism is often short-term, resume-driven, and lacks continuity.
Q: Does a vacation count as an extracurricular?
A: No. Listing trips without impact, service, or intellectual growth does not strengthen an application.
Q: How can I make travel meaningful?
A: Teach, conduct research, document a cultural study, collaborate with local organizations, or return over multiple years.
Depth > destinations.
4. Brainstorm an Independent Project (At Least a Month)
In high school, I started writing poetry on allpoetry.com. I wrote over 300 poems and eventually started a poetry club.
Looking back, I could’ve published a poetry collection.
The point is this: there are things you can build without permission.
If you need inspiration, check out our:
- List of the 20 most unique extracurricular activities
- Guide to creating your own passion project
Implementation Platforms to Consider
If you're serious about execution:
- Writers → Publish on Substack.
- Coders → Build and document projects on GitHub.
- Designers → Sell creations on Etsy.
- Researchers → Start a blog documenting findings.
- Musicians → Upload compositions to SoundCloud.
Don’t just think. Ship something.
Tips
- Research examples like the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies.
- Start small, but aim for tangible output.
- Consider publication, exhibition, or competition submission.
A project that exists in the real world carries weight.
5. Take Initiative: Become a Founder
This is crucial.
Every single student admitted to Harvard displays initiative at some level. Initiative means doing what others hesitate to do.
Start a business.
Launch a nonprofit.
Create a fitness program.
Lead a community workshop.
Summer is ideal because once school starts, your schedule collapses.
Think Like an Entrepreneur
If you start something, think in professional terms:
- MVP (Minimum Viable Product): What’s the smallest version you can launch?
- Scalability: Can this grow beyond 10 people?
- Social Impact: Who benefits and how?
- Metrics: How will you measure growth?
After launching, grow it.
Get 50 members.
Aim for 100.
Yes, 95% won’t accomplish that.
But 95% have the capacity to.
Tips
- Start with something you genuinely care about.
- Don’t do it alone; find a co-founder.
- Break the vision into small steps.
- Track growth and impact monthly.
A founder mindset differentiates you in holistic admissions.
Students targeting highly selective institutions should also understand how different campuses evaluate involvement. Pros and Cons of Top Schools: College Extracurriculars offers insight into how extracurricular ecosystems vary across elite universities.
6. Go to the Library (Learn Research Early)
This is one of the most undervalued strategies.
Universities have two core goals:
- Provide high-quality education.
- Publish innovative, world-impacting research.
If you demonstrate early intellectual curiosity, you align yourself with their mission.
As a freshman or sophomore, you won’t be conducting advanced statistical modeling. But you can begin thinking like a researcher.
How to Start Research in High School (3-Step Framework)
Step 1: Ask a Question
What genuinely fascinates you? AI ethics? Climate policy? Cultural representation in film?
Step 2: Conduct a Literature Review
Explore JSTOR, Google Scholar, ProQuest, PubMed, and your local library. I once started with a cultural analysis of Kung Fu Panda (yes, there’s research on it) before finding my interest in poetry and social attitudes.
Step 3: Identify Gaps
What hasn’t been studied well enough? Where could you contribute?
Tips
- Sometimes reading the introduction and conclusion is enough.
- Take structured notes.
- Reach out to professors with thoughtful questions.
- Consider entering research competitions.
Early research exposure signals intellectual maturity.
Develop Leadership Skills (But Don’t Waste Time on Leadership Camps)
Don’t default to leadership camps.
There are stronger ways to develop leadership organically.
If you’re in robotics, aim to become lead engineer.
If you volunteer, work toward board membership.
Run for student government.
Lead your chess club to a state tournament.
One student at my high school who got into Dartmouth started a COVID talent show to bring people together online. She organized protests and walkouts around LGBTQ and mental health awareness.
That’s leadership.
Not a certificate.
Comparison of Leadership Approaches
- Cost
- Leadership Camps: Often expensive
- Self-Directed Leadership: Usually free
- Differentiation
- Leadership Camps: Low (many attend)
- Self-Directed Leadership: High (unique to you)
- Impact
- Leadership Camps: Limited to camp duration
- Self-Directed Leadership: Can last years
- Measurable Results
- Leadership Camps: Rare
- Self-Directed Leadership: Trackable growth & outcomes
- Admissions Value
- Leadership Camps: Moderate
- Self-Directed Leadership: High when sustained
Core Advice: If your goal is leadership, combine it with your passion. Don’t use a pebble to kill a pigeon; use a boulder to destroy a vulture nest.
Final Thoughts: Make Summer Count
This is a quick but strategic list of ways to improve your college resume through summer activities.
It’s more important than ever to have unique extracurriculars that help you stand out.
For inspiration, explore our updated guide to Top 20 Most Unique Extracurriculars for College Applications (2026 Edition), which highlights differentiated activities that admissions officers consistently remember. You can also schedule a free consultation here.