So, for a lot of people it’s SUMMER.   And if you’re a rising senior (or a “second-year” for you UWCers out there), summer means you’re probably stressing out a little bit already, thinking about all that you have to do in the next six months. Before you know it, December will be here, which means deadlines and exams. The pressure will be insane, and senior year is nobody’s idea of a picnic. To get everything finished, you’ll definitely need a plan. Here’s my advice for what to do right now: focus on enjoying the summer.

That’s right.  Enjoy. 

Yes, summer is a great time for crafting a couple of rough drafts of your personal statement, and it’s perfect for taking on SAT or ACT prep, but it’s also SUMMER--you know, that lazy time of  year when you can actually do what YOU want to do.  Summer is a good time for personal reflection, for being creative, for restoring your sanity.  Don’t squander it on obsessing about college.

Summer means reading and writing, football camp, hiking, helping others, lifeguarding, doing scientific research, exploring Europe or bicycling across Ohio--doing whatever it is that you want. 

Don’t get me wrong, however:  I’m not advocating that you waste your time. Summer isn’t just for lying by a pool somewhere or playing video games non-stop--though I personally believe there is some value in just “checking out” for a short time, too.  These next six to eight weeks should be about you doing what you like doing.  And by doing what energizes you, you’ll also be more effective in your college planning. 

I think you should definitely pay attention to some of the things on your summer college “to do” list.  Organizing all your activities into a manageable list for the application is a good idea, for example.  Looking ahead at supplement essays that you’ll have to write is another.  Registering for standardized tests is easy to do now.  But don’t make the whole summer about college.  Instead, make it about YOU. 

You’ll be less stressed, happier, healthier, and a lot more fun to be around.  Do what you want, and find a balance that allows you also to get some of your college tasks finished. 

I imagine that college counselors reading this are pulling out their hair about now.  Yes, they’ve given you assignments to do over the summer--and I’ve also given my students some things to get done.  But the point I’m making here is that what’s more important is to nurture yourself by dedicating time to what you love.  The essays that result from doing that will be far more interesting and useful in college admissions than those that come from a standardized prompt.  Yes, get started on those college tasks, but don’t make them the focus of summer.  Instead, relax a little bit (only a little) and find a balance.  Find some sanity.  And enjoy the long days while they’re here.