Smart Summers!

Here are some fun (and useful) things to do during the holidays.

1. Get a job

These days money is tight, so why not take some responsibility and start earning your own cash?

2. Use your connections.
Ask your parents, friends, family members, or anyone else you know about good job opportunities, internships or clubs that you could join.

3. Brush up on your schoolwork.

If you feel like you’re lagging behind in anything, this is the perfect time to catch up. Yes, I know that the TV is calling your name, and that your friends are going out without you, but stop the procrastination, and get down to it!

4. Read, read, read!
There are tonnes of good books out there for you to read before you get to college. Besides, it’s so much fun. See what you can dig up from your parents’ bookshelf, or go to the local library.

5. Pick up a new skill.
Learn how to play a new instrument (even if it’s just your brother’s old guitar). Learn a new language. Try your hand at cooking or gardening. Pick up a martial art or a new style of dance. There are so many things that you could do. Just think of something that you’ve always wanted to do, but never had the time for.

6. Start a club.
If you live in a sleepy town like mine with no job opportunities, it’s a good idea to make your own opportunities. Think about something you’d love to do and, if there’s no club for it, then make one!

7. Family first.
Don’t poke your nose up at a good family vacation. No matter where your parents are ‘dragging’ you to, you should be able to find something interesting to do. Also, help your parents out around the house, or offer to babysit your younger siblings, now that you have the time to do so.

8. Enter competitions.
Are you a writer, or do you secretly fantasise about winning American Idol? Whatever your talent, find some way to share it with the world. Search for competitions to enter.

9. Community Service

Find out where you can help, and get to it. If you're not sure what to do, just think of what you're good at: drama, tennis, dancing, math? Then start free classes at a community centre, shelter, home or orphanage. You'll get to meet a lot of interesting people, and have a good time. You must be able to get out of your comfort zone, though!

10. Get fit.
Exercise and eat healthily. The fitter you are, the better your body can cope with the stress of a new school year. Besides, you’ll feel great!

11. Get started on your college admissions!
If you live close to a college you’d like to go to, why not organise a trip with your friends. Or if you’re going somewhere with your family, make sure you check out all the colleges in the area. Even if you can’t do these, devote a little of your time to checking out college websites.

12. Have fun!
Whatever you do, make sure that you truly enjoy

it!

Picture from: http://student.agh.edu.pl/~esn/files/imagecache/mainimage/files/images-news/summer_0.png

Need-Blind Admissions for International Students

Need-blind admissions means that, whether or not you apply for financial aid will have no bearing on whether you are accepted or not. If you are an international student who needs financial aid, then this list of colleges is very important:

Amherst College (www.amherst.edu)
Dartmouth College (www.dartmouth.edu)
Harvard University (www.harvard.edu)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (www.mit.edu)
Middlebury College (www.middlebury.edu)
Princeton University (www.princeton.edu)
Williams College (www.williams.edu)
Yale University (www.yale.edu)

All these places have fantastic financial aid. They will cover your need 100%. These eight colleges are also highly selective. The sooner you start planning for college, the better. If you think you have a chance of getting into any of these colleges, then definitely apply! Even if that chance is minimal.

How Many Colleges/Universities Should I Apply To?

If you have enough time and money to apply to about ten colleges, then I say go for it! But if you can only apply to a few, then you should aim for at least six. Two in each category: safety, reasonable and reach.
If, however, you feel extremely confident about two or three colleges in particular, you’ve been working on your application for a while now, and there’s a fairly reasonable chance of you getting in then you could just apply to those three.
But I would advise that you keep your options open while you still can: apply to as many places as is possible. Just make sure you don’t stress yourself out too much.
Good luck!