With summer happening right now, many are anxious, asked about their summer plans. Most people probably know if they are going on vacation with family or friends, if they are going to have a job, or if they are going to camp. While these activities are fun, you need something to do with the rest of your summer.

Your summer is also going to look different depending on what grade you are in, and how much help your college applications need. Below is a guide for each grade to plan their summer.

Rising Freshmen

Going into freshman year causes a ton of anxiety because this is when grades and activities begin to matter to college applications. Over the summer, you should start preparing for your classes and extracurriculars. If you get a head start on learning some of the material, it will be easier for you to adjust to high school.

Also, you can avoid the stress of struggling in your classes. So, you could learn the first chapter or two of your math book and review grammar structures for English before the first day of school. Another aspect to be thinking about is clubs and athletics. If you want to make a varsity team, spend some time practicing this summer so that you can put your best foot forward at tryouts. If you want to join debate, you could watch a tournament on YouTube or you could try to prepare based on an old prompt. The final thing you want to make time for is relaxing. It is so important to take time for yourself and connect with friends, so make sure that you are leaving a ton of time for fun.

Photo by Jubeo Hernandez from Unsplash, https://unsplash.com/photos/yellow-plastic-round-toy-on-green-table-ZmWLGkPe1Sg

Rising Sophomores

Now that you have completed your first year of high school, you probably have an idea of what you want to do throughout the next three years. This summer, you should be doing four things: focusing (or exploring if you don't know what to focus on), working, networking, and relaxing.

The first thing you should be doing is focusing on what you are passionate about. For example, maybe you decided that you want to go to college for tennis, so you could plan to spend an hour a day on the court. If you have no idea what you want to do, keep trying new activities.

Some ideas are swimming, hiking, or anything else that sounds fun to you. You could even shadow some jobs over the summer, which could help you figure out a career path. By doing these two things, you can hopefully find something that you love.

Also, now that you are probably fourteen or fifteen, you are eligible for a job. Jobs are crucial because they teach you responsibility and accountability. These skills will help you next school year because you could have learned time management.

Also, responsibility and accountability are good skills to have for college and beyond. So, even if you only work a few hours a week, having a job is a good opportunity.

This summer is also the perfect time to start networking. Networking is super important because it could provide you with unique opportunities in the future. Let's say you are interested in a career in sports announcing or marketing.

You could reach out to a coach at your local university and see if they need any help during their sports season the following year. Even if they say no, they know your name and could reach out to you for future opportunities.

I know this sounds overwhelming, so build some time into your scheuduele to relax. For example, you could leave your weekends entirely open, or only schedule activities for half of each day. Having time to recharge and see family and friends will ensure that you have a good summer.

Photo by Unsplash+ and Alexander Mills from Unsplash, https://unsplash.com/photos/a-swimming-pool-with-a-ladder-next-to-it-NhFLrBaUbwQ

Rising Juniors

Rising juniors, this is the summer before the most important (and hard) year of high school. Over the summer, you want to start preparing for junior year and college applications.

You are definitely going to want to start preparing for the SAT or ACT this summer. Maybe you sign up for a prep class, go on Khan Academy, or buy a prep book. Whatever it is, summer is the most time you will have to study, because once school starts you're going to have to focus on those assignments instead of your standardized test practice.

Another element that you're going to need for your college applications is passion. With only two years left, and one until you apply, you need to focus on the activities that you love. Colleges want to see students that love what they do, not students that try to check every box. Narrowing down your activities will truly help your applications in the long run.

An additional thing to keep in mind is internships or pre-college programs. These don't have to be super time consuming activities - you could choose to do a one week pre-college program or job shadowing. However, both of these opportunities will help you narrow down what you want to study in college and boost your resume.

The most important part about these is that they will probably be a great experience for you. The last two summers, I have done the Brown University Pre-College Program, and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Not only did I learn a ton about writing, I also had fun meeting new people and exploring everything that college has to offer. These opportunities introduce you to so many new people, and can potentially open doors for you in the future.

Pre-college programs can also help you narrow down what you want in a college. For example, they can help you decide that you want to go to a mid-size school in the city or a huge school in a small town. These programs (along with your activities and job/internship) can help you decide on a career path. This could lead you to start looking for colleges that have specific programs, or great programs for your intended major.

This is also the summer to start gaining some volunteer hours or some work experience. As I mentioned in the rising sophomore section, jobs teach you responsibility and accountability. If you have a job, but have more free time than you know what to do with, maybe sign up for a few volunteer hours a week and vice versa. Either one (or both) will help your college application.

Finally, make sure that you are not taking on too much or burning out. The summer before junior year can be busy depending on how much you are doing, and you don't want to burn out before you get to school. Hanging out with your friends or spending a day by the pool is just as important as working or studying.

Photo by Rich Smith from Unsplash, https://unsplash.com/photos/group-of-people-walking-on-street-during-daytime-MvmpjcYC8dw

Rising Seniors

With college applications and your final year of high school looming, rising seniors are probably starting to get a bit stressed about everything (I know I'm definitely feeling the stress). This summer you need to start preparing for the college application season, which starts on August 1st!

If you haven't already, you want to finish up college tours. Finishing these will help you finalize your college list. If you are interested in early action or rolling decisions, you definitely want to have your college list finished by the time you get back to school.

Once you get back, you're going to have a lot on your plate. Also, who wants to be writing a supplemental when you could be shopping for a homecoming dress? In the case that your list is done early (June or July), you can begin your applications over the summer, which gives you more time for senior sunrise and all of the other traditions.

You also want to get a headstart on your college applications. This will definitely help you when you get back to school, because you won't have as many supplemental essays to complete along with your calculus homework. You could start with the main essay or the extracurricular list and then get more specific. This is also the last summer that you are eligible for camps and pre-college programs, so make sure that you take advantage of these opportunities while you still have them.

Make sure that you are taking a ton of time this summer to relax and spend time with family: you've earned it! Your grades, test scores, GPA, and most extracurriculars are set in stone by the end of the school year, so don't stress about fitting in fifteen million activities and resume boosters this summer. Although all of this is super stressful, try not to worry about it too much. Spend time reading your favorite book or taking a road trip to an amusement park with your friends instead of scheduling every hour of every day.

Summer is great: it gives you a break from school, extracurricular pressures, and a chance to catch up on sleep. Make sure that you are having fun and spending time proactively (trust me you will thank yourself next October). Follow this guide for planning your summer, and you are set to have fun and have a head start for the next school year. Good luck planning!