Posts Tagged ‘summer’
Spend This Summer Off Campus!
Newsflash: moving off campus during the summer is a great experience!
While there are many wonderful reasons to stay on campus when classes are not in session, there are cons to limiting yourself to the same set of buildings you spend the school year navigating. Below is a list of reasons why getting off campus during the summer is a smart move.
Relocation sparks creativity. Recently, CNN reported research showing that challenging yourself with learning the ropes of a new campus or town improves your ability to think creatively. Why? When you surround yourself with people and places you are not used to in everyday life, you make new connections and begin to see the world from a different perspective. It also helps you find out more about yourself and your own habits.
Hit the refresh button. Getting away from your campus during the summer months will not only feel like a vacation (even if you are doing research or working…) but when you get back to your old stomping grounds in the fall, you won’t be completely tired of walking the same streets every day. Your favorite coffee shop will await you with open arms and it will be so nice to be back.
Expand your network. Even moving to a different neighborhood can introduce you to new people you otherwise never would have met. If you’re working an internship, doing research or even just hanging out somewhere other than your school, the connections you make can be beneficial post graduation when you need a job and are exploring all leads. They can also be fun!
Construction season? Depending on where you attend school, summer might be the only time your campus can tear down and rebuild buildings or fix roads. Basically, summer can mean construction season. Get off campus to avoid the hassle.
Study Abroad. Many students find studying abroad during the school year tricky if they are trying to double major or participate in athletics that require them to be on campus year round. Use the summer to travel abroad and take classes! Check with your counselor to see if your school offers summer courses abroad.
This is not to say that there aren’t compelling reasons to stay on campus during the summer months. Remember, you have several summers during your college years. Use each one to grow in a new way and don’t be afraid to try something different each year!
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Summer Realization…
Summer is supposed to be relaxing…until you realize how much darn work you have to do to prepare for college applications!
Moral of the story?
Don’t be too surprised when the work sneaks up on you. Rising seniors, start your college application process as soon as you can. Summer will hopefully give you more free time to spend on college essays and to do all the prep you need before another tough year of school starts.
Want to make the college search easier? Make your profile on Cappex.com today!
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Surviving Summer at Home After Freshman Year
Going home for the summer after your freshman year of college is not always the smoothest of transitions. For some, it may even be harder than going to college in the first place! What you must remember is that this is brand new territory – you’re not at school anymore, but you’re not the same person who lived at home before.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you survive your first summer home!
Talk to Your Parents
Seriously. Both you and your parents have very different expectations of what life should be like with you living under their roof again. The sooner you discuss things like curfew, the sooner you can get on the same page and avoid unnecessary squabbles.
Embrace High School Friends
When high school friends first see each other after freshman year, everyone can seem different. All of us go through changes in college. You may not feel it, but you will have grown a lot in that first year of school and act differently than you did at the end of your senior year. Know that many of your friends might seem like different people or you might seem very different to them. Embrace these changes and avoid judgment. We’re all just figuring out who we are. Focus on the friends you still connect with and are most important to you.
Stay in Touch
You probably met a ton of new friends in college – stay in touch with them! It will feel nice to commiserate about being away from school with someone who knows how great your school is and went through that first freaky year with you. While its perfectly normal to miss these friends, don’t dwell on the fact that you’re not together – plan a fun visit or things you can do together when you’re all back at school in the fall.
Harness Your Independence
You’ve been living on your own essentially for nine months. It’s hard to strike a balance between independence and dependence living at home, but if you embrace responsibility and show your slightly more mature side, life at home will run more smoothly.
Get in Shape!
Did the Freshman 15 get the best of you? Use this summer to eat healthy and spend your spare time getting back in shape. Nothing will feel better than going back to school as a Sophomore knowing you can tackle anything your second year throws at you!
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Easy Ways to Prepare for College this Summer!
School’s out for the summer! If you just finished up your junior year, you’ve only got one more to go before you head to college. Right now, there are two paths you can take:
Stressful Senior Year = “I didn’t plan ahead and now I have too much college stuff to worry about!”
Fun Senior Year = “I planned ahead and my college application process was so simple!”
You have the power to make either of these happen. I recommend Fun Senior Year, but that’s just me.
Planning ahead and getting started on your college application process before school starts again in the fall is easier than you think. A little time this summer can go a long way. Spending time preparing yourself for the actual applications will make your life less painful come senior year.
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Information is POWER.
Checking out different schools’ applications will give you a good idea of what to expect when you start filling out your own. You’ll find there are a lot of similar questions and essay topics across the board. You may even realize that you have answers to some of these essay questions already! If not, take a few minutes each week to brainstorm what you could write about. Hint: the best essays do not happen overnight; they develop over time.
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Multi-Task.
Think about how much time you spend online or scrolling through Facebook. Now, think about exchanging 15 of those aimless browsing minutes for a virtual tour of a college campus. You’ll notice features that you like and dislike, perks to certain schools, and more that will help you narrow down your college search.
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Remember your teachers.
Who did you love? Who did you get along with well? Who believes in you? Making a list of any teacher you’d like to write a letter of recommendation for you will motivate you to ask them earlier, rather than last minute when they have stacks of student requests waiting.
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Meet up with college friends.
Think of anyone you know who will be coming back home for the summer from their first year of college. They are seriously awesome sources of information about college life. They’ll be able to relate to you better than a book or website, and they’ll probably be more candid about the perks and downfalls of campuses and schools.
Bottom line? No amount of preparation is too much. Even the tiniest amount will be beneficial.
The other bottom line? Making a profile on Cappex today is a great way to prepare yourself for the college application process and find the perfect school for you!
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Newsflash: Staying On Campus In Summer Is Cool!
NEWSFLASH: Just because school is out does not mean there aren’t awesome things happening on your college campus! Staying on campus during the summer is a terrific way to explore your school in new ways. You can maintain your independence and have a little vacation at the same time. Who knows? Maybe you’ll learn something too…
Find a Summer Sublet
If you live in the dorms during the school year, chances are you won’t be able to reside there in the summer. Even if you can, consider finding a summer sublet off campus. It will probably be on the less expensive side. Depending on your campus and town layout, this could be a great opportunity to sample living off campus.
Take a Class
Yeah, the last thing you want to do in the summer is attend more school. BUT, if you need a couple credits here or there, it can’t hurt to get those out of the way in the summer. Taking one or two classes at a time will be easier than a huge course load in the fall. Make it a fun class if you want!
Take Advantage of School Resources
A lot of colleges have museums and galleries on campus that are free (or almost free) for students. Universities are wonderful homes for great artwork and science facilities for obvious reasons – they want their students to have access to the best information!
Check out Summer Events in Town
Explore your college town as though you were a local, and not just a student! Summer is prime time for art and food festivals; outdoor movie screenings; restaurant deals; and more! Don’t be a stranger.
Research Opportunities
Many schools offer research opportunities to undergraduate students wishing to gain hands-on experience in their field of study. This is an excellent time to focus on research since you won’t have other classes and homework on your mind. Working with professors and grad students will give you great insight into your field and lessons for your future career. These people will more than likely help you make connections for post-graduation.
Connect
Try to plan on staying at your campus during the summer with some friends. Gather a group that inspires you or encourages you to try new things and get creative. The beauty of the season is that you’ve got time to apply what you’ve learned at school to your own projects. Make connections!
Make your profile on Cappex today for more information on college opportunities and campus life!
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6 Things to Do This Summer (FUN ONLY!)
Freshman year of college? Complete! Summer fun? No problem! You’ve just spent an entire year away from home working hard. It’s time to relax without completely draining your brain of all the knowledge you gained in school. Here are things you can do this summer to make the most of your time, while still having fun.
Save Money
If you spend the summer at home, you’ll save a ton of money on rent, food and other day-to-day expenses. Use your local library for free summer reading! Walking and biking are free, healthy alternatives to driving. Do what you can, little by little, to save your pennies!
Road Trip
Traveling is such an excellent way to spend your summer. New experiences are stimulating and fun, even if it is just a road trip to the next state over. Go somewhere new and document your time there, what you learn, and who you meet. Driving with friends is also a cheap(er) alternative to flying. You’ve probably made some new friends in school who would be happy to see you mid-July before school starts again in the fall.
Read for Fun
Read those books you wanted to read during the school year but never had time to because of school work! Read an easy summer book or get a magazine subscription to a new publication. Again, the library can be your best friend when it comes to free reading.
Find a Festival
Summer is the season for art, music and antique festivals across the country. The Ann Arbor Art Fair in Michigan in July has been called the number one art fair by AmericanStyle Magazine. Chicago hosts Lollapalooza, a music festival that hosts more than fifty acts over three days in August. Search for festivals in your area that peak your interest!
Learn a New Skill
Your down time this summer can be put to good use if you learn a new (and fun!!) skill. Pick up a cookbook and challenge yourself to master Italian cuisine. While you’re at it, try learning Italian itself! Knowing a second language will definitely come in handy in your future.
Get Physical
I know schoolwork can keep you from being active during the school year, so summer is a great time to reintroduce yourself to the gym. A lot of cities also have co-ed intramural sports teams like beach volleyball or softball. Joining up will keep you active and you may meet new, interesting people!
Discover more ways to spend your summer and make the most of your college experience at Cappex.com!
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