The official e-newsletter of The Equestrian College Advisor.

Summer Planning for the College-Bound

If you live in the snow belt of the United States right now, it can be a bit difficult to even remember summer right now, much less plan ahead for its return. Still, as you look ahead to the warmer months and to your pending college career, now is the best time to begin to consider your options and what they can mean not only for your college applications, but also for your personal development.Traditional summer options for students include:

• Camps (academic, athletic, etc.)

• Volunteer programs

• Work or internship opportunities

• Travel

Which one (or ones) should you consider?Rather than worrying about gathering academic credits from an Ivy League institution on your transcript or dazzling admission officers with your tales of rescuing orphans in third world nations, your final decision should be based on balancing your interests and supplementing either your knowledge in a particular area or immersing yourself in a particular experience so that you can carry it forward with you into your college career.How do you do that?Identify your interests – perhaps you hope to work with kids in some capacity in the future or you want to know what it’s really like to work in a law office. Is there a subject in school that you don’t get to spend enough time on during the year? Do you have passion for a particular sport or art form?Next, research opportunities available in those areas. Do you want to work with kids as a camp counselor? Do any local attorneys have a position for a summer intern in their practice? A lot of legwork and research goes into finding the right summer placement but if you start now, you’ll undoubtedly find a variety of things that appeal to you and be able to select the one that will best fit your needs and goals.Don’t forget the fun.In your summer planning, however, don’t forget to leave a little time for fun and relaxation. Your high school years are your last true years of freedom before the responsibilities of adulthood begin to creep in and you don’t want to miss out. College admission officers were teenagers once too and will understand the difficult balance between building your resume and living your life.

At the recent NCAA convention, administrators from NCAA Division II voted to retain equestrian on its list of emerging sports. (Previously, it was thought that equestrian would remain only with Division I.)

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Students, the likelihood that college admission officers will look at your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts as part of your evaluation for admission is growing.

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The most challenging thing for students and parents to grasp in the college admission process is that decisions very often aren't about them, but instead, are about the institution's priorities.

Families who understand these priorities often fare better in the process.

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