Map out your extra-curricular activities for the year. This is the final year before your college applications so you should look to strengthen your profile through internships, volunteering, participating in school activities, leadership positions in clubs and societies, athletic achievements, musical practice, and so on.

This is especially important for applications to US colleges as you have to fill out 10 slots in your list of activities for your application (they don't need to be related to your major). However, having one or two activities that are related to your major will help you in writing your personal statement for UK universities.

Your next summer will be busy with university applications and any final activities, such as internships and summer courses. If you feel you need to significantly strengthen your extra-curricular profile, it is worth doing a short internship over the winter break to give yourself more room to do a different activity the following summer.

For students that are considering applying to Art & Design programs (such as Interior Design, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, and even Architecture in some cases), this is a good time to start developing your portfolio as you will need to have it ready for your college applications. Portfolio development has specific requirements and we recommend working with someone who can help you meet those requirements. You can reach out to us for portfolio development sessions with an expert visual artist.

For students looking to undertake a summer course in summer 2024, keep in mind that some competitive courses have deadlines as early as end of January. A summer course can be a great way to explore a major that you're interested in, or experience student life at a college that you are aiming for. This also helps you become more familiar with the college and what it has to provide, which comes across in your essays when you are applying there.

For students looking to apply to the Early Action/Decision deadlines in the US, to Medicine in the UK, or to Oxford or Cambridge, keep in mind that the deadlines fall between October 15th and November 1st. This means that you have to apply with the actual or predicted grades that you have at the end of Grade 11 (for those who graduate after Grade 12), or at the end of Year 12 (for those who graduate after Year 13).

This is the summer during which you need to start working on your college applications (see the first tab for the timeline of your final year). This is also the final summer during which you can undertake activities that can be added to your college applications, so use it to fill any final gaps in your profile.

Most importantly, you are about to start your final year of school and the pressure of college admissions can easily get to you–so make sure to enjoy yourself!

Think about the major you want to pursue. We're compiled a list of resources to help you figure out which major you might want to study in college. It's completely natural to be undecided–this a good time to start exploring different fields, so you can narrow down your interests and ensure that you are making the right choices for your studies: for some majors (such as Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine, etc.), you will need to choose your subjects carefully for the final two years of school. Having an idea of the fields that you're interested in can also help you target relevant internships and extra-curricular activities.

‍Map out your extra-curricular activities for the year. With two years ahead of you until college applications, you have plenty of time to build a strong student profile to stand out for college admissions. Don't just look for breadth of experience: it's great to have activities that include internships, school clubs, volunteering, athletics, and so on; however, it's more important to pursue activities that you are passionate about. This will resonate more in your college essays and overall application.

For students looking to undertake a summer course in summer 2024, keep in mind that some competitive courses have deadlines as early as end of January. A summer course can be a great way to explore a major that you're interested in, or experience student life at a college that you are aiming for. This also helps you become more familiar with the college and what it has to provide, which comes across in your essays when you are applying there.

Most schools will ask students to choose their subjects for their final two years, whether you're doing the IB, American Diploma, A-levels, French Bac, or otherwise. Make sure that you're selecting the subjects that will make you eligible for the major that you want in college. Keep in mind that this doesn't apply to all majors as some fields don't have any prerequisite subjects!

This summer is a great time to undertake activities that will help you narrow down or confirm your choice of major. This can include internships, summer courses, volunteering, or anything else that might be relevant.

If you already know what want to study, then you can still take advantage of the summer to build a strong profile for your specific major and for the universities that you are targeting!