How to Spend College Summers

Summer Plans for College Students, Internships, Work, Travel, Study

Apr 12, 2009

College students need to decide how they are going to spend each summer. Planning every summer carefully can provide benefits in the future.

It’s important to think about different options when deciding how to spend one’s summer during college. Don’t waste the three months off by not planning ahead of time. Consider the four options outlined below.

College Internship

It’s important for college students to have some real world experience when they graduate and have their hard-earned degrees. A college degree will only get someone so far without any experience in the field. Many organizations and employers will not consider someone without experience. If college students can’t get hired without experience, how do they start? Take unpaid internships.

Some college students need a paying job over the summer to support themselves; however, if someone has the means to support oneself while completing a summer internship, then he/she should take the opportunity to build his/her resume. After college students complete an internship, they are more likely to get a paid job in the same field the next summer or after they graduate. This is a good way to get a positive reference for one’s resume.

Work during the Summer

College is expensive, and many students rely on financial aid and savings to get through the four years of study. If college students can find jobs that relate to their major, then they should take that opportunity. If this is not a possibility, then taking the best paid job available is usually the next best option. Any work experience that is done well can result in a good reference or recommendation for future employment.

Travel or Study Abroad

Some college students have already completed internships and have enough savings to travel during the summer between college semesters. When do people have a couple months where they have no obligations and can travel? This doesn’t happen often, so college students should take advantage of the situation if possible.

Many colleges offer study abroad programs where students can take classes in another country and receive college credit. These programs usually cost more than normal tuition but are usually relatively affordable. If a college student is learning another language, this is a good way for that person to be able to utilize the skills that he/she has learned.

Take College Classes

If students take classes during the summer, they can take fewer classes during the school year, which can be helpful for students who get overwhelmed by the workload. Summer classes don’t last as long as a full semester and usually meet more often than they do during the regular semester. If a student takes one class during the summer, he/she can concentrate on that particular class; therefore, students should choose to get their most difficult classes out of the way during the summer.

Whatever college students choose to do in the summer, they should make a plan. Taking an internship, working, traveling, or taking college courses are all great options for spending summers during college.

The copyright of the article How to Spend College Summers in Campus Life is owned by April Bowles. Permission to republish How to Spend College Summers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.