Make This Summer Count: How 9th & 10th Graders Can Build Confidence and College Readiness Post

"A goal without a plan is just a wish."
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

When it comes to college admissions, most families think junior year is where the action starts. But here’s the truth: the smartest college prep begins long before then.

If your teen is in 9th or 10th grade, summer is one of the most valuable opportunities they have to explore, grow, and build the kind of personal story that colleges will remember.

Here’s how to help them do just that—without burnout, expensive programs, or micromanaging:

🔍 1. Start with Their Interests

Ask your student what they’re curious about. Maybe it’s social media marketing, environmental justice, art, or animals. Write down 3–5 interests, no matter how vague or unconventional.

Then brainstorm a few ways they could explore those interests:

• Volunteer at a local nonprofit

• Take a free online class through Coursera or edX

• Launch a small blog, podcast, or digital art portfolio

• Tutor younger students in a subject they enjoy

➡️ This is about direction, not perfection. Their first summer experience is just the beginning of a bigger admissions story.

🧠 2. Choose One Activity to Focus On

Help them choose one project or experience to pursue. Ask them:

• What excites you about this idea?

• What’s one step you could take this week?

• Who or what could help you get started?

By choosing a single path and committing to it—even lightly—they start building initiative and confidence.

📅 3. Build a Weekly Summer Plan

Students thrive with a little structure. Sketch a flexible plan that includes:

• Focus time: 3–6 hours per week on their chosen activity

• Exploration time: books, videos, or discussions tied to their interest

• Rest + fun: balance matters!

Encourage a weekly theme (e.g. “Leadership Week” or “Creativity Week”) to keep it fun and self-guided.

✍️ 4. Imagine the Future Essay

Once they’ve chosen an activity, try this prompt:

"How might this experience show up in a future college application?"

Have them write 3–5 sentences using this format:

• The spark: What drew me to it

• The challenge: What I had to learn or overcome

• The shift: How I grew or what changed

It’s a powerful way to link present action to future outcomes.

🎯 Want Help Planning Their Summer?

Inside our College Admissions Accelerator Group (CAAG), parents get expert support every month to help their 9th and 10th graders build a foundation for college success.

📥 Members get free access to our Summer Planning Worksheets and monthly Zoom sessions.

👉 Click here to learn more and join CAAG

This summer can be more than a break—it can be the beginning of your student’s standout story.