The Summer Prep Guide for High School Students

March 2026 · 5 min read

Summer is the most valuable and most easily wasted resource in your high school career. A productive summer can set you apart in college applications, strengthen your academic foundation, and build skills that will serve you for life. Here is how to make the most of it.

SAT/ACT Prep During Summer

Summer is ideal for intensive SAT or ACT preparation. With no homework from regular classes, you can dedicate real time to practice tests and review. Even 30-45 minutes of daily practice can produce significant score improvements over a summer. Consider using a structured prep course or a well-reviewed prep book, and take at least three full practice tests under realistic conditions.

Reading for Academic and Personal Growth

Reading is the single most underestimated college preparation activity. Students who read widely and consistently enter college with stronger vocabulary, faster reading speed, and better comprehension than those who do not. This does not mean reading assigned classics — read what genuinely interests you, whether that is science fiction, history, philosophy, or popular science. The goal is building the habit of deep reading.

Extracurricular Deepening

Rather than adding new extracurriculars, use summer to go deeper into activities you already care about. If you are in debate, research your topic for the fall season. If you do research, spend the summer in a lab. If you are an athlete, focus on improving your performance. Depth of commitment is far more impressive on college applications than breadth.

College Visits

Summer is the best time to visit college campuses. While classes are not in session, campus tours still operate and you can get a sense of the physical environment, student life, and surrounding community. Even if a school is not your top choice, visiting it will either confirm or eliminate it from your list. Many students are surprised by how much their impressions change after an actual visit.

A Note on Rest

Productive does not mean exhausting. Summer is also a time to recharge. Students who burn out before senior year often struggle with application essays and end up making rushed, uninspired decisions. Schedule genuine downtime — a summer that is all work and no rest defeats its own purpose.