Creating a Career-Focused Summer: A Guide to Professional Growth That Colleges Notice

Summer break is an incredible opportunity for high school students to stand out in the college admissions process. Coach Victor from Eagle presents a comprehensive workshop on how to design a career-focused summer that demonstrates passion, commitment, and professional growth—qualities that admissions officers highly value. This blog post distills his key insights and actionable advice for making the most of your summer to boost your college applications and career readiness.

Why Career-Focused Summers Matter

Colleges want to see that you are intentional about how you spend your summer. A well-planned summer can differentiate you from thousands of other applicants by showcasing your dedication to exploring and preparing for your future career path. The goal is to design experiences that reflect your genuine interests and demonstrate growth through meaningful activities.

The Three Phases of Career Exploration

Coach Victor breaks down summer work experiences into three distinct phases, each suitable for different levels of readiness:

1. Shadowing
   Start by observing professionals in your field of interest to gain awareness of how the job works and build your network. This phase helps you identify problems you might want to solve and the skills required.

2. Project-Based Learning
   Apply the skills and insights gained from shadowing by working on projects that address real problems in your field. This phase enhances your hard skills and shows that you can deliver value through active contribution rather than passive observation.

3. Internships
   Once you’ve developed relevant skills and understanding, pursue internships where you can work more independently. Employers prefer interns who require minimal supervision and can demonstrate initiative.

If you’re new to career exploration, start with shadowing. Progress to project-based learning once you understand the field better, and then seek internships when you're ready to apply your skills in a professional setting.

Choosing a Career Field Based on Real Interests

Being intentional means selecting a career field that truly excites you. Admissions officers want to see self-awareness and genuine passion reflected in your summer plans. For example, if you’re interested in engineering, it’s important to have experiences related to engineering—just liking math isn’t enough.

Your summer activities should be:

• Passion-driven: Reflect what you truly care about.
• Action-oriented: Involve creating or contributing, not just observing.
• Relevant: Align with your future academic and career goals.

If you can’t secure a formal internship, consider DIY projects such as starting a blog, volunteering locally, or conducting interviews with professionals in your field.

Examples of Career-Focused Summer Projects

Here are some tailored ideas across different fields:

• Medicine: Start a health blog, volunteer at small local clinics, interview healthcare workers, or assist with research under a professor.
• Law: Join a mock trial program, study landmark cases, or shadow a public defender.
• Business: Launch a small business selling products or services, such as custom t-shirts, reselling items, or community services like lawn mowing.
• Engineering & Tech: Build software applications, physical products, or contribute to open-source projects. Document your process and impact clearly.

The key is to identify a problem you care about, understand your user (often yourself), research existing solutions, and create your own response. Document and share your results to demonstrate impact.

Building a Professional Network in High School

Your professional network can open doors that a resume alone cannot. Start with people you know—family, friends, neighbors—and expand through alumni from your school, local professionals, and college professors.

Using LinkedIn for Networking:

• Create a LinkedIn profile early.
• Identify first, second, and third-degree connections.
• Reach out to individuals within your network or their connections for informational interviews.
• Look for people at entry-level or early careers—they’re more likely to engage with high school students.

Conducting Informational Interviews

Informational interviews are conversations where you learn about someone's career path, experiences, and advice—not job interviews. They are a powerful way to gain insight quickly.

Tips for Successful Informational Interviews:

• Reach out professionally with a brief introduction and request a 15-20 minute chat.
• Research the person’s background before the meeting.
• Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions such as:
• How did you get started in your career?
• What do you enjoy most about your work?
• What would you have done differently?
• What advice do you have for students interested in this field?
• Focus on building a genuine relationship rather than asking directly for a job.
• Be respectful of time, engage actively, and follow up with a thank-you note highlighting a key takeaway.

Communicating Your Summer Experience on College Applications

Use the STAR framework to effectively tell your story:

• Situation: Briefly describe where you were and the context.
• Task: Outline the challenges or goals you had.
• Action: Explain what you did to address the task.
• Result and Reflection: Share what happened, what you learned, and how this experience informs your future goals.

Admissions officers are most interested in your reflections and growth. Make sure to connect your experience to your academic and career aspirations.

Final Project Examples Using STAR

• Tech & Mental Health: Built an AI chatbot for teen emotional check-ins, improved it with counselor feedback, and launched a demo used by 30 students.
• Business & Sustainability: Started a secondhand clothing pop-up focused on sustainable fashion, sought advice from boutique owners, and sold 40 pieces donating profits.
• Medicine & Health Literacy: Created a prescription translation guide for immigrant parents, fact-checked by a medical student, and distributed copies at a local clinic.
• Engineering & Prosthetics: Designed and 3D-printed low-cost prosthetics using open-source files, collaborated with a college student for feedback, and shared prototypes with maker communities.

Next Steps and Resources

To support your journey:

• Request notes and webinar replay by texting “notes” or “replay” to 949-775-0865.
• Get a free four-step student networking guide by texting “network guide” to the same number.
• Access a free 15-minute coaching session for personalized advice on maximizing your college admission chances.

Conclusion

A career-focused summer is about intentionality, action, and reflection. By thoughtfully choosing your path, building meaningful connections, and effectively communicating your experiences, you can significantly enhance your college applications and career readiness. Start where you are, take small steps, and watch your summer become a launching pad for your future success.

Ready to design your career-focused summer? Begin by identifying your interests, reach out to your network, and start a project that excites you. Your future self will thank you!