How to Stay Involved in Activities from Home
As in-person summer camps, pre-college programs, travel, internships, sports training, and more begin to be canceled, many wonder “what next?” First, we need to remember that colleges will all take these extraordinary circumstances into consideration when evaluating applications for admission. Accept that it is ok to slow down. There are, however, many enriching ways teens can use this time to positively impact their community, grow academically and personally, and continue to thoughtfully prepare for college.
This article provides examples of actions that can be taken from home that are both enriching and will strengthen future college applications.
Volunteering
Find ways to connect your pre-COVID activities and passions to a way to serve your community.
- Ask your high school counselor if anyone in your community needs academic tutoring that could be conducted in a video meeting. In addition to school-specific tutoring programs, there are extensive non-profits supporting low-income and first-generation college-bound students that your counselor may be able to connect you with.
- Are you a musician? Offer free video music/music theory lessons to children in your community.
- Are you a member of a faith-based, cultural, or community organization? Ask if they need volunteers! Many groups have phone trees calling people to check in, provide social interaction, and assess community needs. High schoolers in my neighborhood, for example are delivering groceries to older adults, immunocompromised community members, and single parents to save them the cost of grocery delivery and reduce their exposure to COVID.
- VolunteerMatch is a great national resource for COVID-related service opportunities.
- Many community colleges offer affordable online classes
- UC Scout is an affordable way to take high school (many AP level) classes approved by the University of California system
- Cornell University (and many other colleges and universities) offer online college classes for high school students that are still enrolling for this summer.
- Stay active and keep moving! Student athletes should work with their high school and club coaches to get home workouts and strategies to stay active and ready for the next season.
- Students interested in playing collegiate athletics can use this time to:
- Ask current coaches to do a video meeting to get their feedback on your potential as a college athlete and what division you could play at.
- Fill out athletic recruitment forms on college websites and reach out to college coaches. Although campus tours are not happening right now, many collegiate coaches are happy to schedule an informational phone call or video meeting; get on their radar now!