Summer Planning: A Guide to Summer 2021 暑假计划：2021暑假指南

By Beth McKenzie

Although the summer season is still months away, students can already begin dreaming and planning about how they will spend their summer months. When admissions representatives review applications, they want to see not only how a student performed in their academic school year, but also how they used their free time during holiday breaks.  

尽管距离暑假还有几个月，同学们已经可以开始梦想并计划如何度过暑假了。当招生官们审核申请时，他们不仅想看到学生在学年中的表现如何，也想了解学生是如何利用假期自由时间的。 

In the past, many Interface students have prioritized preparing for standardized tests in their summer months by self-studying or attending intensive test prep camps. However, due to recent shifts in the college application process, we advise our students to focus the majority of their effort on academic activities for a few important reasons.  

过去很多顾瑞的学生会优先考虑利用暑假通过自学或参加应试强化班的形式准备标化考试。然而，最近因着大学申请流程的转变，我们建议同学们将精力主要集中在学术活动上，为此有几个重要原因。 

The first reason is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the major and lasting impacts it has had on the US college application process. The role of standardized test scores has changed dramatically in the past year. The vast majority of colleges became “test optional” for 2020, meaning that students could decide whether or not to submit their scores. This trend will continue in 2021 since the risk of the virus is keeping testing centers closed, and would-be tests takers at home. Prior to the pandemic, there were already efforts taking place to change the application review process to focus more on an individual’s character, accomplishments, and goals and less on their ability to perform well on a test. After one application season of evaluating applications without test scores, many admissions professionals are advocating that this become a permanent change. 

第一个原因，就是新冠疫情及其对美国大学申请过程产生的重大而持久的影响。在过去的一年里，标化考试成绩的角色发生了巨大的变化。2020年，绝大多数的大学将考试变成“可选项”，意味着学生可以自行决定是否递交成绩。这种趋势将延续至2021年，因为病毒的风险导致考试中心继续关闭，潜在的考生待在家中。在疫情之前，申请的审核过程已经在变革，将会更多地关注个人的品格、成就和目标，而不是他们在考试中取得好成绩的能力。这个申请季没有评估考试成绩，现在很多业界人士主张将其作为一个永久性的改变。 

This means that when admissions representatives review applications, they are paying more attention to personal statement essays, activity list entries, letters of recommendations and transcripts, and far less attention to test scores. It is essential for our students to gain experiences that show their intellect, curiosity, passion, thoughtfulness, and resourcefulness rather than focusing on achieving high test scores. 

这意味着当招生官审核申请时，他们会把更多的注意力放在个人陈述、活动列表、推荐信和成绩单上，而不是考试成绩上。对我们的学生来说，重要的是获得能够发展和展示他们的才智、好奇心、激情、思想周全和全面发展的经历，而不是只专注于考取标化高分。 

Having said that- we still strongly advise that you take the SAT and/or the ACT at least once, especially if you are a strong student and it is logistically possible.  Although it is not required and will not play a major impact on final acceptance decisions, if your score is strong, we will certainly send it as another positive piece of your application. If you do not do as well as expected, we will not send it. 

尽管如此，我们仍然强烈建议你至少参加一次SAT和/或ACT考试，特别是如果你是实力很强的学生并且条件允许的话。尽管这不是必需的，也不会对最终录取决定产生重大影响，可是如果你的分数很高，我们肯定将其作为申请中另一份积极的信息而递送。如果考试发挥不如预期那样好，我们将不发送此成绩。 

We certainly want you to put some preparation in before you take the exam, but time spent studying for a test cannot be recorded on an application. Therefore, if a student spends their entire summer focusing on test prep, admissions representatives just see a big, empty gap of time. This automatically puts you at a disadvantage against every other student who did something constructive with their summer months that they can record in their activities list.  

我们当然希望你在考试之前做些准备工作，但是备考所花的时间却不能被记录在申请材料上。因此，如果一个学生在整个暑假都在准备考试，招生代表只会看到很大一段空白的时间。与其他那些在暑假做了一些建设性的、并可以被记录在活动列表中活动的学生相比，自然而然地你就处于劣势地位。 

There are many types of summer activities that offer you a perfect opportunity to distinguish yourself from the competition and catch the eye of application reviewers. More important, these opportunities will introduce you to new ideas and experiences that might not be available as part of your high school curriculum.  

有许多类型的暑假活动给你提供一个完美的机会，使你在竞争中脱颖而出并吸引招生官的目光。更重要的是，这些机会可以给你带来高中课程中没有的新想法和体验。 

Here are just a few suggestions: 

以下仅是几个建议： 

RESEARCH  

研究 

You can do research with an academic mentor, with a group of students or through an official program. This is a great opportunity to deeply explore a specific topic you enjoy. Completing a rigorous research project will teach you important skills for finding, reading, and citing academic resources. The experience of working intimately with a guiding mentor can give you confidence in your communication skills for approaching professors, or graduate Teaching Assistants in college. Finally, when it is time to apply to college, your research project can be a way of signaling your specific interests and showing that college that your knowledge and interests align with their program of study and that you are academically prepared for the rigor of college classes. 

你可以与一位学术导师、一群学生或是通过官方项目进行研究。这是一个可以深度发掘你感兴趣的话题的好机会。完成一项严谨的研究项目，你将学到寻找、阅读和援引学术资源的重要技能。与一位指导型导师密切合作的经验可以让你在大学里与教授或研究生助教探讨时更有自信。最后，当你申请大学的时候，你的研究项目可以成为一种表明你特定兴趣的方式，并向那所大学表明你的知识和兴趣与他们的学习项目一致，以及你已经在学术上为大学课程的严谨性做好了准备。 

EXPERIENCE COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES  

体验大学水平课程 

You can use your summer to experience aspects of college life by taking college-level coursework, either online or in-person. These courses will provide you with more advanced knowledge than courses typically offered in high school. Additionally, you can explore topics that aren’t offered in your high school curriculum. Sometimes you can earn college credit, but even non-credit bearing courses show that you seek out intellectual challenges and are capable of the demands of a college curriculum.  

你可以利用暑假通过参加大学水平的课程去体验大学生活的方方面面，课程可以是线上的，或是线下的。与典型的高中课程相比，这些课程会提供给你更多先进的知识。此外， 你可以探索高中教材中没有提供的主题。有的课程可以获得大学学分，但即使是不含学分的课程也会展示你在寻求才智上的挑战并且能满足大学课程的要求。 

RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCES (IN-PERSON)  

住宿体验（亲身实地参加） 

Another option is to apply for residential programs, where you get to experience the facilities and rituals of life on a college campus. Many residential programs have gone virtual for summer 2021, but there are still some colleges that are planning to offer in-person programs on their campus. 

另一个选项是申请住宿式项目，在其中你可以体验大学校园的设施和日常生活。许多住宿式项目在2021年暑假已经改成了线上项目，但仍有一些大学在计划提供校园内的亲身体验项目。 

INTERNSHIPS 

实习 

Another great option is to do an internship. In an internship you will gain professional experience as you learn what it is like to work in that field. You can network with professionals and envision your future career path. You can complete collaborative projects that will help you learn valuable skills about cooperation and teamwork. This year it may be difficult to find an in-person internship, but luckily there are virtual options as well.  

实习是另一个很棒的选择。在实习中，你了解到在那个领域工作是怎样的，因此会获得专业经验。你可以与专业人士交往，并展望自己未来的职业道路。你可以完成合作项目，这将帮助你学到有关合作和团队协作的宝贵技能。今年可能很难找到一份亲身体验的实习机会，但幸运的是，现在也有线上实习项目。 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT   

社区参与 

You can take initiative and find a way to impact your own community. Some students may focus their attention on their school community, or religious community, and try to identify people in that community that need support. Others may find a humanitarian organization in their area and dedicate their time and energy to help that organization achieve a goal. And still others may use a special talent in art, music, science, math, or the humanities to tutor others who may be struggling this field. 

你可以主动寻找一种能够影响你的社区的方式。一些学生也许会把注意力集中在他们的学校社区或宗教社区上，并试图找到社区中需要支持的人。其他同学也许找到本地区的一个人道主义组织，然后投入自己的时间和精力去帮助那个组织实现一个目标。还有一些人可能会利用自己在艺术、音乐、科学、数学或人文科学方面的特殊才能来辅导那些在这个领域努力奋斗的人。 

All of these options bring personal fulfillment while additionally showing you value helping others. 

所有这些选择都带来了个人成就感，同时也显示了你乐于助人。 

Any of these options will allow you to add an intriguing entry to your activity list that is truly unique. Additionally, the experience may provide you with the perfect material for a distinctive and individual personal statement essay. Finally, the experience may introduce you to a pivotal mentor who would write a compelling letter of recommendation for you in the future. Admissions representatives are focusing their attention on the parts of application where they learn more about the student’s character such as the activities list, personal statement, and supplements. Activities and engagement form the basis for your responses to these sections. 

所有这些选择都会为你的活动列表添加一个真正独特有趣的条目。此外，这段经历可能为你提供了完美的素材来写一篇与众不同、个性化的个人陈述。最后，这段经历可能会引荐一位关键的导师，他将来会为你写一封令人信服的推荐信。招生代表们将他们的注意力集中在申请中那些可以使他们更多了解学生性格的内容部分，比如活动列表、个人陈述和 补充材料。活动和参与构成了你对这些部分的回应的基础。 

Now is the time to plan for summer, and that planning should be a source of excitement! This is the perfect time to do something that truly interests you. Pinpoint your passion. What is a topic in a subject that interests you that you want to learn more about? What’s a college major or career that you want to get prepared for? What is a problem that you can take steps to alleviate or solve? How can you make this summer memorable and meaningful? Because if it is memorable and meaningful to you, it will become and memorable and meaningful part of your college application too. 

现在是为暑假做计划的时候了。做计划应该是令人兴奋的一件事！这是做你真正感兴趣的事情的最佳时机。找到你的激情所在。某个学科里你感兴趣并想了解更多知识的一个主题是什么？你想为大学的哪个专业或职业做准备？你可以采取步骤缓解或解决的一个问题是什么？你如何使这个暑假变得难忘并有意义呢？因为如果对你来说这个暑假是难忘且有意义的，它也会成为你大学申请中难忘而有意义的一部分。