你的暑假，是看清你是谁的一扇窗口

当没有成绩、没有评分时，你的选择比你想象的重要得多。

大家好，

随着新学期的开始，暑期项目的申请也陆续开放了。
这是一个非常重要的时间点——不是用来着急，而是用来反思。

在谈暑期项目之前，我想先邀请大家用一种非常实际的方式来思考“自我提升”这件事：

请认真看看你平时的一周是怎么度过的。
不是你表现最好的一周，
也不是你最忙的一周，
而是你真实的一周。

  • 你有多少时间是在学习真正有意义的东西？
  • 有多少时间是在被动刷手机、看视频或打游戏？
  • 你是在创造内容，还是只是在消费内容？
  • 你是在只提升自己，还是也在帮助身边的人？

如果你希望在学业上、个人成长上或情绪管理上有所进步，第一步并不是增加更多活动，而是诚实地审视时间的使用方式，并做出小而有意识的改变。
这种思维方式，比任何一门课或一个项目都重要得多。

为什么暑期规划如此重要

学生有四年的学习时间，但只有三个真正关键的暑假——
进入10年级、11年级和12年级之前的暑假。

我无法强调得再多：暑期规划非常重要。

暑假往往是学生唯一拥有以下条件的时间：

  • 没有人替你安排时间表
  • 没有成绩评分
  • 没有被强制的结构

正因为如此，大学会把暑假视为看清一个学生真实状态的重要窗口。

正如“眼睛是心灵的窗户”，
暑假让大学更清楚地了解：

  • 你的能力与天赋
  • 你的性格与个人品质
  • 你的主动性、好奇心和独立性

这些都是大学录取中最重要、却无法量化的因素。

你如何度过暑假，往往决定了你是否能脱颖而出，而不仅仅是“不被刷掉”。

什么是真正的暑期规划？

暑期规划，指的是在大约 10 周的暑假时间内，有意识地制定学术与非学术的发展计划。

对很多学区来说，暑假从5月下旬持续到8月初。这段时间不应被简单地视为“空闲时间”，而应该被看作灵活时间——
用来探索兴趣、培养技能、并在学习与人格上逐渐成熟。

每位学生的暑期规划都会不同，取决于能力、兴趣和成熟度。

推荐的暑期目标

即将进入 10 年级或 11 年级的学生

除了 SAT / ACT 准备之外，我通常建议三个核心目标：

目标一： 有一定选择性的暑期项目（3–10 周）
目标二： 实践型 STEM 或学术项目（30–50 小时以上）
目标三： PIG 项目 —— 个性（Personality）、兴趣（Interest）、目标（Goals）

PIG 项目尤其重要，它反映的是你是谁，而不是你“以为大学想看到什么”。

即将进入 12 年级的学生

除了大学申请本身，我建议关注四个方向：

目标一： 实习或工作经历
目标二： 研究或独立学术探索
目标三： 高选择性的暑期项目
目标四： 与未来职业或技能相关的活动

高三暑假，应该是从“高中生”走向“成年学习者”的开始。

关于大学录取的现实情况

美国排名前 30 的大学竞争极其激烈。很多高中在某些年份甚至没有任何学生进入这些学校。同时，也有许多非常优秀的大学，其实比“Top 30”更适合很多学生。

当录取率普遍在 5%–15% 之间，且大量被录取学生都拥有 4.0 无加权 GPA 时，仅靠成绩几乎不可能区分申请者。

这正是暑期项目、实习和研究经历变得重要的原因。

优秀的项目通常：

  • 超出高中课堂内容
  • 要求学生独立思考
  • 考验解决问题的能力与抗挫折能力
  • 能区分真实能力与成绩“通胀”

招生官会非常关注学生在挑战、不确定性和失败面前的反应方式。

警惕暑期项目的“金钱陷阱”

并不是所有暑期项目都值得参加。

贵 ≠ 好
第三方包装的项目往往缺乏招生可信度
在名校校园上课 ≠ 被名校录取

很多项目只要付得起学费就能进，招生官对此非常清楚，也不会将其视为能力证明。

一定要理性判断、多问问题、仔细阅读项目说明。

每个学生都不同——这是好事

并不是每个学生都有：

  • 完美 GPA
  • 很长的 AP 列表
  • 1500+ 的 SAT 成绩

适合的暑期机会，并不只属于“最顶尖”的学生。

每个学生都是独特的，10 周的暑假也应当量身定制。

家长应避免没有目的地强加压力。
学生则需要对自己的未来负责，并认真思考：

  • 我为什么想参加这个项目？
  • 我希望学到什么？
  • 这段经历会如何帮助我成长？

如果没有清晰目的，即使是最好的项目，也学不到真正有用的东西。

学习 ≠ 堆履历

进入一所好大学，并不能保证职业成功或人生幸福。

学习只有在结合以下因素时才真正有意义：

  • 批判性思维
  • 好奇心
  • 主动承担责任

大学提供的是机会，而不是结果。

暑期项目、实习和实践活动，让学生提前培养真实世界的能力——解决问题、合作、坚持，这些能力远比申请材料重要得多。

如何选择合适的暑期项目

在做决定前，请认真研究课程设置。
列出问题、优缺点。
与父母、顾问、老师和导师沟通。

这些交流本身，就是成熟度的体现，也能让导师更了解你的性格和未来方向。

这，就是成长的一部分。

最后的想法

规划只能帮你走完三分之一的路。
真正拉开差距的，是持续投入和踏实努力。

希望同学们能通过有意义的暑期项目和活动，将兴趣、领导力和个人成长真正连接起来。

感谢阅读。

Daniel 老师
SAT Professionals (AP, SAT, College Planning)
www.satprofessionals.com
Diamond Bar 办公室 | 909-860-2190

 

Your Summers Are a Window Into Who You Are

What you choose to do when no one is grading you matters more than you think.

Hi everyone,

As we begin a new semester, summer program applications are opening. This is an important moment for students and families to pause—not to rush, but to reflect.

Before talking about summer programs, I encourage everyone to think about self-improvement in a very practical way:

Look at what you do in an average week.
Not your best week. Not your busiest week.
Your actual week.

  • How much time is spent learning something meaningful?
  • How much time is spent passively scrolling or gaming?
  • Are you creating anything, or only consuming?
  • Are you improving only yourself, or also helping people around you?

If you want to grow academically, personally, or emotionally, the first step is honestly examining how your time is used, then making small but intentional changes. This mindset matters far more than any single class or program.

Why Summer Planning Matters

Students have four years of education and three critical summers.
The summers going into sophomore, junior, and senior year are the most important.

I cannot emphasize enough the significance of summer planning.

Your summers are often the only time when:

  • No one assigns your schedule
  • No grades are given
  • No structure is forced

Because of this, colleges view summers as a window into who you really are.

Just as eyes are windows to the soul, your summers allow colleges to understand:

  • Your talents and abilities
  • Your character and personal qualities
  • Your initiative, curiosity, and independence

These are some of the most important non-quantifiable factors in college admissions.

How you spend your summer can help you stand out—and stand apart—from other applicants.

What Is Summer Planning?

Summer planning means creating intentional academic and non-academic plans over roughly a 10-week summer break.

For many school districts, summer runs from late May to early August. This time should not be treated as “free time” but as flexible time—time that can be used to explore interests, build skills, and mature as a learner and individual.

Summer planning looks different for every student, depending on ability, interest, and maturity.

Recommended Summer Goals

Incoming 10th and 11th Graders

In addition to preparing for the SAT or ACT, I recommend three main goals:

Goal 1: A selective summer program (3–10 weeks)
Goal 2: A hands-on STEM or academic project (30–50+ hours)
Goal 3: A PIG project — Personality, Interest, Goals

The PIG project is especially important. It reflects who you are, not what you think colleges want.

Incoming 12th Graders

In addition to college applications, I recommend four main goals:

Goal 1: Internship or work experience
Goal 2: Research or independent academic work
Goal 3: A highly selective summer program
Goal 4: A career-related or skill-building activity

Senior summer should begin the transition from high school student to young adult.

College Admissions Reality

Most top 30 colleges in the U.S. are extremely competitive. Many high schools may never send students to these institutions in a given year. There are also many excellent colleges that are better fits for many students than the so-called “top 30.”

With admission rates often between 5%–15%, and a large percentage of admitted students holding 4.0 unweighted GPAs, it is nearly impossible to distinguish applicants based on grades alone.

This is where summer programs, internships, and research experiences become important.

Strong programs add rigor because they often:

  • Go beyond what is taught in high school
  • Require independent thinking
  • Test problem-solving and resilience
  • Reveal whether a GPA reflects real ability or grade inflation

Admissions officers look closely at how students respond to challenge, uncertainty, and failure.

Watch Out for Summer Program “Money Traps”

Not all summer programs are worthwhile.

Expensive programs do not equal strong programs.
Third-party arranged programs often lack admissions credibility.
Attending a program on a famous campus does not guarantee college admission.

Many programs accept nearly any student who can pay the tuition. Admissions officers are aware of this and do not view such programs as evidence of exceptional ability.

Be strategic. Ask questions. Read carefully.

Not Every Student Is the Same—and That’s Okay

Not all students have:

  • Perfect GPAs
  • Long AP course lists
  • 1500+ SAT scores

There are worthwhile summer opportunities for every student—not just the top academic performers.

Each student is unique, and the 10-week summer should be planned accordingly.

Parents should avoid forcing rigor without purpose.
Students should take ownership of their future and reflect honestly:

Why do I want to attend this program?
What do I hope to learn?
How will this experience help me grow?

Without a clear purpose, even the best program teaches very little.

Learning vs. Credentials

Attending a great college does not guarantee career success or happiness.

Learning only becomes meaningful when paired with:

  • Critical thinking
  • Curiosity
  • Ownership

College provides opportunity, not outcomes.

Summer programs, internships, and projects give students an early chance to develop real-life skills—problem-solving, collaboration, persistence—that last far beyond applications.

Choosing the Right Summer Program

Before committing, study the curriculum carefully.
Make a list of questions, pros, and cons.
Talk with parents, counselors, teachers, and mentors.

These conversations show maturity and self-awareness. They also help mentors better understand your personality and future aspirations.

This is part of growing up.

Final Thoughts

Planning only gets you about one-third of the way.
Commitment and hard work do the rest.

I hope students can connect their interests to leadership and personal growth through meaningful summer programs and activities.

Thank you for reading.

Mr. Daniel
SAT Professionals (AP, SAT, College Planning)
www.satprofessionals.com
Diamond Bar Office | 909-860-2190