Stop Thinking About Summer Programs as Resume Enhancements

We met Joey in July, right before the start of his junior year. The very first thing he told us, before we even got far into introductions, was that he wanted to attend Georgetown. It had been his dream since he was a little boy. He wanted a career in politics, and in his mind, Georgetown was the place that aligned with that vision.

Joey was an average student academically, with a strong extracurricular profile. His chances at Georgetown were uncertain, but with a 13% acceptance rate, that is true for most applicants. What stood out was his clarity and his determination. Georgetown was the goal.

We talked early about building a thoughtful college list with a healthy balance of reach, target, and likely schools. He understood that. At the same time, we wanted him to pressure test his interest, both in the major and in the environment. We recommended that he apply to one of Georgetown’s summer academies.

He did. He was accepted and attended the week-long American Politics Academy.

When we met with him after the program, we were sitting with a very different version of Joey than the one we had sent there.

He came back with two clear takeaways.

1. He absolutely wanted to major in political science. The content energized him and confirmed that this was the right path.

2. Georgetown was not the right place for him.

Joey had been heavily involved in local politics, volunteering on campaigns and working closely with the local Republican party. During the program, he was placed in a group project where he was the only conservative voice. He felt unheard, dismissed, and ultimately isolated. That experience was not limited to the classroom. It reflected what he perceived across much of the campus culture.

For him, that mattered. He realized he wanted to study political science in an environment where he felt comfortable contributing, not one where he felt shut out.

Over the next few months, we built a list that reflected not just his academic interests, but his values and the type of community where he would thrive.

This is exactly where the conversation around summer programs often gets it wrong.

There is a growing narrative that summer programs are “pay to play,” add little value to an application, and are not worth the cost. There is some truth in that, if the goal is simply to add a line to a resume. Admissions counselors are very good at identifying what is real and what is filler. A student’s genuine interest in a major is demonstrated over time through sustained, meaningful engagement, not a one-week program.

We never recommend a summer program for resume building.

We recommend them for clarity.

Joey’s experience is the best example of that. In one week, in a low-stakes environment, he learned something that could have taken a full semester or year of college to figure out. The cost of that program needs to be viewed in that context. It was not just an expense; it was a filter. It saved him time, money, and a potentially misaligned college experience.

There are also plenty of free or low-cost opportunities that can provide similar insight, and we help students find those all the time.

I think about this the same way I think about my own kids. I have ten-year-old twin boys, and they attend different summer programs. I spend a lot of time researching those experiences, making sure they are with reputable organizations and worth both the time and the investment. The goal is not just to keep them busy. It is to give them exposure, to help them discover what they like and what they do not.

The same principle applies to high school students.

Over the years, we have seen students return from summer programs with a real sense of direction. Some come back fully committed to a major. Others realize that a certain type of school, such as a large city campus, is not for them. Learning what you do not like is just as valuable as confirming what you do.

We have also worked with many students who never attended a formal summer program. Instead, we helped them build meaningful summer experiences in other ways, giving them the same kind of clarity.

There is no single right way to spend a summer. The only thing that matters is that it is intentional and valuable to the student.

For families considering a summer program, I do recommend the experience when it is approached the right way. For students like Joey, it led him to a school that aligns with his political views and an environment where he is now thriving.

I attended the summer writing institute at Susquehanna University when I was in high school. That experience sparked my interest in writing and helped me realize I wanted a small, discussion-based academic environment. That insight shaped where I applied and where I ultimately thrived.

At the end of the day, this process is not about chasing a name or checking boxes. It is about helping students find a place where they feel comfortable, challenged, and excited to show up every day. A place where they can dig into a major they genuinely care about and see a future for themselves. When a student finds that fit, everything else starts to fall into place. That is what this is all about.

If you are trying to figure out how your student should spend their summer, whether that includes a formal program or something more customized, we are happy to help.

Rebecca Stone is the co-founder of Pelman and Stone College Consultants and a New Jersey educator. She works closely with students and families to build thoughtful, personalized college plans that prioritize fit, clarity, and long-term success.