What Should a 9th Grader Do Over the Summer?

There is no need for the summer after 9th grade to look like a college résumé. This is an excellent time for exploration.

A student might:

• Try an academic subject not offered at school
• Attend a traditional or specialty camp
• Learn to code
• Take an art or writing course
• Volunteer
• Work on a personal project
• Participate in sports
• Travel
• Take a class
• Get a first job
• Spend substantial time doing something simply because they enjoy it

Many highly selective academic and research programs aren't available to younger students anyway.

A useful goal for the summer after 9th grade is discovery: learn more about what you enjoy, what you're good at, and what you might want to pursue more seriously later.