Summer Plans

Summer for a college student is an important time to relax and take a much-needed break from the rigors of their college coursework. Summer plans can be filled with fun trips to the beach, having fun with family and friends, or simply chilling and doing nothing but watching TV, playing video games, reading books, or sleeping all day. While these are good ways for students to use their break time to relax and take care of themselves after a stressful academic year, it is also a critical time that should be used to think and plan for the future. One way they can do this is by taking advantage of NC State’s various Study Abroad trips. Students can get ahead of the curve by contacting the Study Abroad office about future upcoming trips so they can select the program that suits their needs and interests the best. Through the Study Abroad program, students can immerse themselves in the culture of the country they are visiting and gain enriching experiences that allow them to stand out from their peers, in the classroom and the job market. Today’s employers are looking to hire people with unique qualities and experiences that studying abroad can very well offer your student. 

Taking Summer Classes can be a rewarding way for students to spend their summer.  Students can get a jump on their schoolwork, boost their grade point average (GPA), get some of their required classes out the way so that their courseload is lighter throughout the year, or tackle more difficult classes so that they won’t have to during the year when they have other things going on.

 Student can take advantage of their summer vacation by getting an Internship using NC State’s ePack website. This is an important part of your student’s progression through college because it will allow them to gain some important skills and hands-on experiences needed to make them marketable in today’s competitive job market. Please visit https://careers.dasa.ncsu.edu/ for more information about internships and other career-related resources for students. Participating in an internship is a great opportunity for your student to be ahead of their competition but quite often a full-time job offer.

Volunteering is another fantastic opportunity for your student to learn more about the community around them, obtain invaluable life skills and add more unique experiences to boost their resume. Plenty of opportunities are available through the Leadership and Civic Engagement Service Portal and in the Raleigh area, so there’s bound to be something for everyone! Helping others and giving back to the community is a great way for your student to spend their summer to create a lasting impact and plenty of memories.  

Participating in undergraduate research allows students to fully dive into their studies or any area of interest by working under the mentorship of a professional on campus The Office of Undergraduate Research has many resources available to assist students with a research interest. This office hosts Help Sessions, Undergraduate Research Seminars, one-on-one meetings to discuss opportunities and how to navigate them moving forward, and so much more! Undergraduate research allows students to flourish beyond the classroom in their major and an area of interest, and create meaningful networks and experience.

The end of the semester is almost here and there are many options on how students spend their time over the summer. As your student gets ready for the summer, this is a good time to talk with your student about their summer plans. I hope you will find some of these suggestions helpful.

Dylan Gray

Parent Ally