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Maximizing Your Spring Break

It’s finally March, and the countdown is on to some of our favorite spring traditions: the National Cherry Blossom Festival, March Madness, and St. Patrick’s Day parades. But for high school students, there’s an even more exciting event on the calendar–spring break! 

We know that you might be going on a beach vacation, training for sports, or may even just want to relax at home. However, if you’re looking for things to do during your time off, take a look below. We’ve got plenty of suggestions that are sure to spark your interests, enhance your college process, AND still put the’ break’ in spring break.


Plan your summer:

Would you love to investigate a crime scene or work in a STEM lab? Or maybe take a course in digital media and advertising? We know - you are sick of us mentioning summer planning - but there are hundreds of summer opportunities available for high school students, and now is the perfect time to apply for internships, academic courses, or volunteer programs. 

Check out our Summer Opportunities Database for an extensive list of opportunities. We update it every week with new postings! And if you find yourself needing help with an application, resume, or essay, book a session with us during your week off.

Tour a college campus:

We’re thrilled to see that so many colleges and universities are offering live campus tours again! Consider scheduling a visit or two, especially if you’re interested in schools that are a reasonable drive away. But even if you aren’t interested in nearby schools, visits could still be useful because they will help you develop a general sense of your preferences.

If you tour GW and realize that you would feel uncomfortable in an urban environment without a close community feel - congratulations! You just saved yourself trips to New York and Boston to check out NYU and BU. Or if you drive down to Lexington to visit Washington & Lee and feel isolated, Williams might not be a great fit either.

Don’t worry, though, if you’re not able to work tours into your schedule. You can experience just about any college or university from your home, thanks to the virtual information sessions and tours that became very popular during the pandemic-related shutdowns.

Brush up on old skills or explore new interests:

With resources like Khan Academy, Coursera, and Edx, it’s easier than ever to improve your academic skills and develop new talents. Spring break is a great time to review math concepts or prepare for the SAT using Khan Academy; learn the foundations of programming through one of Coursera’s most popular courses; or make your dream of becoming a comedy writer come true with Edx. We promise that there is a course for just about every subject or skill out there! PS: our database also includes a list of ongoing, self-paced courses as well.

Lend a hand:

With warmer temperatures on the rise (pun intended), you might be craving some fresh air. Why not make a difference while you’re soaking up the sun? Many local organizations are looking for volunteers to help with one-day service projects, like cleaning up Rock Creek Park or setting up a mobile market with Food For Others.

If you’re not able to participate in a local opportunity, consider helping virtually. Record an audio book for struggling readers, offer tech advice, or write letters to elderly members of the community in need of communication.

You can search for more volunteer opportunities in our database.

What are your plans for spring break? Share in the comments below!