What should you do this summer?

Why This Summer Is Critical

The FSU and UCF deadlines are October 15, 2026 — that's only 4 months away. These applications need to be essentially complete by late September so there's time to proofread, revise, and submit without panic. The summer is the only block of time with no school competing for attention. Used well, it's a massive advantage. Wasted, it creates a September crisis.

Priority 1 — SAT Retake (June/July)

MOST URGENT

What to do right now

Register for the August 2026 SAT retake before registration closes (typically 4–5 weeks before the test date). If August doesn't work, register for September as a backup. Do NOT plan to take it in October — results may not arrive before FSU/UCF's Oct 15 deadline.

Study schedule (8 weeks to Aug test)

• Weeks 1–2: Take one full official practice test on Bluebook app. Score it. Identify exactly which question types you get wrong most.
• Weeks 3–5: Khan Academy targeted practice on weak areas. 25–30 min daily, 5 days/week. Focus on the section where you lose the most points first.
• Weeks 6–7: Take a second full timed practice test. Compare scores. Drill persistent problem areas.
• Week 8: Rest, light review, test-day logistics confirmed. No all-nighters.

Priority 2 — Essay Brainstorming (June/July)

URGENT

Phase 1: Generate ideas (June)

Set aside 2–3 quiet hours. Write answers to these prompts without editing — just let thoughts flow:

• What's something I know a lot about that most people don't?
• When did tennis teach me something that surprised me?
• What moment made me feel most like "myself"?
• What would I study if college were free and grades didn't matter?
• What's a failure or setback that actually changed how I think?
• What do I do that I'd do even if no one was watching?

Phase 2: Choose your angle (Late June)

Pick the story that only you could tell. Not "I worked hard and overcame adversity" — every applicant writes that. The best essays are specific and vivid: "The moment at the regional finals when I realized I was playing to calm myself down, not to win" is more powerful than "Tennis taught me perseverance."

Phase 3: First draft (July)

Write a full 650-word draft. Don't edit as you go. Get it all out, messy as it is. This is just material to work with. The magic happens in revision, not in the first draft.

Priority 3 — Community Service Hours (June)

URGENT

Bright Futures FAS requires 234 community service hours (100 required) verified before graduation. Without this, you lose 100% tuition coverage at all FL public universities — that's potentially tens of thousands of dollars.

Action steps this week

• Count every hour currently logged with documentation (letters, sign-in sheets, etc.)
• If short, identify opportunities to complete hours over summer (library, tutoring, hospital, tennis coaching for youth, food bank, etc.)
• Make sure every hour has a supervisor's name, contact, and signature — Bright Futures will verify
• Log hours in the Florida Bright Futures system — don't just track them privately
• Target: have all 100 hours completed and documented by August 1 to avoid deadline stress

Priority 4 — Common App Setup (August 1)

PLAN

Common App opens August 1, 2026. On that day, you should be ready to move quickly.

Prepare before August 1

• Build your activities list: every EC, sport, award, and honor society with leadership titles, hours/week, weeks/year, and a 150-character description for each
• Draft the 10 activities list in a separate document first — the Common App character limits are tight and require careful word choice
• Collect: GPA documentation, AP course list with grades, SAT scores, teacher recommendation requests
• Identify 2 teachers for recommendations — ask them by late August at the latest. Give them a copy of your activities list and a short paragraph about your goals.
• Confirm school counselor is prepared to submit their school report and recommendation

Priority 5 — Research Universities (July)

PLAN

Generic supplemental essays ("I want to go to UF because it's a great school") are immediately obvious to admissions readers and significantly weaken an application. The fix is specific research.

• UF: Browse the specific college/department for your intended major. Find one research lab, professor, or program you can name in your essay. Look at UF's Undergraduate Research programs.
• FSU: Explore the College you're applying to. Find a unique program, learning community, or research opportunity specific to FSU.
• UCF: Browse Burnett Honors College and your intended major department. UCF's Incubator programs and innovation hub are worth mentioning if relevant.
• USF: If you plan to live at home, research USF's commuter resources, honors college, and research programs for undergrads.

Campus visits during summer, if feasible, make this research feel real and often generate specific details that make essays shine.

Week-by-Week Summer Plan