How to Turn a Summer Program into a Standout College Essay

What if that underwhelming summer program you attended (even if it felt ordinary at the time) could still become your most compelling college essay?

Maybe this common situation sounds familiar:

Last spring, when everyone else was announcing their upcoming vacation plans, you signed up for a summer program — figuring it would look good on your resume (correct). You attended with minimal grumbling (even though waking up early was hard), made some new acquaintances (but not particularly memorable ones), and checked it all off. Now it’s fall. Admissions essays are around the corner, and you’re wondering…

“Can I really turn those ho-hum summer days into a story worth reading?”

The answer is yes — absolutely.

And before you say, “My summer program wasn’t life-changing enough!” Hear me out: you actually don’t need a glamorous experience to write a standout college essay. Even ordinary or disappointing experiences can lead to a great read if approached strategically. Yep, you read that right.

Here’s how to turn any summer experience — whether amazing or average — into an essay that resonates with admissions officers.

More than sun: why summer programs shine in college essays

Before we dive into writing strategies, let’s answer the big question: why should you even talk about your summer program? There’s a reason behind why it “looks good on your resume,” and we’ll explain.

• First, summer programs demonstrate initiative and intellectual curiosity — especially when a student chooses to learn or explore beyond school. Colleges look for students who pursue learning beyond the classroom because it proves their personal drive and exploration. Particularly in recent years, that spirit is the essence of holistic admissions criteria. 

• Second, summer programs often involve challenges — whether it’s being in new environments, keeping up with demanding schedules, or attempting a new level of academic rigor — all of which can provide rich material for genuine growth-focused essays. 

• Third, your perspective makes the experience unique. It’s what makes you, you. After all, two students could attend the exact same STEM workshop — one writes a technical report; the other writes about how correcting their own mistake in an experiment taught them resilience and humility. The difference is what matters. 

All in all, admissions officers value these kinds of extracurricular activities (and reading your stories about them) because summer anecdotes offer insight into who you are, beyond grades and test scores. In the college application process, that kind of peek into your personal mindset is as good as it gets.

This counselor explains how your summer programs can help your supplemental essays truly make an impact on readers, and why getting to the point will save you time:

Mining for gold: finding your essay’s core

What if your summer program was just… fine? No fireworks. That’s okay. The best essay ideas often hide in moments you barely noticed at the time. To uncover them, try this exercise. Rinse and repeat many times as needed.

Step 1: Identify key moments

Pick one moment in time that stood out for any reason: a frustrating project, a surprising conversation, or a mundane challenge that taught you something. Even a small event — like solving a stubborn problem, working with someone unexpected, or maybe enduring boredom — can become the essay’s anchor. 

Step 2: Ask the right questions

Set a timer for ten minutes (no more) and jot down responses to questions that dig at the heart of the matter.

Expectations vs. reality

• What did I expect going in vs. what actually happened?
• What surprised me about the program or my own reaction to it?

Challenges & growth

• What was the hardest moment, and how did I handle it?
• Did I fail or make a mistake during the program? 
• What did I learn from it?
• When did I feel completely out of my comfort zone?
• What skill, habit, or mindset did I improve or discover?

People & perspective

• Who influenced me most during the program (peer, mentor, instructor)? Why?
• What surprised me about the people I met or the environment I was in?

Impact & takeaways

• What moment made me proud — or frustrated — and why?
• Did this experience change how I see my future academic or career interests?
• If I could go back and give myself advice on Day 1, what would it be?
• Did I notice something about the world (or myself) that I hadn’t before?

Don’t censor yourself while answering — honesty leads to the most authentic essay material.

Step 3: Connect to the bigger picture

Now, ask: Why does this matter? What do I want colleges to see about me?

Tie the moment to a broader theme — curiosity, perseverance, empathy, ambition — and ideally to your future academic or career goals. Just don’t go too far; authenticity matters more than drama, and admission officers value self-awareness far more than overblown triumphs.

Seeking even more brainstorming advice? In this video, Denard, an Empowerly admissions expert, gives you a great primer on how to start your college essays off on the right foot (and tips for when you have a hard time getting started):

Spinning the golden thread: crafting the narrative

Once you’ve found your core message, it’s time to shape it into a powerful story. This is where the narrative magic happens. 

Your theme naturally may revolve around challenges and growth, explaining how a problem or failure during the program led you to new skills or perspective. If that theme doesn’t fit, you might emphasize a moment of discovery and curiosity — when a new moment sparks a new academic or career interest. Or your essay could center on connection and leadership, describing how meeting certain people shifted your view of teamwork and collaboration. It’s up to you.

For more in-depth essay-writing advice, you can check out our blog for further reading and a comprehensive guide to essay fundamentals: 

• How to Approach College Admissions Essays 
• How to Write a College Application Essay, the Pain-Free Way 
• Empowerly’s Guide to Essays 

Here are the basics of what you need to know.

Example in action

Even a generic first draft can be rewritten into a specific, compelling one using these techniques. 

• Before (generic): “This summer, I attended a STEM program. I learned teamwork, leadership, and communication skills, which will help me in college.” 
• After (specific): “On day three, our robotics prototype failed for the fourth time. I stopped talking, picked up a marker, and drew our mistakes on the whiteboard. For the first time, my team listened — and I realized leading isn’t about speaking louder; it’s about seeing clearly.”

Easy pitfalls: common mistakes you can avoid

Before you finalize your essay and hit submit, let’s talk about common mistakes students make — and how to avoid them.

Pitfall 1: Listing activities instead of telling a story 

Essays are not resumes — so focus on one narrative. Writing about too many moments tends to lead to a scattered essay, anyway.

Pitfall 2: Overemphasizing the program

The essay is your narrative, about your perspective. If more than half the sentences name the program or institution, it’s time to rebalance it to spotlight your reflections and reactions. 

Pitfall 3: Overdramatizing or being inauthentic

Admissions officers spot exaggeration easily. Using the essay only to impress instead of showcasing vulnerability and growth won’t work. Your authentic voice matters — and honesty is the best policy no matter what. 

Pitfall 4: Generic reflections 

Avoid cliche endings like “I learned teamwork and leadership.” After reading this article, I’m confident you can surely highlight a more nuanced theme.

Wondering if you’re ready to get started on the essay-writing process? Empowerly has prepared a short quiz to help students determine their essay readiness.

The finishing touch: a final polish

Want to make sure your essay really shines brightly? Give it the extra polish. A good essay can become a great one with careful editing — here’s how to get it there.

Key editing tips:

1. Read aloud: Catch flow issues and spot awkward phrasing that silent reading may miss.
2. Check voice and tone: You should sound genuine. Avoid sounding either overly formal or trying too hard to sound cool.
3. Create a revision timeline: Draft early. Give yourself at least a week before editing — you gain clarity with distance.
4. Seek feedback early: Teachers, counselors, or essay specialists like Empowerly can review your draft. Different perspectives reveal blind spots and enhance clarity.
5. Proofread for errors: Typos and grammar mistakes can distract from the message.

Once your essay is polished, it’s time to step back and look at the bigger picture.

Ready to make hay while the summer sun is a-shining?

Remember how you felt at the start, wondering if your summer story was even worth writing about? The truth is: it is worth it. Your story matters more than the title of your program. And those summer experiences — ordinary or extraordinary — can become essays that admissions officers remember. It’s not about how impressive the program title is; it’s about how authentically you reflect on what it meant to you.

Our best advice? 

Don’t wait for senior fall to scramble through essays. Deadlines approach fast. Waiting can leave you stuck without time for discovery or revision. Empowerly has helped countless students turn even modest summer experiences into standout essays that catch attention. Our expert team helps you uncover your story, frame it impactfully, and polish it until it shines. Book a free consultation today and take the first step towards an unforgettable college application.