The Smart Student’s Guide to Summer School: How to Choose, Apply, and Get Ahead

Summer school can strengthen your grades, boost your profile, and clarify your path. Learn how to apply strategically, avoid common mistakes, and get expert support from Myls Interview to plan a summer that sets you up for academic and university success.

Summer School Application
Photo by Victoria Heath / Unsplash

At Myls Interview, we support more than just interview prep—we help students think long-term. Myls mentors guide you in building academic pathways that link your high school experiences to future university success. And for many students, summer is one of the most underutilized but powerful parts of that journey.

Instead of letting the summer pass by, we help you design a season of growth, reflection, and strategic development—so when application season rolls around, you have the skills, stories, and direction to stand out.

Discover Meaningful Summer Opportunities

Not sure what to do this summer? You’re not alone. Many high-achieving students feel pressure to “do something impressive” but don’t know where to begin. Our mentors help you explore programs, courses, and opportunities that align with your academic strengths, career goals, and personal interests.

Whether you're interested in research, entrepreneurship, technology, health sciences, or creative work, we help you map your summer to something that genuinely fits—something that challenges and excites you, rather than just filling time.

We also help students identify lesser-known or alternative summer experiences, such as:

  • Designing your own community-based initiative
  • Collaborating on an independent research project
  • Participating in virtual internships or competitions
  • Building a creative or tech portfolio (e.g., app development, photography, writing)

The goal? To help you take ownership of your summer and ensure your experience reflects who you are—not just what others expect.

Strengthen Competitive Applications

Planning to apply to SHAD, the University of Toronto Youth Summer Program (YSP), STEM camps, or international enrichment programs? These programs have limited spots and attract students from across Canada and beyond.

To stand out, you need more than credentials—you need clarity and voice.

At Myls Interview, we’ll:

  • Review your application essays and help you shape a compelling personal narrative
  • Offer writing support to ensure structure, tone, and reflection are aligned with what reviewers look for
  • Prep you for interviews with mock questions, video simulations, and personalized coaching

We teach you how to turn “I participated in a robotics camp” into “This experience deepened my problem-solving skills and showed me how engineering can improve everyday life.”

Admissions reviewers remember reflection—not just activity lists.

Connect Summer Learning to Your Bigger Goals

We don’t just help you “find something to do”—we help you understand why that experience matters and how it connects to your academic identity. Whether it’s a community service project, an online calculus course, or a passion for climate science, we help you turn that experience into a meaningful piece of your story.

With our mentorship, you’ll learn how to:

  • Reflect deeply on what challenged or inspired you
  • Articulate how that experience influenced your university or career goals
  • Use that reflection in your personal statements, interviews, and course planning

For example, a student who volunteered at a summer day camp may realize they’re passionate about education or child development. Another who built a business website for a family friend might discover a love for UX design or marketing. These are the moments that shape your application—and your future.

Use Smart Tools to Guide Your Decisions

At Myls Interview, we know summer is also a time to make smart academic decisions. Should you upgrade a course? Take an early credit? Focus on enrichment?

To answer these questions, we offer:

  • Personalized learning assessments to help you identify subjects where you can grow
  • Course planning advice to ensure your summer supports your academic transcript and long-term program prerequisites
  • Mentor check-ins to help you adjust your plans if your goals shift

We help you avoid the trap of overloading your summer or repeating content you already know. Instead, you’ll use your time intentionally to stretch your thinking and gain an academic edge.

Turn Summer Into Resume and Interview Strength

Too often, students do amazing things in the summer—but don’t know how to talk about them.

Myls Interview show you how to:

  • Translate summer experiences into strong resume entries with action verbs, results, and context
  • Prepare interview stories that highlight leadership, growth, and impact
  • Use frameworks like STAR or SPIES to organize and communicate your experiences effectively

For example, instead of writing “Volunteered at local food bank,” we help you develop:
“Led a volunteer shift for a community food drive, coordinating a team of six and helping distribute 1,200+ meals to underserved families.”

That’s the difference between listing your experience—and owning it.

Stay Supported—Before, During, and After Summer

Myls support doesn’t end when your summer program begins. Myls Interview continues to provide guidance throughout your summer and beyond.

We help with:

Many students return in the fall not knowing how to turn their summer work into value for their applications. Our mentors help bridge that gap—so the effort you’ve invested continues to pay off.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Fill Your Summer — Shape It

Summer isn’t just a break from school. It’s a rare chance to grow on your own terms—to explore, create, lead, and reflect.

But the most meaningful summers aren’t created by accident. They’re the result of thoughtful planning, self-awareness, and the right kind of support.

With Myls Interview, you’ll get:

  • Personalized mentorship to help you plan your path
  • Academic and application tools to turn effort into strategy
  • Ongoing feedback to help your experience shine in resumes, interviews, and essays

Need help planning your summer or applying to a competitive program? Sign up for free and connect with a Myls Interview mentor today—and start building a summer that works for you and your future.