education

May 1, 2026

I’ve coached students who got into Harvard, Stanford and Princeton—4 things their parents never do in the summer

Theo Wolf has coached hundreds of students who've been accepted to Ivies like Harvard. This is what their parents never do when planning summers for their kids.

I’ve coached students who got into Harvard, Stanford and Princeton—4 things their parents never do in the summer

TL;DR

  • Start summer planning early, ideally right after the previous summer ends, to meet competitive program deadlines.
  • Have multiple summer options as admission to popular programs is not guaranteed.
  • Look beyond organized activities and pursue opportunities through networking and self-directed projects.
  • Avoid over-scheduling to allow for unstructured time, which fosters independence and personal growth.
  • Colleges value experiences that demonstrate initiative and genuine personal development.

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