I used to think summer was for checking out, ignoring the planner, and just floating through July like a pool noodle. And for a few summers growing up, I did exactly that. But what I didn’t realize until later was that summer can be the most powerful stretch of the year.

An article in The Atlantic recently caught my attention: The Elite College Students who Can’t Read Books…

You often hear, “make the most of summer” — but what does that mean, and how do you begin?

For any high schooler with dreams of attending an Ivy League or top-ranked school, my advice is simple: Get out of your comfort zone. Start that club, join that team, and take on those leadership positions.