Purposeful Summers: What Really Matters | Episode 016
Guest: Bob Carlton
TIPS
TOP TIPS FROM THIS EPISODE
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Top Tip #6: There is only one “wrong” summer activity.
Doing something only because it looks good to a college—without genuine interest—misses the point and often backfires.Top Tip #5: Colleges look for a connected arc, not a checklist.
Summer activities matter most when they build on each other and help tell a coherent story about who a student is becoming.Top Tip #4: Initiative and growth matter more than prestige.
Colleges want to know what you did, whether you took initiative, how the experience changed you, and how you grew afterward.Top Tip #3: Summer activities fall into two important categories.
Some activities are purely fun—family time, travel, long-standing camps—and that’s important. Others are purposeful explorations, like jobs, informational interviews, internships, or learning something new.Top Tip #2: Cost does not equate to meaning.
Paying more for a summer experience does not make it more valuable to colleges—or more meaningful to a student.Top Tip #1: The best summer activity is one that is meaningful to you.
The goal of summer is not to impress colleges, but to explore interests, go deeper, and learn more about yourself.
EPISODE
Summary
What should students actually do with their summer activities—especially the summer before senior year?
In this episode of The College Talk Show, host Chris Bell talks with college counselor Bob Carlton about how to approach summer activities with purpose, curiosity, and authenticity. Rather than chasing prestige or trying to guess what colleges want, Bob encourages students to use summer as a time to explore interests, go deeper into what they care about, and learn through real-world experiences.
The conversation covers a wide range of summer possibilities—from jobs and camps to informational interviews, job shadowing, and short learning experiences—and emphasizes that meaningful growth often comes from simple, local, low-pressure opportunities. Together, Chris and Bob reframe summer not as a performance, but as a chance for genuine exploration that benefits students far beyond the college application process.
GUEST
About The Guest
Bob Carlton brings more than 30 years of higher education experience to his work with students and families. He specializes in helping students identify purposeful summer activities, explore career paths, and make thoughtful, grounded decisions throughout the college planning process.
Bob is especially known for his emphasis on authenticity, curiosity, and depth over prestige—encouraging students to use summer experiences as a way to better understand themselves rather than trying to optimize their résumés. His practical, warm approach helps families navigate college admissions with clarity and confidence.
Transcript
Episode: Purposeful Summers: What Really Matters
Guest: Bob Carlton
Host: Chris Bell
Opening Monologue
Chris Bell:
Summer activities can be exciting, educational, fun—and helpful for your college applications. But what should you actually do this summer?
High schoolers don’t usually have much experience with questions this open-ended. From a very young age, students are told what to do and when to do it. Even in school, most classes are assigned based on a track. There might be one or two electives, but for the most part it’s: first you do this, then you do this.
Summer is wide open.
That’s the joy of it.
You’re going to love my guest, Bob Carlton of College Matchpoint. He has a lot to say, and he’s just so much fun. I’m guessing he’ll emphasize something important: follow your interests. Do what you want.
That’s easier said than done, especially if you don’t yet know what your interests are.
If you do know your direction, then summer is a great time to build on what you’ve already done—to go deeper.
If you don’t know your direction yet, summer is a time to explore.
Exploring might lead you to something you want to pursue for the rest of your life.
Or it might help you learn one more thing you never want to do again.
Both are good outcomes.
Today, we’re diving into how to approach summer activities—and how something as simple as a conversation can be exactly the right step.
Announcer Intro
It’s The College Talk Show.
Today’s theme: Summer Activities
With special guest Bob Carlton
And now, here’s your host—Chris Bell.
Guest Introduction
Chris Bell:
As I said, I’m so happy to have our guest, Bob Carlton, here. Bob has worked in higher education for more than 30 years. He helps students find purposeful summer experiences, explore career paths, and navigate the college process with confidence.
Bob, I’m really glad you’re here. Thanks for joining me.
Bob Carlton:
Oh, you bet. Thanks, Chris.
What Are Purposeful Summer Activities?
Chris Bell:
When we talk about summer and making it useful for high school students, what are purposeful activities from a student perspective?
Bob Carlton:
Summer is such an interesting developmental time for young people. It’s one of the few times in life where your entire day isn’t scheduled—even compared to kindergarten.
You’re given this great canvas. And sometimes, that canvas can feel overwhelming.
Kids want to have fun. They want to hang out with friends. But they also say, “I want to do something this summer that I can walk away from and say, that was interesting.”
It doesn’t have to be huge. It can be a summer job, a project, or helping a parent with their business. It’s something where a student says, “During the school year, I’m too busy. In the summer, I can go deep.”
Not for a grade. Not for a project. Just because they care.
Following Interests (Not Impressing Colleges)
Chris Bell:
So it’s really about following an interest—not demonstrating something for colleges?
Bob Carlton:
Exactly. I always joke with students: there’s only one wrong activity to do in the summer—and that’s doing something because it looks good to a college.
The most important thing a student can do is be themselves. Explore. Try things. Mess up. Change their mind.
We encourage students to start where they are—not where they hope to go to college.
We worked with a student who said he wished he had more time during the school year to look at his fantasy football stats. In the summer before sophomore year, he started a small business helping other students draft their fantasy football teams.
He didn’t do it for college. He did it because he loved it.
When he returned to school, he was more interested in math, more engaged in business class, and more confident overall. By senior year, he was making more money tutoring fantasy football than he ever would have at a traditional summer job.
Informational Interviews
Chris Bell:
You’ve talked a lot about informational interviews as a way to explore careers. Can you explain that?
Bob Carlton:
It’s a terrible term—but a great idea.
Many students say they want to go to college to get a good job. One of the best ways to make careers real is to talk with an adult—someone who actually does the work.
Not a parent. Someone else.
Go grab a coffee or a taco. Ask:
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What did you major in?
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What do you do every day?
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Do you like your job?
And always end with: “If you were me, what would you do?”
Often, that leads to a job shadow. And sometimes the best outcome is realizing, “I never want to do this.” That can save a student from changing majors later.
Finding Opportunities
Chris Bell:
How do students actually set these up?
Bob Carlton:
Parents usually help with the first connection. After that, the student takes it all the way.
We also encourage students to ask, “Who else should I talk to?” Adults love helping curious students.
Other Summer Activity Categories
Chris Bell:
Are there other categories of summer activities you recommend?
Bob Carlton:
Nothing is better than spending time with family or traveling together. That matters.
Camps can also be great—especially when students take on leadership roles. Just be yourself there.
Other categories include:
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Informational interviews and job shadowing
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Summer jobs
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Short classes or pre-college programs taken to learn, not impress
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Research, for the small group of students who truly love it
And one important reminder: money and meaning are not aligned. Paying more doesn’t make an experience more valuable.
What Colleges Actually Notice
Bob Carlton:
When colleges ask about summer activities, they want to know:
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What did you do?
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Did you take initiative?
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Did it change you?
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Did it lead to more involvement?
They’re looking for an arc—a connected story. Not a random playlist.
One student put it perfectly: “They’re not admitting me by the poundage of my résumé.”
Sponsor Message
This episode is brought to you by Bell College Consulting.
Visit bellcollegeconsulting.com to learn more.
Top Tips: Purposeful Summer Activities
Chris Bell:
Before we wrap up, it’s time for a rundown of the key takeaways from today’s episode. I call it Top Tips.
Tip #6:
Approach summer with purpose—what’s true to you, not what you think colleges want.
Tip #5:
Colleges look for a connected arc. Each activity builds on the next.
Tip #4:
Colleges care about initiative, growth, and reflection.
Tip #3:
Two types of activities matter:
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Pure fun (family time, travel, long-standing camps)
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Purposeful exploration (jobs, interviews, internships, learning)
Tip #2:
Cost does not equal meaning.
Tip #1:
Do something meaningful to you.
Closing
Chris Bell:
Thank you again to Bob Carlton for his insight and generosity.
And remember: College is Awesome!