Category: Outside Reading
Books on Race, Anti-Racism, and Social Justice
Conversations about anti-racism, social justice, and the experience of Black Americans are extremely important, and the push to continue to amplify Black voices and educate the masses about racism and systematic oppression has led teens and adults alike to search for resources to help them be better allies and overall more informed citizens.
How to Continue College Prep Over the Summer Break
Summer break is here for many students, but that doesn’t mean all learning has to stop! It’s important for college-bound students to spend their summers wisely, but they don’t have to participate in a fancy college summer program to do it.
Colleges want to know what students are doing in their spare time, and that includes the few months that students have off during the summer. A productive summer can help you better explore your interests and ultimately strengthen your applicant profile when it comes time to apply to college. Spending your summer wisely is an important college prep strategy and can go a long way toward helping you achieve your college admission goals.
Exploring Your Interests Through Reading and Research This Summer

Summer break is a great time for students to relax, but summer shouldn’t be spent just lounging around! Students should use this break in their academic schedule to pursue their interests and one way to do that is through reading and research.
A productive summer keeps students engaged, fights summer brain drain, and gives them the opportunity to pursue activities that relate to their interests in order to better prepare for the college admissions process senior year. We can’t stress enough the importance of outside reading, especially as part of a productive summer. Reading not only allows students to explore topics of interest, but it also helps expand their vocabulary and can help them become better writers.
Research is also a great way to learn more about your interests and finish the summer with a project or paper that is a finished product of all your hard work. Here’s how to use reading and research to advance your knowledge using your summer college prep.
5 Must-Read Books for Your Summer Reading List
Great Books for Students Looking to Expand Their Outside Reading Lists
Whether it’s bringing your books to the beach or curling up with your Kindle at home, every student should include independent reading on their agenda this summer. In addition to getting lost in a good story, reading can help students stay academically engaged and better prepared for coursework in the fall.
Outside Reading Tips for the Holidays
Top Choices for Independent Reading Over the Holidays
While it may be tempting to go totally on auto-pilot during the holidays, students should stay focused and mentally engaged in order to streamline the transition back to school. Independent reading is a simple and fun way to stay academically sharp over the break and to work on expanding your literary horizons.
7 Must-Read Books Students Should Pick Up This Summer
Revamp Your Summer Reading List with These University-Approved Picks
Whether you’re graduating or simply transitioning to the next grade or class year, it’s essential for students to stay academically sharp throughout the summer break. Reading is one of the most impactful ways to fight summer brain drain and it can also be one of the most fun, as long as you choose the right books!
6 College-Curated Books for Winter Break Outside Reading
Add These Suggestions to Your Outside Reading List
Winter break is approaching, and instead of spending the entire break binge watching your favorite shows, consider stepping away from the screen for a bit and picking up a few books. Not only will winter break outside reading help you stay sharp during your vacation, it can also help prepare you for college coursework, which is often literature-heavy.
Why Outside Reading is Important When Preparing for College
Catch Up On Outside Reading Over Winter Break
Relax With A Good Book Or Other Reading While You’re Out Of School For The Holidays
We can’t stress the importance of outside reading enough. Oftentimes it’s hard for students to find the time to read books or other materials for fun, but winter break is the perfect time to catch up on some outside reading you haven’t been able to do this semester.
8 Summer Reading Suggestions for High School Students
Recommended Reading for High School Students

One the most important college admissions prep goals for 2014 that students can easily achieve is to expand their outside readings. Not only does reading help foster creativity, it expands students’ vocabularies (which is important for the SAT and ACT!) and helps them learn more about topics that interest them.