How to Glow Up This Summer- For Free

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Want to do something meaningful this summer but don’t have the time or money for an expensive camp? Don’t worry—there are so many free ways to boost your college resume. With a little creativity, you can use this time to grow, explore, and stand out—all without spending a dime.

Here are a few great options:

🎓 Take a Free Course

There are tons of free courses out there, even from places like MIT and Harvard. Whether you want to catch up, challenge yourself, or explore a major (like Intro to Psychology), self-paced courses let you learn something new and show colleges what you're into. Bonus: You'll have a great answer to "What did you do this summer?"

Try this: edX, Coursera, or Khan Academy

🙌 Volunteer

Nonprofits always need help. If you can find a place that connects to your future goals (like a science museum if you love STEM), awesome. But even if it’s not related—say you want to study finance but help out at an animal shelter—you’re still showing initiative. There are even virtual volunteer options outside of tutoring, like Be My Eyes, where you can help people with visual disabilities explore the world around them.

👩‍💼 Job Shadow

This one’s more about experience than your resume. Shadowing can help you figure out if you're really into a career. Reach out to a business, professor, or someone with your dream job. Most won’t answer, but one yes is all it takes. And honestly—it’s a much better way to spend your summer than destroying your sleep schedule.

🔧 Learn a New Skill

My husband jokes that he attends YouTube University, and honestly, he might be right. Want to learn guitar, crochet, coding, chess, or how to change a tire? You totally can. Maybe you'll use it to volunteer, or maybe it'll turn into a new passion. What will you try?

🚀 Start a Business

It doesn’t have to be big. Make a flyer on Canva for tutoring or dog walking. Sell handmade items on Etsy. I know students who started yard cleanup services or offered Spanish lessons to people new to Puerto Rico. Look around—what does your community need?

💼 Get a Job

Not all jobs are 9-5. Think creatively: babysit on weekends, walk dogs for busy neighbors, pet-sit while neighbors are on vacation, or offer delivery help for a small local business. A job builds skills and pays you.

📅 Use the Community Foundation Locator

Want to find scholarships or places to volunteer in your area? Use the Community Foundation Locator to discover organizations near you that often support youth programs and local initiatives. It's a great tool to uncover opportunities others might miss.

What are you doing this summer to become the best version of yourself?

If you want help exploring your best options, Future Bound is here. I work with students in Puerto Rico and the mainland U.S. Let’s chat!

📅 Schedule your free consultation: www.futureboundpr.com