College-bound students should use summer wisely.

While summer is a "no-brainer" for many high school students, the break is a good time to groom your mind for college, indicates Doug Christiansen, director of admissions, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. "Summer is the best time to find ways to set yourself apart from other college applicants. The opportunities are endless. Students can pick up new skills, improve existing talents, explore possible career paths, or work on deficiencies.

"Admissions counselors sometimes have to choose between one student or another for selective programs. The student who spent his or her vacation time taking a challenging class or exploring new job options has a better chance of getting the `congratulations' letter than the one whose brain was turned off for three months."

Christiansen suggests some ways students can use the summer wisely:

* Take a class that is not a part of the high-school curriculum. "Find out if you like marine biology, broadcasting, or anthropology. Exploring now will make picking a major in college a lot easier. Finding out that you don't like a field is just a valuable as finding out that you do.

"Students do need to remember that the college credit they earn will be a part of their permanent academic record. Those summer grads can be a help or a hindrance when you apply to schools. Make sure you're prepared to do the work if you sign up for credit."

* Attend some summer camps or workshops to investigate career paths or try out college life. "There are outdoor music programs, theater stock companies, summer leadership schools, space camps, plus a host of others all across the country. Take the opportunity to have fun while you're learning. All of these programs are designed to...