In Part I of our strategy building series, we examined how you can use the summer months to further develop your strong points. However, while the summer is a perfect opportunity to focus on the positive, it's also a time to begin developing areas that aren't quite so strong. When applying for scholarships, it's important to come across as well-rounded. Although your application spotlight should be shining on your strongest areas, you will also want to include activities, achievements, and other credentials that demonstrate a wide range of exploration.

To implement this strategy, try to participate in activities that fill in any glaring gaps in your record, and that help you become more well-rounded. For example, in my high school record, a high percentage of my most compelling achievements had clearly involved fields related to the arts and humanities. To emphasize that I wasn't just a one-dimensional student, I joined my high school's science club and competed on the Science Olympics and math teams. This participation demonstrated my quantitative skills--a range of abilities that I didn't often have the opportunity to exhibit in other extracurriculars. Not only did this benefit my scholarship applications (and college applications, too), but it also improved my math and science skills on the side. What are some great summer activities to shore up common weak spots?

• Serve your community. Many students have told me that they just don't have enough time to do community service work. Well, why not devote some extra summer hours to a worthy cause? Pick a cause you're interested in, and join an existing program or create your own. If you're someone who can't get enough of the summer sun, find a community service endeavor that gets you outdoors.
• Take a summer course. School in the summer may sound like a major drag, but taking one course at a local community college isn't a big deal. Pick a subject that you've struggled with in school, and use the summer course as an opportunity to demonstrate your competence.
• Explore old subjects in new settings. Sometimes subject areas that seem dull or difficult in the school environment aren't so bad once you get out of the classroom. Look to participate in programs, camps, clubs, activities, workshops, and conferences that enhance your exploration of subjects you've shied away from in the past. In general, look for activities in which you get to explore something you're curious about, try something you're unfamiliar with, and meet new and interesting people.

All of these experiences can also provide you with great raw material for those upcoming scholarship essays. These strategies I've briefly outlined, of course, are not only useful during the summer months, but also during the regular school year. However, if you utilize just a small portion of those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer to pursuing these worthwhile goals, you'll be way ahead when the back-to-school regimen starts up once again.