A summer job can be one of the most valuable experiences a teenager has in high school. It offers a real-world setting to practice responsibility, solve problems, and work with people of all ages. Teenagers who show up with curiosity and purpose often build skills that shape their confidence, character, and future plans. The right mindset can turn even a simple job into a powerful story of growth.

The University of Miami asks this year's applicants: “Reflect on a community that has influenced you… What significance did that community hold for you, and in what ways did you contribute to it? How will you bring those experiences, values, and insights to enrich our campus community at the University of Miami?”  AI might answer this prompt with polished generalities about teamwork, culture, or perspective. But real admissions readers are looking for depth, clarity, and humanity.

Purdue asks this year's applicants: “How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom?” This is one of those prompts where it’s easy to play it safe. List a few programs, name a major, mention a club or two, and call it done. But that’s exactly the kind of answer a chatbot could write in under a minute. Purdue is looking for students who have done the research, connected the dots, and can clearly picture themselves in the community.  The key to standing out? Go beyond the brochure.

The University of Georgia asks this year's applicants: “Please share a book (novel, non-fiction, etc.) that had a serious impact on you during the transition from middle to high school. Please focus more on why this book made an impact on you and less on the plot/theme of the book itself.” You’ve got 350 words. Not to summarize the book. Not to show off your vocabulary. But to reflect—honestly and personally—on how one book helped shape who you were becoming.  This is not a trick question. It’s an invitation to share a turning point.

Georgia Tech asks a short but revealing question for this year's applicants: Why do you want to study your chosen major, and why do you want to study that major at Georgia Tech? You have 300 words to answer, and that tight space creates a big opening. Let’s name the elephant in the room. AI tools like ChatGPT can generate answers that sound smooth. But smooth is not the goal. Real is the goal. Georgia Tech is looking for thinkers, builders, and collaborators. They want to see what drives you, not just what you think they want to hear.