Summer time is coming, and college students have a good three months of freedom. The question is what should they do?

Summer is always the best season for students. Since elementary school, summer has been the time for freedom. Students can hang out with friends and family, go swimming, watch television, and avoid work.

However, at some point, summers will have to be more than three months of nothing. As cliché as it sounds, people can only be young once. Eventually, many students will have to work during their summers. Yet students should try and make their summers worthwhile, even if summer is filled with work.

During the summer, college students can occupy themselves in many ways. Many students find a summer job, while others take the time to travel. Traveling sounds wonderful to most everybody, but working can be equally rewarding. Those financially in need usually earn every penny they can during the summer, but everyone can benefit from job experience.

Many students have to work during the summer to support themselves throughout the college school year. Of these students, some already have a summer job that they work every summer. The majority of students, however, are still looking for a summer job to supplement their bank accounts. If you decide you want to work during the summer, start searching early, and look for fun, interesting jobs.

Avoid working at retail stores if possible. While each possible job is going to have fun perks, some have qualities that will broaden your horizons. One of the best and most popular choices is to work as a summer camp counselor. There are usually positions available, since the job is only open during the summer, and every day will be exciting. Hours are spent outdoors teaching the campers, and counselors get to bond with each other while overseeing the kids. Check out Camp Channel for possible job openings.

I once had the option of working at a video game store, or at a pumpkin and Christmas tree farm. Like many teenage boys, I loved video games, and thought the first job would be a perfect fit. However the more I thought about the job, the more I realized that my time would be better spent at the pumpkin farm.

Even though I liked video games, all I would be doing would be scanning the barcodes on the games and putting money in the cash register. Working at the farm allowed me to exercise while I worked and meet new people. Of course there is nothing wrong with working at a video game or clothing store but if one is given the choice between working at a camp or farm, they should weigh the benefits before choosing the retail store simply because they would get a discount when buying clothes.

If you are a grad student (even undergrads will benefit), you might want to spend your time searching for a job suitable to your field of expertise. Experience is almost more important than a degree, so make sure you have a few internships under your belt before graduating and searching for a full time job. You may have to sacrifice earning as much money, if you make money at all, but the benefits of learning about your future occupation and having the experience for your resume outweigh the lost cash.

Internships.com is a great resource for finding internships that fit your field of study. While you must pay to use the website, many universities have programs with these websites that let their students use it for free. Check at your university’s career services for more information.

Whether or not you need the money, working during the summer can still be a great experience. Make sure to start looking early, and try to find a job that will teach you and keep you interested throughout your well-deserved three-month break.