1. GO AU NATUREL: Looking to trade the city sights for some greenery? How does harvesting grapes on a French vineyard sound? Or shearing sheep in Australia? Sign up with WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) and you can get your hands dirty doing agricultural work—and do a bit of jet setting besides.

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2. ALTERNATIVE GRAND CANYON BREAK: We've already extolled the virtues of alternative spring break. The good news: alternative vacay also extends to summer, with orgs like Break Away hosting trips that mingle giving back and getting away—and train future student leaders amongst destination vistas, like the Grand Canyon.

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3. VOLUNTEER ABROAD: If you don’t have a big stack of cash to splash on an international getaway, you can still get your vacation kicks while volunteering abroad. ISV is one of the best bets, as the top-rated program that lets students work on efforts ranging from conservation to children’s education, from New Zealand to Thailand.

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4. GO BACKPACKING: It's a collegiate rite of passage for a reason: Before your summer vacation is reduced from months to a matter of weeks, it's time to go on an epic backpacking tour of Europe Asia the globe. You can always go solo, though orgs like EF College Break create student-friendly backpacking trips that'll let you hitch a ride with a group of fellow adventurers.

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5. INTERNSHIPS (THAT PAY): Paying internships aren't just good for earning some cash—past studies have also shown that enrolling in one will up your odds of scoring a good gig once you graduate. If you're staying in the city for the summer, use resources like Looksharp to browse the options in your area. There's no better way to figure out what you want to be when you grow up than actually giving it a spin.

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6. LOCK YOUR PROFESSIONAL GAME UP TIGHT: No matter how you spend your summer, it never hurts to devote some time to cultivating your professional know-how. Organize informational interviews over lunch to pick the brains of potential mentors, give your resume a savvy redesign, or take the time to start your own blog or portfolio. You might just get hired based on a cool art project that shows your creative side. One of the best things to do on summer break, "professional" definitely doesn't have to mean "boring."

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7. EDUCATION, WEB 2.0 STYLE: Are you the kind of person who, well...actually misses school during the summer? No shame in that; learning new stuff can be awesome. (Just check out these quirky classes for evidence.) Once you've sampled the offerings in your city, you can also register for free, online lectures from resources like Coursera and edX. A Harvard seminar on the science of cooking, anyone?

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8. ALL THE FUN STUFF: Summer may be the perfect time to invest back in the community—and in yourself—but be sure to include some relaxation on your list of things to do on summer break. Take advantage of the warm weather and go for a weekend road trip. Summer means festival season—so you'll be going to see some of your favorite musicians live, yes? And, no matter your budget, you can always opt for an excellent staycation and plan the perfect urban picnic. Everyone, now: Schoooooool's out. For. Summer.

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