Fifty-Five Minutes Ten to pick out and put on clothes; ten to brush my teeth, wash my face, and put on lotion; ten to apply makeup; fifteen to style my hair, enough to cover the heads of three average Americans; and ten to pack my lunch, grab a breakfast bar, and yell, "love you," to my parents across the house. (If I fell asleep before I showered the night before, add twenty.)

Colleges want to see you actively pursuing your interests. Whether it be precollege summer camps (which are actually a lot of fun) or an internship, I...