Summer College Programs for High Schoolers

When it comes to preparing for college, the summer months offer an invaluable opportunity for high school students to explore academic interests, build skills, and gain experiences that will set them apart in the competitive college admissions process. Whether you’re certain about your intended major or still exploring options, summer college programs for high schoolers provide a structured environment to dive deep into subjects, experience campus life, and meet peers from around the world.

Why Consider Summer College Programs?

Summer programs are not just for students who have already decided on a college major. In fact, the most popular major among college freshmen is “Undecided.” It’s perfectly normal for high school students to be unsure about what they want to study in college. The key is to use the summer to explore different fields and discover what truly excites you. There are numerous programs available that cater to a wide range of interests, from STEM to the humanities, and even community service.

Summer Programs for “Undecided” College-bound Teens

If you’re unsure about your major or want to explore different fields, there are many summer programs that cover a broad range of topics through courses, cultural immersion, and community service. These programs allow you to try something new and get a sense of what you might like or dislike, helping you make a more informed decision about your future studies.

For example:

  • Wake Forest Summer Immersion Institute offers a variety of programs focused on specific majors, but also provides general programs in health & well-being, leadership, technology, and writing for life.
  • Putney Student Travel allows students to study abroad or participate in community service, with options for language learning and studying on a college campus.
  • Northwestern College Prep Program offers two-week courses with access to professors in both in-person (IN FOCUS) and virtual (E FOCUS) formats.
  • LEAD Global Summer Institute is a hybrid program that equips participants to “think differently” about learning, blending online and in-person experiences.

How to Find the Right Summer Programs for College-bound Teens in 4 Easy Steps

Finding the right summer program can take time, but it’s a crucial step in preparing for college. Here are four easy steps to guide you through the process:

1. Set a Goal

Start by setting 1-2 goals for the summer. This will help you be intentional in considering the best use of your talents and time. Examples of summer goals might include:

  • Meeting new friends from around the world
  • Reading books on topics that interest you
  • Taking a course not offered at your school
  • Learning more about a career you’re interested in
  • Gaining more community service hours
  • Experiencing life away from home through residential programs

By having clear goals, you’ll be better equipped to choose a program that aligns with your interests and future aspirations.

2. Use Criteria to Narrow Down Your Options

With so many options available, it’s important to use specific criteria to narrow down your choices. Consider the following:

  • Rising 10th Graders: Explore a new topic to broaden your horizons.
  • Rising 11th Graders: Delve deeper into a field of study or career interest.
  • Rising 12th Graders: Focus on programs that connect you with colleges, perhaps even incorporating a summer campus visit.

These criteria will help you find programs that are not only interesting but also strategically beneficial as you prepare for college.

3. Conduct a Targeted Search

The internet is a vast resource, but searching for summer programs can quickly become overwhelming. To make the process more manageable, conduct a narrow search with specific terms related to your interests. For instance, if you’re interested in engineering and math, try searching “engineering math summer high school programs.” This approach will yield more relevant results and help you find programs that match your goals.

It’s also worth noting that some summer programs are held on college campuses but may not be directly affiliated with the university or its admissions office. Be sure to check the details of the program to understand its relationship with the host institution.

4. Assess the Value of the Program

Before applying to any summer program, evaluate whether it’s worth your time and effort. Programs that don’t require any documents from students might not offer the same level of rigor or benefit as those that do. Look for programs that require transcripts, teacher recommendations, test scores, and essays. The application process itself can be a valuable experience, similar to what you’ll encounter when applying to college.

Additional Tips for Choosing the Right Summer Program

  • Explore New Interests: If you’re undecided about your major, consider a program that offers a variety of courses. This will give you a chance to explore different fields and discover what you enjoy most.
  • Consider Location and Duration: Some programs may be located on college campuses, while others might involve travel abroad. Think about how far you’re willing to travel and how long you want to be away from home.
  • Look for Balance: While it’s important to challenge yourself academically, don’t forget to consider programs that also offer opportunities for relaxation and fun. Summer should be a time to grow, but it should also be enjoyable.

Conclusion: Making the Most of Summer College Programs for High Schoolers

Summer programs are an excellent way for high school students to explore potential college majors, gain new experiences, and prepare for the challenges of higher education. Whether you’re certain about your future path or still exploring options, these programs provide a valuable opportunity to learn and grow.

By following these steps and considering your goals, you can find the right summer program that not only aligns with your interests but also enhances your college application. So, start your search early, set clear goals, and choose a program that will help you make the most of your summer.

 

4 Tips for Ninth Grade

Ninth Grade

Ninth grade is a very big deal! It’s a transitional year that can set the tone for the rest of high school and beyond.

While parents may be tempted to “back off” in terms of involvement, it’s really the time to step up your engagement. Granted, your engagement may not be as hands-on as helping in the classroom, your assistance with guiding your teen to make the most of high school is important.

4 Tips for Ninth Grade

Practice good organizational and study skills. These are foundational skills that your teen will continue to rely upon each and every year.

Although courses may be a bit more challenging in ninth grade, they will get even more challenging for 10th, 11th and 12th Grade. So ninth grade is a great time to start practicing those good organizational and study skills. If your teen’s skills are weak in these areas, then 9th grade is an ideal time to figure out what works. There are any number of books and/or digital tools/apps that your teen can use to develop these skills.

Get involved with only one or two activities at school. During 9th grade, there’ll be so many new things happening. . . new teachers. . . perhaps new friend groups, and more. It will be all too easy to participate in the same activities as friends. Rather than follow the crown, I would suggest that your teen figures out their own you and focus on participating in only one or two clubs (including sports). Getting involved in too many activities at once may add too much undue stress and slow down their adjustment to high school.

Map courses forward. Courses taken in 9th grade play a role in the course selection for the remainder of high school. So, rather than considering 9th grade only, you can determine the core courses for 10th 11th and 12th grade as well (includes foreign language). This can help your teen see where there may be gaps in their course schedule and plan ahead for creative ways to fill any gaps.

Be intentional about summer. Gone are the days of only “hanging out” in the summer. Having fun and going on family vacations are important. However, there are typically many more other weeks for participating in a summer program, interning, reading several books, even focusing on a creative project. Whatever it is your teen does during the summer, be intentional about it, i.e. have a reason for participating!

Check out my 9th-grade roadmap for more timely tips to navigate each month of this year! (Choose “9th Grade” with the blue button here on this page.)

College Tips for Freshmen in High School

9th graders preparing for college early

I have a critical question for high school freshmen: have you started preparing for college life yet?

For ninth graders, college can feel like a lifetime away—many freshmen will not only say they haven’t started early college prep, but they also thought it was too soon to do so!

But we all know life moves fast. Before we know it, high school freshmen become college freshmen.

When the time between ninth grade and college is utilized wisely, we see increased admission rates and a smoother transition to college life.

With that in mind, I’ve compiled five important tips for freshmen in high school to prepare for college.

I’ve previously shared tips for helping ninth graders get into the best college and what parents should know about getting their ninth grader ready for college.

With these tips, students will not only help themselves get admitted but also make sure they’re prepared for what life is like once they’re in college.

1. Learn a new language.

Ninth grade is an excellent time to start learning a new language.

That way, you’ll have four years of foreign language experience, which many Ivy League or Ivy-equivalent institutions expect.

Foreign language mastery is not only a way to help boost your chances of getting into the college of your choice, but for many schools, it’s a requirement.

Some other schools only expect two or three years of foreign language experience, but starting in grade nine is never a bad idea!

2. Get involved in your school community.

Involvement in your highschool community not only looks great on college applications, but it can also prepare students for college life and being involved in that community.

Find ways to immerse yourself in the school communities that interest you—there’s no need to do activities just because you think they’ll look good on your application.

Instead, you can find activities, groups, or clubs that excite you, and accomplish two goals at once—gaining experience and having fun!

3. Establish good relationships with adults.

Ninth graders should get to know their teachers, guidance counselors, and other adult leaders in their lives.

This is beneficial for two reasons.

  1. When ninth graders begin to establish these relationships early, they’ll feel more comfortable asking for recommendation letters later on in high school, and the recommendation will be well-informed.
  2. It helps students prepare for dealing with professors and other adults they’ll encounter during their college experience.

4. Read every day.

We all know that college will come with a lot of reading, as does high school.

To prevent a rude awakening when you start college, begin to read every day in ninth grade for at least half an hour if possible.

Not only will this help prepare you for all the reading you’ll do in college, but it will help you excel on the reading portions of exams.

5. Learn when to ask for help.

During the high school and college years, there are bound to be times when you could use some help with school and life.

Many students struggle not only with asking for help but knowing when to do so.

When they were younger, your child needed help with things like tying their shoes or getting dressed.

As they get older, they’ll need help with more complex issues or problems, including education guidance.

In some cases, a parent might not be the right place to get this help, which is why your child should learn to reach out for the appropriate support when they need it.

Encourage your ninth-grader to reach out for help, whether it’s with academics or other aspects of their lives.

Learning how and when to ask for help is an essential personal development skill that all students can benefit from. The sooner this skill starts to be developed, the better.

Of course, ninth graders are still kids, and their constant focus doesn’t need to be on preparing for college. But a little bit of work in ninth grade can ultimately make the rest of high school and the start of college go as well as possible!

Need a little more guidance?

For one-on-one support and other resources to help you or your child get into (or pay) for college, click here.

If you’d like to learn more about preparing for college and the college application process, you’ll want to check out these articles too:

7 Ways to Support Your Child During the College Application Process
Get In and Get Money: 5 Tips for College-Bound Juniors
The 5 Key Things Students Should Do The Summer Before Senior Year

PSAT Tips: Does the PSAT Matter?

psat

College-bound teens take the PSAT every year in mid-October. The PSAT is the test that high school juniors take to qualify for National Merit recognition, although more 9th and 10th graders are taking this test each year. In addition, the PSAT gives students practice and feedback for the SAT. After taking the PSAT, students will get a full report which details the questions they missed. This report can be a useful guide to prepare for the SAT.

Does the PSAT Matter?

Each fall, parents with 9th, 10th, and 11th graders ask me about the PSAT and whether their teen should study for the PSAT. As with most things in college readiness, it depends.

Let’s start with a general description of the PSAT to make sure we’re all on the same page. It’s considered a preliminary SAT exam and students often take it to get an unofficial look at the SAT. “Unofficial” means that this test is “off the record” for college admissions purposes. It’s rare that students would submit these scores for consideration in college admissions.

PSAT Tips for Different Grades

PSAT for 9th Graders
Most high schools do not offer the option for 9th graders to take the PSAT, although I have seen it offered at several independent schools. Typically, I do not recommend that students take the PSAT in 9th grade. It adds too much unnecessary pressure and anxiety. The 9th grade is such a transitional period that the year is better spent acclimating to the new school environment, making friends, and getting to know teachers.

PSAT for 10th Graders
Taking the PSAT in 10th grade can be a good idea if your high school offers that option. 10th graders who take the PSAT can get familiar with the format and determine their own level of comfort with the question types. The results would also closely project SAT scores. In addition to the PSAT in sophomore year of high school, I highly recommend that students also consider taking the pre-ACT. The pre-ACT is an unofficial preview of the ACT. Taking the pre-ACT would be an opportunity for sophomores to get familiar with the ACT format and determine their level of comfort with the question types.

The results of the PSAT and pre-ACT can then be compared, using an SAT-ACT comparison tool to determine if a student should take the SAT or ACT in junior year. It’s a waste of time and money to take both tests, so I highly recommend that students stick with one test . . . either the SAT or ACT! Sophomore year is an important year for students to discover their interests and further their academic preparation. Spending time to study for the PSAT or pre-ACT is not a good use of their time. Certainly, students may look at practice questions if they like, but I would not suggest prioritizing PSAT and/or pre-ACT test prep over homework assignments and reading for pleasure.

PSAT for 11th Graders
The majority of high schools in the US require that high school juniors take the PSAT. The PSAT is used in junior year as the qualifying exam for National Merit Scholarships. Even when students take the PSAT in junior year, they must still take the SAT or ACT to meet college admissions requirements.

I have recommended that my students study for the PSAT in only a few cases. When I recommended that my students study in junior year, they met these criteria:

  1. Had taken the PSAT in sophomore year
  2. Had scored in the 99%ile on the PSAT in sophomore year (Each state has its own National Merit Scholarship baseline so be sure to look it up for your state.)

Those students were in striking distance of qualifying for National Merit Scholarship, so it made sense for them to study for the PSAT in advance. Their study plan often included the completion of two or more practice tests before the test date and thorough reviews of reading, writing, and math.

Reasons to Study for PSAT

  • To get a higher score than last year
  • To have a chance at a National Merit recognition
  • To present stronger scores for a summer program application

Reasons to NOT Study for PSAT

  • Did not take the test last year
  • Scores from last year were below 750 for each section
  • Academic course load is demanding
  • ACT is the best test for the student

In most cases, students do not need to study for the PSAT. It’s an annual test that plays a marginal role in college admissions. If a student’s best test is the SAT, then they would be better off focusing their prep efforts on the SAT, instead. The best time to prep for the SAT is usually 8-10 weeks prior to the scheduled test date. If the PSAT date coincides with the SAT prep, then it’s a win-win.

Rule of Thumb: Test prep should never take precedence over maintaining a strong transcript whether a student is in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade.

Please let me know your thoughts and/or comments on this topic.