UNIQUE ENRICHMENT FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS: IN-PERSON EDITION
When our oldest daughter started to express an interest in film-making, right around sophomore year, I knew right away that I wanted to send her to a sleepaway summer program where she could meet like-minded students, spend hours and hours with them, and make real projects together. I was especially excited because she would get to have an experience at the incredible Idyllwild Arts Academy, where three decades before, I had attended as a summer dance intensive student.
I always encourage parents to start seeking out opportunities like this for their kids as early as the summer after eighth grade (which counts as part of your freshman year). And I recommend programs that specialize in the area(s) in which your child expresses the most curiosity, interest, and passion.
The advantages are many!
1) HANDS-ON, INTENSIVE STUDY
Summer “Intensives” are indeed that. Students will study their discipline or hone their craft eight hours a day, and possibly into the evenings because they will be with peers and mentors who will want to geek out and deep dive together. Students will be doing collaborative projects with new acquaintances, under the guidance of passionate, experienced professors.
2) FINDING YOUR PEOPLE
Because they’ll spend so much time with others in their field, students will get to figure out pretty quickly if these are “their people.” That is a big part of deciding what field you want to study for four years—or beyond—in college. And it’s a big part of discovering the parts of oneself that are suited to a field. Who we work and create with is as important as what we create.
3) BUILDING INDEPENDENCE
Living away from home for one to six weeks, depending on the program, is an incredible time of stretching their wings and growing up. The first time you live away from home shouldn’t be when you’re starting college. Summer programs give you a little taste of what it’s like to be fully responsible for yourself—while also having the structure and support of a school program. It also gives parents a taste of what it’s like to let go, which we need practice doing too!
4) LIGHTING UP THE BRAIN!
Research has proven that new experiences wake up the brain and help it to form connections and memories in novel ways. Summer study away from home has all the elements of stimulating the mind, body, and spirit—and students always come away with unforgettable stories.
If a student comes back deciding that medicine or dance or economics is not for them, that is a successful result of a summer program too! Better to find out before college, so that you can choose something else that you really want to study.
Most universities and speciality schools offer pre-college summer programs for high schoolers. Each has it’s own flavor and approach. Here are a few examples:
Idyllwild Arts Summer Programs: Discover the magic of an Idyllwild Arts summer, where students of all ages and abilities explore their bottomless creativity and build lifelong friendships with other passionate artists in a welcoming summer camp environment. Our engaging summer camp art workshops and masterclasses are taught by renowned teaching artists, helping students simultaneously build skill and confidence.
UCLA Summer Sessions: Ranked #1 public university in the U.S. by US News and World Report, UCLA is home to students, faculty, and alumni who are shaping our world for the better, including Nobel laureates, MacArthur fellows, and Olympic medalists. The relentless UCLA appetite for success has become a tradition and legacy. Challenge yourself with UCLA education that is designed to inspire thinking in new ways. No matter what you choose, you’ll develop critical thinking, writing, communication and problem-solving skills that will benefit you as you find your academic path.
The California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science [COSMOS] is a four-week residential summer program open to current 8th-12th motivated high school students with demonstrated interest and achievement in math and science. Located on four University of California campuses (Davis, Irvine, San Diego and Santa Cruz), each campus offers different cluster topics and residential experiences. High achieving students from California are invited to apply to this unique summer opportunity.
Boston University Summer Term: BU’s long-running Summer Term pre-college offerings include a choice of one-, two-, three-, and six-week programs that prepare you for success in college. With five exciting and challenging pre-college summer programs to choose from, you can earn college credit, discover a new subject area, perform cutting-edge research in University labs, or immerse yourself in hands-on learning. Summer is a great time to push yourself academically while adapting to college life, making new friends, and engaging in fun, social activities around Boston and on campus. We invite you to join other motivated teens from 50 states and 87 countries in our summer programs for high school students—and take the leap into college life and academics.
Broadreach: Broadreach summer programs are unforgettable, action-packed adventures for teens. We specialize in teen dive, sail, and marine biology liveaboard voyages, and also offer land-based adventures with a focus on scuba diving, wildlife conservation, and veterinary medicine. While many of our trips begin from our Caribbean base in St. Martin, we offer a variety of programs in some of the world’s most spectacular locations.
Ask Alice about getting help finding unique summer experiences for your student!