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What Are You Doing Next Summer?From the MCG 2008 edition by Elisabeth DyerYou work hard during the school year to make your college applications as strong as possible. You study a lot, get good grades, and are involved in extracurricular and community activities. While you might think that summer is the time to take a break from worrying about improving your resume, there actually are things you can do to get an edge when applying to college-- and have fun at the same time! To maximize the potential of getting into your top college choices, you might want to consider attending a pre-college or specialized summer program after your sophomore or junior year (or both). Pre-College and Other Summer ProgramsThe idea of spending a summer taking classes might not be very appealing to you, particularly if you're already struggling to focus on school with the temptation of warm spring weather. But by enrolling in a summer pre-college program, you'll have the opportunity to obtain college credit and sort out what you want from a career, all while getting a taste of what college life will be like. Some programs even invite students to live on campus, where they enroll in college-level courses and eat in campus dining halls. Other specialized summer programs are for a much shorter period, but still offer a great experience.Not All Programs are the SameThere is a variety of summer programs intended to help high school students meet their summertime goals. Two options are college-offered courses or programs and institution-offered programs. Each of these programs offers a different experience, so it's important for students to do ample research into the particulars of a program if they are considering enrollment.Here's an overview of the basic differences. College-OfferedMany college-offered programs are designed specifically for high school students. While they sometimes are focused on a particular field of study, such as drama or the sciences, other college-offered programs are simply open-enrollment general education courses in which high school students are welcome to participate.Depending on the length of the program, you may earn college credit when you enroll in a college-offered course and, with some programs, you can try out dorm life. "It's like getting to experience college beforehand," says Kerry Rosen, Director of Admissions at Florida Atlantic University's (FAU) Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College. "It gives them the chance to test themselves in the waters of higher academia." Students earn three credits in the three-week summer program "Perspectives on the Environment" taught at the FAU Honors College by scientists from the Scripps Research Institute and university faculty. In addition to obtaining college credit, a pre-college program may help you narrow your field of study to those subjects that truly inspire you. For example, if you are interested in psychology, but aren't sure that you want to study it in college, then taking a summer course in introductory psychology can help you make up your mind. A summer program at Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York helped high school student Kaitlyn Raterman zero in on career opportunities. "It was three weeks of heaven," she said. "Being with people who share my passions helped me make my mind up as to what I want to do with my life." After taking a class on composing, Raterman, a pianist, now composes her own songs. Institution-OfferedColleges aren't the only places to search for pre-college programs. Nonprofits, leadership development organizations and even government agencies offer programs to help you experiment with career options. These programs differ from college-offered programs in that they are more often specific to a particular field (such as education, engineering or business), making them a better fit for the high school student who already has a definite career goal in mind. They also differ from college-offered programs in that they typically don't provide the attendee with the "college experience," (dining halls, dorm living, etc.) and often don't earn the student college credit.There are institutions that focus on just about every professional and artistic field under the sun. You may have to travel in order to attend these programs as many of them are overnight experiences that last from four to six weeks. Some of the programs are as short as one week, but still offer a fascinating experience. For example, take People to People's Student Leader Programs hosted at universities such as Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford. Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, People to People brings students together to learn about global issues and to develop into tomorrow's leaders. Top students from over 90 countries convene at our nation's best universities to experience college life and hear from decision-makers about the college admissions process. According to Kathy Mellstrom, Program Manager of Student Leader Programs, "American students have an international experience without leaving the country." Each program --law, medicine, leadership, business, international diplomacy, and theater and the arts -- focuses on building leadership and team skills, while offering an intensive experience in the selected field. Incorporated into each program is a service project, such as organizing a blood drive or helping at a food bank. Students learn to give back when they return to their communities. At Presidential Classroom students immerse themselves in weeklong programs in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit civic education organization offers high-level academic programs to engage students in the issues of the day. "Our future leaders need to understand the problems facing the world in the next 20 to 30 years, whether it's climate change or terrorism," says Presidential Classroom's Executive Director Elizabeth Sherman. "In a nutshell, the goal of Presidential Classroom is to encourage our young people to step up and be a part of the solution." New for summer 2008 are programs on campaigns and elections, art and architecture, and global health and environment. Sherman says the programs' degree-holding instructors --75 percent work in the federal government -- are the reason for their success. The proof is in the community service projects that students devise while at Presidential Classroom and then enact when they return to their communities. Besides coming away with new skills and knowledge of career opportunities, participants develop friendships with fellow students, many of whom come from other countries. Students bond over dinners and tours of monuments and museums. Students at National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) can choose from a variety of programs held in Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco. In the Forensic Science program, NSLC students are plunged into a crime scene where they learn to analyze evidence with help from top investigators. Students in the Study Abroad program travel to Geneva, where they meet with staff in the United Nations office, one of the busiest intergovernmental conference centers in the world. Aspiring doctors attending the Medicine and Health Care program -- NSLC's most popular -- learn to identify segments of the brain and how to suture by practicing on pigs' feet. "All our programs have this hands-on component," says Program Director David Lowitz. "It gives (students) an idea of what the career is all about. It's the experience of "what I'd do on a daily basis." NSLC students learn from top analysts at agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Agency, and from major media, such as editors and reporters at the Washington Post and National Public Radio. Ambassadors from different countries also impart their viewpoints to NSLC students. "They hear different perspectives," Lowitz says. "It expands the way they look at the world." NSLC offers programs in national security, arts, business, engineering, law and journalism, among others. Each program teaches teamwork and leadership skills. "Leadership development is the core that underlines all our programs and all the activities that our students do," Lowitz says. "The reality is that you can only teach so much about a particular career in 10 days, but you can introduce them to some ideas and perspectives that they wouldn't normally get in their own schools. Not only are they getting an opportunity to meet with international leaders in the field they're interested in, but they go behind the scenes in places like the CIA, and the State Department." A film and TV program at National Honors Convocation (NHC) draws students to Los Angeles where they learn from directors, producers and actors. "They actually get to shoot a short film," says Jennifer Daskevich, Executive Director. "We've partnered with professionals who are passionate about their careers, from doctors to lawyers and motivational speakers." Participants say they most value the opportunity to try out college-level curriculum at NHC's 10-day programs on business, leadership, law, medicine and film, held at either Loyola Marymount or Georgetown University. Participants go behind the scenes in courthouses, talk to judges and attorneys and present mock trials. They visit hospitals and accompany medical students on clinical rounds, hear from emergency room doctors and discuss ethical issues, such as stem cell research. Or they visit businesses and learn to market a product and make business plans and decisions. Daskevich points out that how students spend their summers is becoming increasingly important on college applications, largely because admissions officials like to see a dedication to learning. The key to getting into these often-selective programs is applying early. You'll need good grades and, for some programs, a recommendation letter from your school. Some offer scholarships, so be sure to ask. Finding a Summer ProgramIf you would like to participate in a pre-college summer program, the best place to begin your search is with your guidance counselor. Most guidance counselors receive regular announcements from summer programs and internship hosts that they then retain as resources for interested students. You can also contact some local colleges to ask about the programs they offer or, if you're willing to travel a bit, do some research online to search by focus instead of region.Finally, word-of-mouth is perhaps the best tool for finding a program that will fit your needs. Ask friends and family if they know of any precollege programs that might appeal to you. Most of all, remember that your summer experiences should be designed to help expose you to a career or field that you could be engaged in for years to come. Take time to have fun amidst all that learning! After all, if you aren't having fun, then it might be a sign that a particular career is simply not right for you. Elisabeth Dyer is a freelance writer in Tampa, Florida. |