My College Guide has talked about pre-college summer programs more than just a little bit – but this time we caught up with three institution-offered summer pre-college program representatives! Please welcome Jeff Harris, Executive Director of Junior Statesmen Foundation; David Lowitz, Director of Marketing at National Student Leadership Conference; and Bob Musiker, Executive Director of Summer Discovery, who took time out of a very busy season to answer our pre-college program questions!

jek in the box {is traveling} / jessica wilson

Why a pre-college program?  Why not just hang out at the beach or the mall all summer?  Why spend part of your summer learning?
Jeff Harris: Programs like JSA Summer School give serious students the best of both worlds – an academic experience that keeps their mind active during the summer and a social experience where they have fun, meet new friends and create good memories that last a lifetime.

David Lowitz: A pre-college summer program like the National Student Leadership Conference is a great opportunity for students to take advantage of non-traditional learning opportunities that wouldn’t normally be available to them during the regular school year. At the NSLC, students can meet and interact with their peers from all over the world, build essential leadership skills, and experience living on a college campus.

Bob Musiker: Pre-college programs such as Summer Discovery tremendously help students make a positive transition from high school to college living. Students learn to succeed at college level work, manage their time without their parents around, live cooperatively with roommates, meet peers from all over the USA and the world, and learn more about the college admissions process. And like real college, it’s not all work. There’s lots of sports, recreation, cultural and fun evening activities and weekend road trips included in the program. We also get to hang on the beach in just about every program!

mollypop

Do you believe that any high school student can benefit from this program?  Why?
Jeff Harris: A chance to take a college-level course on a university campus is invaluable for any high school student.  Students leave our program with new study skills, enhanced time management strategies and a new sense of personal responsibility.  Not only does this give them a leg up on other students during their freshman year in college, it helps them excel academically in their remaining high school years.

David Lowitz: Absolutely! One of the great things about the National Student Leadership Conference is that we offer programs in over 14 different academic and career areas. No matter what profession they are interested in, students can find a program to fit their interests. We even offer an intensive leadership development program for students who just want to focus on their leadership skills.

Bob Musiker: Summer Discovery teaches valuable skills in academics and skill building, socialization, time management, tolerance and diversity. This summer students are attending our programs from 41 states and 39 countries. You can also explore fields you may be interested in pursuing in college and enroll in courses you are genuinely interested in.

What makes a pre-college program different from the traditional high school setting?
Jeff Harris: The learning atmosphere and environment are completely different from a traditional high school setting. When every student in a class is motivated and engaged by the subject matter, the energy created in the classroom follows the students and professors back to the dorms and dining hall. Students who immerse themselves in the subject matter with new friends wind up exploring topics much more deeply and in interesting and often unexpected ways.

David Lowitz: Many pre-college programs offer students experiences that wouldn’t normally be available in a traditional high school curriculum. At the National Student Leadership Conference, students gain a real feel for a day-in-the-life of their chosen profession. For example, students in our Medicine & Health Care program have lectures from surgeons, learn surgical knot-tying, practice suturing and taking patient histories, and work with current medical students. They even get a chance to go behind-the-scenes at hospitals, medical schools and research centers to gain a better understanding of the practice of medicine.

jek in the box {is traveling} / jessica wilson

Bob Musiker: First, students can take courses for college credit, many that are not found in typical high school curricula: Robotics, Psychology, Sociology, Law, Medical Careers, Leadership, Foreign Languages such as Chinese or Italian, Television Production, Fashion Design, Art History, and valuable Internships. Students also have access to the University computer system and libraries, world-class athletic and recreational facilities and live on-campus in an official university residence hall.

Do you have any advice for a student thinking about participating in a pre-college program like yours?
Jeff Harris: Make sure to walk in with an open mind. A lot of your assumptions will be challenged and you’ll learn that stereotypes don’t hold true.  The students who get the most out of the program are ones who treat every new challenge at the program as a learning opportunity.  From absorbing and analyzing classroom lessons to understanding students from different backgrounds to figuring out how to do your own laundry, every aspect of the program can be enriching if the student is open to learning new things.

David Lowitz: Do your homework. Talk to former participants in the program. Ask to see a full sample schedule so you know what kinds of activities you will be participating in. Think about what type of program and setting you will excel in. Some programs focus on large group lectures and with several hundred participants. Other programs may be smaller and spend more time in small-group workshops. Some programs may be more academic while others may be more experiential. Finding the program that most appeals your interests is incredibly important.

abbey*christine / Abbey Hambright

Bob Musiker: If you want to feel comfortable about going to and applying for college, a residential pre-college program like Summer Discovery is right for you. You can explore over 300 courses in topics that genuinely interest you, meet with college admissions officers and visit many colleges large and small.

Any parting thoughts?
Jeff Harris: Our students have broad interests – music, science, drama, foreign languages – but are unified in understanding the importance of civic engagement and their desire to gain the skills and knowledge needed to get involved and make a difference in their community, the nation and the world.

Bob Musiker: Learning can be genuinely fun, let Summer Discovery show you how!