Sweet, sweet summertime!
Beyond the Beach: How to Have a Productive AND Fun Summer!
Maybe it’s the never-ending rain or the never-ending Mariah Carey Merry Christmas album blasting on Spotify, but I suddenly long for warmer weather and sunnier days! Believe it or not, December, January and February are the perfect months to begin planning. Summer is a great time for students to relax, develop new skills, and explore their interests. The goal is for students to grow personally and academically through hands-on experiences, delve deeper into areas of interest, or simply try something new.
Keep reading for some tried and true ideas to help your teen make the most of their summer break!
Academic Coursework:
When a college engages in a holistic review that means they are looking at quantitative factors (GPA, test scores, number of rigorous classes, academic trends over time) AND qualitative factors (extracurricular pursuits, essays, letters of recommendation, interviews, evidence of curiosity, etc.). Summer is a great time for students to tackle a class, explore a subject not traditionally offered at their high school, and/or boost their GPA. A few providers that offer rigorous coursework outside of the traditional high school classroom include:
*California Community College Courses
Programs/Camps:
Programs and camps are typically pursued for enrichment. Students can add the program/camp to their resume and college applications, and programs can help clarify potential majors/lend hands-on experience. The goal is for students to leave the program or camp with a wider worldview and a collection of meaningful new experiences. Some ideas include:
* Enroll in a 1-4 week summer pre-college program on a college campus through any number of colleges. Georgetown and Brown offer a ton of different popular course options but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
* Enroll in a STEM program, an art program, or a leadership program. The overlap with these suggestions? Each program helps students further develop their SKILLS.
* Enroll in a language immersion program like LanguageBird
* Enroll in a study abroad program through Oxford, Putney, or Where There Be Dragons
* Enroll in a wilderness expedition through Nols or any number of providers
The Good Old-fashioned Bucket:
The old-fashioned bucket includes pursuing a job, internship, or volunteer endeavor in the student's local community. Curious about supply chain management? Work at your local Chipotle. Want to study botany in college? Check out your local nursery to snag a part-time job. Interested in sports medicine? See if you can work for a nearby physical therapist. Or pursue a more traditional job like lifeguarding at a pool or working as a camp counselor. Volunteering in your community also helps you gain new skills and experiences all while strengthening your community. Whether it’s through a job, internship, or volunteer work, there are countless benefits to rolling up your sleeves and getting real-world experience.
Ready to ditch the summer slump? Share this article with your child, niece, nephew, or any college-bound teen and start planning their best summer yet!
Helping you soar sooner,
Carrie
Carrie, this is super practical and right on time for so many!!