Summer can have just as much of an impact on college admissions as the school year. A well-spent summer may be the key to getting into your dream college. Activities like summer programs or camps, internships and jobs provide many benefits to students.
Outside of the basics learned in traditional academic courses, summer activities can allow students to delve deeper into their passions. Summer programs in particular center around specific fields, such as STEM or the arts.
Many of these programs require payment, though most of them offer accommodations for students from low-income backgrounds. There are even some free programs, though these may be more selective given the volume of students that apply. California offers some amazing programs, such as Stanford’s medical programs for those looking to pursue the sciences and the California State School for the Arts (CSSSA) for the creatives.
There are also many prestigious programs nationwide, as well as worldwide. Shemmassian Consulting provides an organized list of the United States’ best summer programs. Europe also has many great programs, as does Asia.
Further, summer programs provide students with a safe space to express themselves and their interests with like-minded peers. Students can meet people from around the state, country or even the world during these programs who they never would have met otherwise and form true friendships. In addition, because students who go to a summer program all share a common interest, there is less judgment in comparison to an environment like school.
This summer I attended CSSSA as a member of the writing department. In my department, I found many fellow writers who I felt comfortable enough to share my ideas with and read my work aloud to because I knew they had a lot of similar interests as me. No one had to filter themselves in a supportive and open minded environment.
“If your child is interested in theater, find out if there’s a local theater company where they can volunteer,” Michelle Muratori, a senior counselor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth said. “A history buff might find others who share their interests at a museum or historical society.” Summer programs function just like these companies and societies.
I also noticed in other departments, particularly the visual arts department, students with niche interests and personalities were able to find people similar to them. For example, at school, a kid who dresses more alternatively may find it hard to go about with the presence of bullying and hostile cliques. However, at CSSSA these kids could find fellow alternative kids and freely talk about what they liked.
Besides peers, students can meet instructors who guide and teach them in their chosen subject. According to Parallel, “Summer programs can also provide your child with the opportunity to work with specialized instructors who are experts with particular content areas or specialties. Having access to these resources and specialists in a more intimate environment can set your child up for success for the upcoming school year.”
Oftentimes these instructors can form close bonds with their students and remain someone the student goes to after the program ends for further support. They can even write letters of recommendation if the student desires to apply for another program or college because they know the students’ work and passion so well.
Summer programs can also help students gain independence and autonomy. Many summer programs are sleepaway or at least require the student to attend without a guardian present. So, the student must take the initiative to forge relationships and be responsible with their time.
The following information is all from the National Library of Medicine. In a study done by Grenwelge and Zhang, a one-week summer program was found to slightly improve “youth self-advocacy skills.” Another study by Stevens, a four-week program improved the participants’ explanation skills and self-esteem.
Additionally, sleepaway summer programs tend to be held on college campuses. This prepares high schoolers for the college experience: struggles such as being away from home and family as well as becoming familiar with living in a college dorm. When it is actually time for them to head off to college, they won’t feel the same level of stress and anticipation.
Similarly to college freshmen, it can also be difficult to make friends in the initial days of a summer program. This will further homesickness in students as they will be isolated and left to their own devices, without the distraction of interacting with others.
However, they must take the initiative to make friends. In a new setting, there is no one familiar to rely on, which will help with developing independence. The more you are put into these types of situations, the better equipped you will be to handle them later in life.
Finally, attending a summer program can serve a pragmatic purpose in helping a student’s chance of getting into their desired college. Attending a summer program with a more difficult acceptance rate can express the student’s prowess in their extracurriculars. Summer programs also show that students are serious and driven in their pursuits and spend extracurricular time on them.
“The program itself matters less than what they learn about themselves and how they grow from the summer experience – whether it’s domestic or international service, a pre-college academic program, or an internship,” Kate Sonnenberg from KS College Success said.
Overall, filling the months of free time summer break provides with activities is one of the best decisions a student can make. The many benefits include deeper exploration of a student’s passion, opportunities to make friends, opportunities to meet amazing instructors, increased independence and aid in college admissions.
I attended two summer programs this year, a camp for music and a camp for writing; two of my biggest passions. During both of them I felt that I greatly grew as a musician and writer because of the volume of intense work I did during the camps. I also connected with people I will continue to keep in contact with who truly understand my interests in a way different from my schoolmates. I would recommend everyone to attend at least one summer activity during their high school years. They are unforgettable and invaluable experiences that you will treasure forever.
