Making the Most of Summer Vacation

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Making the Most of Summer Vacation

• A guide to a productive summer

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Options for Summer

• A summer job
• Career exploration
• Summer study
• Community service
• Travel
• Language immersion
• Prep for college admissions/ applications

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Summer Employment

• Earn money
• Experience the world of work
• Get a first-hand look at a possible career area
• Gain responsibility
• Possible recommendation letter from employers

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Career Exploration

• Internships in field of interest
• Opportunities to learn more through unpaid
  experiences
• Students should contact appropriate venues well
  before summer vacation begins
• TV or film production companies
• Advertising agencies
• City Hall/ law offices
• Hospitals/ Drs offices/ Veterinarians

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Career Exploration

• Research Experiences
• Field research Archeological
• dig, environmental studies,
• marine biology, paleontology

Dinosaur Academy, WY
Students at Crow Canyon, CO Newfound Harbor
Marine Institute, FL
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• Lab research with a university professor

HS Summer Program Northwestern University,
IL Physics/astronomy
Student at Baylor, TX HS Summer Science Research
Program
Research Mentorship Program at UCSB
Some programs offer students a stipend others
charge fees
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Check with local theatre companies, art schools,
symphonies and musical groups.

• Apprenticeship Programs
• in the visual and performing arts

La Jolla Playhouse Summer Conservatory
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Summer Study

• At local community colleges through dual
  enrollment programs often free but high school
  students have lowest priority in selecting
  classes
• Take regular college courses at area universities
  these courses are more likely to be accepted
  for credit by more selective colleges.

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Residential Summer Study

• Gain a first-hand look at the life of a college
  student
• Take one or two introductory-level college
  classes
• Get a head start on college credits
• Learn to manage time and physical needs
• Live in a residence hall with other high school
  students supervised by resident advisors chosen
  to work with this group. Engage in planned
  activities.

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Types of Residential Programs

• College Prep students take one or two college
  courses in a program designed for high school
  students

Northwestern University College Prep Program
Harvard Secondary School Program
Cornell Summer College
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Specialized Programs on College Campuses

• Introduction to engineering

Introduction to Engineering Program at The
University of Notre Dame
University of Dayton Women in Engineering Summer
Camp
These programs provide a look at the different
fields of engineering. Most include lab work,
field trips, speakers
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• Architecture programs
• - provide insight into careers in architecture
• - students may work on portfolios to supplement
  their college application
• - visits to work sites, talks by practicing
  architects, hands-on studio experiences

Architecture Design Camp at Auburn University
Exploration of Architecture at USC
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Mathematics programs

• Allows students to immerse themselves in
  mathematical study

PROMYS at Boston University
Hampshire Colleges Summer Study In Mathematics
Program
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What do kids say about spending a summer studying
math?

• These comments about the Summer institute in
  Math at the University of Washington (a free
  program)
• "SIMUW was simply an amazing experience. The
  program isn't about covering hardcore college
  topics, but rather about skimming through topics
  and promoting mathematical thinking. I personally
  had the best summer of my life. No one who has
  ever attended SIMUW has regretted it.
• "Without a doubt, SIMUW was one of the most
  rewarding experience that I have ever had. People
  may think that math is the only thing that we do
  at math camp, but it is not true. The counselors
  organized numerous activities, and I vastly
  enjoyed my time at the UW. I learned a lot of
  abstract math that are not taught in high school,
  and the friendship that forms among the
  participants and counselors is remarkable. Also,
  spending 2 months at a university itself is a
  wonderful experience. The 6 weeks absolutely flew
  by, and at the end, I wished I didn't have to go
  home."

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Visual and Performing Arts Programs

• Permit intense study in desired area
• Meet with working artists to learn more about
  their field
• Compile an art or design portfolio/audition tape/
  student film
• Gain technical experience not possible in a high
  school setting
• Experience specialized educational setting such
  as an art institute/ conservatory

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• InnerSpark (Cal State Summer School for the Arts)

Dance
Music
animation
Visual arts
Film video
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Intros to Cadet Life

• Students considering application to one of the
  military academies should plan on attending their
  summer program during the summer after junior
  year
• These programs provide a look at life as a
  military cadet as well as introduction to the
  subjects emphasized at military academies.
• Summer Leaders Seminar at West Point Summer
  Seminar at the U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar
  at the Air Force Academy.

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Community Service Options

• Work for organizations in your community
• Homeless shelters/ food programs
• Parks and recreation
• Religious organizations
• Hospitals
• Habitat for Humanity
• Schools

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Take Part in an Organized Service-Learning Program

• Opportunities available throughout the U.S. and
  abroad
• International programs may involve home-stay
  experiences, language instruction, cultural
  exchange
• Some are free, while others (especially
  international programs) require a financial
  commitment.

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Community Service Opportunities

• Landmark Volunteers Student
  Conservation Association

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From Free Almost Free Adventures For Teenagers
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Service-Learning Abroad
Lifeworks International
Visions Service Adventures
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Travel

• Organized travel provides a taste of life in
  other countries
• Living abroad for an extended period of time
  enhances the experience

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Language Immersion Programs

• Enhance language skills
• Allow students to experience what life is like in
  another culture
• Programs available in U.S. restrict participants
  to using foreign language only and attempt to
  recreate life as lived in the country selected

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Language Immersion Programs without leaving the
U.S.
Spanish FLIP at Oswego

• Concordia Language Villages

Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy
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Language/ Cultural Immersion Abroad

• Large variety of programs to choose from centered
  in the country where language is spoken
• Many programs provide cultural immersion through
  home-stay experiences with local families in
  addition to intensive language instruction
• Programs often include a community service
  component

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• AIFS Summer Study in Nanjing, China

Brighton Study Abroad in Costa Rica
Learning Programs International in Spain
Nova Language Adventure In France
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Search for summer programs at www.EnrichmentAlley.
com

• Free searches for Enrichment Programs
• Over 350 programs listed with more being added
  daily
• Many include reviews by former participants,
  parent, educators
• The site also includes gap year and school
  year opportunities

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Additional sites to search for summer enrichment
programs

• www.societyforscience.org/stp/index.asp
• formerly called Science Service now the Society
  for Science
• www.careercornerstone.org/pcsumcamps.htm
• Sloan Career Cornerstone Center links to
  science, technology, engineering and math
• www.tryengineering.org/become.php?pagecamps
• - Engineering programs
• www.ams.org/employment/mathcamps.html
  - math programs

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Prepare for the College Search and Application
Process

• SAT/ACT Prep
• Visit College Campuses either with your family
  or on a group tour
• Finalize your college list
• Download applications / work on Common
  Application
• Begin writing essays/ personal statements

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SAT/ACT Prep

• Take a group or individual course
• Books and guides
• Use online prep
• Free www.number2.com
• Free www.kaptest.com
• www.collegeboard.com
• www.prepme.com

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Visit College Campuses

• Get there for an info session
• Take the student-led tour
• Eat lunch/dinner at a dining hall
• Visit the library
• Check out the residence halls
• Speak with current students
• Sit in on a class
• Some offer on-campus interviews

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Finalize Your College List

• Reaches
• Probables
• Safeties

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Begin Work on Applications

• Download application from college website
• Check if your schools are on the common
  application or the universal application
• Look for in-state public group applications such
  as www.ucop.edu or www.csumentor.edu

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Begin Working on Essays/Personal Statements
Brainstorm ideas, rough draft, review, revise,
repeat
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Make this summer the best one ever!