Upper School

Summer Programs

One of the questions that students and their parents frequently ask is "What would be a worthwhile, meaningful way to spend the summer?"

There are many answers to that question, and the number of summer opportunities for upper student students is almost limitless.

Whatever your interests are, using the summer wisely and productively will provide you with opportunities to discover new passions and broaden your perspective. Additionally, diversifying your repertoire of experiences will prove invaluable when the time to apply to college arrives, as colleges and universities seek individuals who have challenged themselves in a variety of ways. Furthermore, by challenging yourself in a context outside of your school environment, you will gain priceless insight in to what you like and do not like - information that will serve you well in helping to find the best "fit." The insight gained from well-conceived summer experiences will stand you in good stead not only in the upcoming college-application process, but more broadly, in your evolution from teenager to young adult and beyond.

We recommend that students begin conversations with the college counselors at least by the start of second semester to talk about summer options since program application deadlines vary, sometimes falling as early as January.

In addition to program options, most colleges offer a summer session, some geared towards high school students, some not. If you are interested in a specific college or university's summer program we recommend that you visit the college/university's website and do a search for "summer programs for high school students."

Students and parents interested in sampling what programs are available should use selected Internet sites. We recommend several sources; including:

• CTY List of Summer Academic Programs in Science, Engineering, Math, Arts and Media
• Summer Program Search
• Oxbridge Academic Programs
• TASIS Summer
• GlobalWorks
• CoolWorks

For those of our families that are familiar with Naviance, there are also enrichment programs listed under the "College" tab. Students and parents can search programs by topic as well as location.

Another way for students to experience something outside of their comfort zones is to seek summer employment. From interning for a local business to working in a warehouse to lifeguarding, students can learn many valuable skills that will help lead them into adulthood.

Oftentimes, authentic experiences like these can have more of an impact on a student's development that he or she ever thought possible.