Making the Most of Making the Most of Summer VacationSummer Vacation

A guide to a productive A guide to a productive summersummer

Options for SummerOptions for Summer

• A summer job A summer job

• Career explorationCareer exploration

• Summer studySummer study

• Community serviceCommunity service

• TravelTravel

• Language immersionLanguage immersion

• Prep for college admissions/ applicationsPrep for college admissions/ applications

Summer EmploymentSummer Employment

• Earn moneyEarn money

• Experience the world of workExperience the world of work

• Get a first-hand look at a possible Get a first-hand look at a possible career areacareer area

• Gain responsibilityGain responsibility

• Possible recommendation letter from Possible recommendation letter from employersemployers

Career ExplorationCareer Exploration

• Internships in field of interestInternships in field of interest– Opportunities to learn more through Opportunities to learn more through

unpaid experiencesunpaid experiences– Students should contact appropriate Students should contact appropriate

venues well before summer vacation venues well before summer vacation begins:begins:•TV or film production companiesTV or film production companies

•Advertising agenciesAdvertising agencies

•City Hall/ law officesCity Hall/ law offices

•Hospitals/ Drs offices/ VeterinariansHospitals/ Drs offices/ Veterinarians

Career ExplorationCareer Exploration

• Research ExperiencesResearch Experiences– Field research – Archeological Field research – Archeological

dig, environmental studies, dig, environmental studies,

marine biology, paleontologymarine biology, paleontology

Students at Crow Canyon, CO Newfound Harbor Marine Institute, FL

Dinosaur Academy, WY

• Lab research with a university Lab research with a university professorprofessor

Student at Baylor, TXHS Summer Science Research Program

HS Summer ProgramNorthwestern University, ILPhysics/astronomy

Research Mentorship Program at UCSB

Some programs offer students a stipend; others charge fees

Check with local theatreCheck with local theatre companies, art companies, art schools, symphonies and musical groups.schools, symphonies and musical groups.

• Apprenticeship ProgramsApprenticeship Programs

in the visual and performing artsin the visual and performing arts

La Jolla Playhouse Summer Conservatory

Summer StudySummer Study

• At local community colleges At local community colleges through dual enrollment through dual enrollment programs – often free but high programs – often free but high school students have lowest school students have lowest priority in selecting classespriority in selecting classes

• Take regular college courses Take regular college courses at area universities – these at area universities – these courses are more likely to be courses are more likely to be accepted for credit by more accepted for credit by more selective colleges.selective colleges.

Residential Summer StudyResidential Summer Study

• Gain a first-hand look at the life of a Gain a first-hand look at the life of a college studentcollege student

• Take one or two introductory-level Take one or two introductory-level college classes college classes

• Get a head start on college creditsGet a head start on college credits• Learn to manage time and physical Learn to manage time and physical

needsneeds• Live in a residence hall with other high Live in a residence hall with other high

school students supervised by resident school students supervised by resident advisors chosen to work with this group. advisors chosen to work with this group. Engage in planned activities. Engage in planned activities.

Types of Residential Types of Residential ProgramsPrograms• College Prep: students take one or College Prep: students take one or

two college courses in a program two college courses in a program designed for high school studentsdesigned for high school students

Harvard Secondary School Program Cornell Summer College

Northwestern UniversityCollege Prep Program

Specialized Programs on Specialized Programs on College CampusesCollege Campuses

• Introduction to engineeringIntroduction to engineering

University of Dayton Womenin Engineering Summer Camp

Introduction to Engineering Program at The University of Notre Dame

These programs provide a look at the different fields of engineering. Most include lab work, field trips, speakers

• Architecture programsArchitecture programs

- - provide insight into careers in provide insight into careers in architecture architecture

- students may work on portfolios to - students may work on portfolios to supplement their college applicationsupplement their college application

- visits to work sites, talks by practicing - visits to work sites, talks by practicing architects, hands-on studio experiencesarchitects, hands-on studio experiences

Architecture Design Camp atAuburn University Exploration of Architecture at USC

Mathematics programsMathematics programs

• Allows students to immerse Allows students to immerse themselves in mathematical studythemselves in mathematical study

Hampshire College’s Summer StudyIn Mathematics Program

PROMYS at Boston University

What do kids say about What do kids say about spending a summer studying spending a summer studying

math? 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."

Visual and Performing Visual and Performing Arts ProgramsArts Programs

• Permit intense study in desired areaPermit intense study in desired area

• Meet with working artists to learn more Meet with working artists to learn more about their fieldabout their field

• Compile an art or design Compile an art or design portfolio/audition tape/ student filmportfolio/audition tape/ student film

• Gain technical experience not possible Gain technical experience not possible in a high school settingin a high school setting

• Experience specialized educational Experience specialized educational setting such as an art institute/ setting such as an art institute/ conservatoryconservatory

• InnerSpark (Cal State Summer School InnerSpark (Cal State Summer School for the Arts)for the Arts)

animation

Film & videoVisual arts

DanceMusic

Intros to Cadet LifeIntros to Cadet Life

• Students considering application to one of Students considering application to one of the military academies should plan on the military academies should plan on attending their summer program during the attending their summer program during the summer after junior yearsummer after junior year

• These programs provide a look at life as a These programs provide a look at life as a military cadet as well as introduction to the military cadet as well as introduction to the subjects emphasized at military academies.subjects emphasized at military academies.

• Summer Leaders Seminar at West Point; Summer Leaders Seminar at West Point; Summer Seminar at the U.S. Naval Academy; Summer Seminar at the U.S. Naval Academy; Summer Seminar at the Air Force Academy.Summer Seminar at the Air Force Academy.

Community Service OptionsCommunity Service Options

• Work for organizations in your Work for organizations in your communitycommunity– Homeless shelters/ food programsHomeless shelters/ food programs– Parks and recreationParks and recreation– Religious organizationsReligious organizations– HospitalsHospitals– Habitat for HumanityHabitat for Humanity– SchoolsSchools

Take Part in an Organized Take Part in an Organized Service-Learning ProgramService-Learning Program

• Opportunities available throughout Opportunities available throughout the U.S. and abroadthe U.S. and abroad

• International programs may involve International programs may involve home-stay experiences, language home-stay experiences, language instruction, cultural exchangeinstruction, cultural exchange

• Some are free, while others Some are free, while others (especially international programs) (especially international programs) require a financial commitment.require a financial commitment.

Community Service Community Service OpportunitiesOpportunities

Landmark Volunteers Student Conservation Landmark Volunteers Student Conservation AssociationAssociation

From Free & Almost FreeAdventures For Teenagers

Service-Learning Service-Learning AbroadAbroad

Visions Service Adventures

Lifeworks International

TravelTravel

• Organized travel provides a taste of Organized travel provides a taste of life in other countrieslife in other countries

• Living abroad for an extended period Living abroad for an extended period of time enhances the experienceof time enhances the experience

Language Immersion Language Immersion ProgramsPrograms• Enhance language skillsEnhance language skills• Allow students to experience Allow students to experience

what life is like in another what life is like in another cultureculture

• Programs available in U.S. Programs available in U.S. restrict participants to using restrict participants to using foreign language only and foreign language only and attempt to recreate life as attempt to recreate life as lived in the country selectedlived in the country selected

Language Immersion Programs Language Immersion Programs

without leaving the U.S.without leaving the U.S.

• Concordia Concordia Language VillagesLanguage Villages

Spanish FLIP at Oswego

Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy

Language/ Cultural Language/ Cultural Immersion AbroadImmersion Abroad

• Large variety of programs to choose from Large variety of programs to choose from centered in the country where language is centered in the country where language is spokenspoken

• Many programs provide cultural immersion Many programs provide cultural immersion through home-stay experiences with local through home-stay experiences with local families in addition to intensive language families in addition to intensive language instructioninstruction

• Programs often include a community Programs often include a community service componentservice component

• AIFS Summer Study in Nanjing, ChinaAIFS Summer Study in Nanjing, China

Brighton Study Abroad in Costa Rica

Nova Language AdventureIn France

Learning ProgramsInternational in Spain

Search for summer programs Search for summer programs at www.EnrichmentAlley.comat 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

Additional sites to search for Additional sites to search for summer enrichment programs:summer enrichment programs:• www.societyforscience.org/stp/index.aspwww.societyforscience.org/stp/index.asp

formerly called Science Service – now the Society formerly called Science Service – now the Society for Sciencefor Science

• www.careercornerstone.org/pcsumcamps.htmwww.careercornerstone.org/pcsumcamps.htm

Sloan Career Cornerstone Center – links to science, Sloan Career Cornerstone Center – links to science, technology, engineering and mathtechnology, engineering and math

• www.tryengineering.org/become.php?www.tryengineering.org/become.php?page=campspage=camps

- Engineering programs- Engineering programs

• www.ams.org/employment/mathcamps.html www.ams.org/employment/mathcamps.html - math programs - math programs

Prepare for the College Search Prepare for the College Search and Application Processand Application Process

• SAT/ACT PrepSAT/ACT Prep

• Visit College Campuses – either with Visit College Campuses – either with your family or on a group touryour family or on a group tour

• Finalize your college listFinalize your college list

• Download applications / work on Download applications / work on Common ApplicationCommon Application

• Begin writing essays/ personal Begin writing essays/ personal statementsstatements

SAT/ACT PrepSAT/ACT Prep

• Take a group or individual courseTake a group or individual course

• Books and guidesBooks and guides

• Use online prep: Use online prep: – Free: www.number2.comFree: www.number2.com– Free: www.kaptest.comFree: www.kaptest.com

$ www.collegeboard.com$ www.collegeboard.com

$ www.prepme.com$ www.prepme.com

Visit College CampusesVisit College Campuses

• Get there for an info sessionGet there for an info session• Take the student-led tourTake the student-led tour• Eat lunch/dinner at a dining Eat lunch/dinner at a dining

hallhall• Visit the libraryVisit the library• Check out the residence Check out the residence

hallshalls• Speak with current studentsSpeak with current students• Sit in on a classSit in on a class• Some offer on-campus Some offer on-campus

interviewsinterviews

Finalize Your College ListFinalize Your College List

• ReachesReaches

• ProbablesProbables

• SafetiesSafeties

Begin Work on ApplicationsBegin Work on Applications

• Download application from college Download application from college websitewebsite

• Check if your schools are on the Check if your schools are on the common application or the universal common application or the universal applicationapplication

• Look for in-state public group Look for in-state public group applications such as www.ucop.edu applications such as www.ucop.edu or www.csumentor.edu or www.csumentor.edu

Begin Working on Begin Working on Essays/Personal StatementsEssays/Personal Statements

Brainstorm ideas, rough draft, review, revise, repeat

Make this summer the Make this summer the best one ever!best one ever!