You have the opportunity as a high school student to make the most of your summer and create memories that will last a lifetime. You are encouraged to be actively involved by developing new skills, exploring new interests, and making a positive impact in your community. Summer programs, such as camps and internships, can give students valuable exposure to new and exciting fields of study. Cultural events and festivals can also broaden your worldview and connect you with others who share your interests.
You can help others and develop a sense of social responsibility while also developing valuable skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership by volunteering for local organizations through community service. Outdoor and adventure activities can be a fun way to stay active while also improving your physical and mental well-being.
By learning over the summer, you will not only avoid “Summer Learning Loss,” relieve boredom and keep your mind active, but you will also gain many other advantages.
Top 5 reasons why you should be engaged in enrichment activities over the summer
- Improve your academic skills and knowledge in a specific subject area, and potentially earn college credits.
- By participating in new and diverse learning experiences you can broaden your worldview and cultural knowledge.
- Improve your chances of getting into college: Summer learning programs can demonstrate your dedication to your education and potentially increase your chances of college admission.
- Engaging in learning activities on a regular basis can assist you in maintaining your academic momentum and prepare you for the upcoming school year.
- Build valuable skills and knowledge to help prepare for future careers and gain a competitive advantage in the job market.
So, what should you do now? Should you take a statistics course or an extension math course because you enjoy math? Should you do more of a particular subject because you enjoy it?
My response is “not always.” I would advise you to look for experiences and opportunities to develop your unique selling point and add depth to your understanding of where you are going rather than just doing “more” of what you get at school.
Top 10 activities in which to be involved over the summer
- If you want to be an engineer, then start creating, building, and looking for solutions to problems around you; customize a scooter, create an app, or build a robot.
- If you enjoy sports then train hard and become the best player that you can be.
- Look for work experiences where you can talk to the people around you and listen to their stories about their career journeys.
- If dancing is your passion, then take a master’s class or learn a new style.
- Attend summer camps focused on areas of interest, such as science, technology, engineering, arts, or sports.
- Gain practical experience in a field of interest through an internship or job shadowing opportunity.
- Participate in community service projects, such as volunteer work, that provide opportunities to give back and make a difference.
- Attend cultural events, festivals, or performances that showcase the arts and humanities.
- Engage in outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, or kayaking, that promote physical fitness, exploration, and adventure.
- Pursue hobbies such as photography, painting, or cooking as they can help you develop new skills and interests.
In addition, a research program might also be worth considering, as it can demonstrate that you are ready to undertake challenging material and give you experience in the research field.
Top 5 reasons why you should undertake a summer program in research
- Gain hands-on experience with the scientific method and the research process by being exposed to research and the scientific method.
- Discover and investigate potential careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
- Mentorship: Collaborate with professionals in the field to receive guidance and mentorship in order to improve your skills and knowledge.
- Opportunities for networking: Meet other students, researchers, and professionals from a variety of disciplines and make connections for future opportunities.
- Scholarship and college applications: Demonstrate a dedication to research and the ability to work independently, both of which can help you stand out in college and scholarship applications.
37 summer programs and websites to consider
- Teenlife
- International Research Institute of North Carolina
- The Cambridge Future Scholar Programme
- Polygence
- The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
- Coding Competitions With Google
- Interworks
- HOPP Summer Student Program
- Simons Summer Research Program
- RISE Internship Track
- Lumiere Education
- Bocconi Summer School
- Horizon
- Makers Asylum
- Spark Summer Internship Program
- Program In Mathematics For Young Scientists
- Perimeter Institute ISSYP
- Mathcamp
- Girls Who Code
- HcSSiM
- iDtech
- Launch X Summer Program
- The Telluride Association Summer Seminar
- Yale Young Global Scholars
- Economics For Leaders
- MITES Summer Program
- Immerse Education Career Insights
- The Innovation Story
- Mathily
- The Summer Science Program
- CourseLeap
- SUMaC
- Oxford Summer Courses
- Notre Dame Summer Scholars
- Veritas AI
- Tribes For Good
- Summer Programs At MIT
So what are you going to do?
Rather than just doing “more” of the same, engage in opportunities that will develop your unique selling point and ultimately add depth to your understanding of where you are going. Whatever excites you, there is something for everyone—whether it is a research program, a live-in experience, an outdoor adventure, an online course, a part-time job, an exciting internship, or even a community service project. So take a leap, explore the possibilities, and make the most of what is on offer at home and abroad.
Please keep in mind that the options listed above have been used or recommended by others, and we accept no responsibility for any issues you may encounter if you sign up for something that does not meet your expectations. Caveat emptor, as always!